Ephesians 4:29

Ephesians 4:29

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

a. NLT: Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

b. NIV: Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

c. YLT: Let no corrupt word out of your mouth go forth, but what is good unto the needful building up, that it may give grace to the hearers;

d. Amplified Bible Classic: Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God’s favor) to those who hear it.

e. Worrell Translation: Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but whatever is good for the supplying of the need, that it may give grace to those who hear.

f. Wuest Translation: Every word that is rotten and unfit for use, out of your mouth let it not be proceeding, but whatever is good, suitable for edification with respect to the need, in order that it may impart grace to the hearers.

1. “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth…”

a. Let…corrupt [Strong: 455]0 sapros sap-ros' from 4595; rotten, i.e. worthless (literally or morally):--bad, corrupt.] [Vine: "corrupt, rotten" (akin to sepo, "to rot"), primarily, of vegetable and animal substances, expresses what is of poor quality, unfit for use, putrid.]

b. no Strong: 3361 me may a primary particle of qualified negation (whereas 3756 expresses an absolute denial); (adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas 3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether:--any but (that), X forbear, + God forbid, + lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, (can-)not, nothing, that not, un(-taken), without. Often used in compounds in substantially the same relations.]

c. [Strong: 3956 pas pas including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole:--all (manner of, means), alway(-s), any (one), X daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no(-thing), X thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever.]

d. communication [Strong: 3056 logos log'-os from 3004; something said (including the thought); by implication, a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, (with the article in John) the Divine Expression (i.e. Christ):--account, cause, communication, X concerning, doctrine, fame, X have to do, intent, matter, mouth, preaching, question, reason, + reckon, remove, say(-ing), shew, X speaker, speech, talk, thing, + none of these things move me, tidings, treatise, utterance, word, work.] [Vine: "a word or saying," also means "an account which one gives by word of mouth"]

1). Corrupt, putrid words cover a variety of words that should not come out of a believers mouth.

e. proceed [Strong: 1607 ekporeuomai ek-por-yoo'-om-ahee from 1537 and 4198; to depart, be discharged, proceed, project:--come (forth, out of), depart, go (forth, out), issue, proceed (out of).]

f. out of [Strong: 1537 ek ek or ex ex a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause; literal or figurative; direct or remote):--after, among, X are, at, betwixt(-yond), by (the means of), exceedingly, (+ abundantly above), for(- th), from (among, forth, up), + grudgingly, + heartily, X heavenly, X hereby, + very highly, in, ...ly, (because, by reason) of, off (from), on, out among (from, of), over, since, X thenceforth, through, X unto, X vehemently, with(-out). Often used in composition, with the same general import; often of completion.]

g. your [Strong: 5216 humon hoo-mone' genitive case of 5210; of (from or concerning) you:--ye, you, your (own, -selves).]

h. mouth [Strong: 4750 stoma stom'-a probably strengthened from a presumed derivative of the base of 5114; the mouth (as if a gash in the face); by implication, language (and its relations); figuratively, an opening (in the earth); specially, the front or edge (of a weapon):--edge, face, mouth.]

1). Words such as those that would violate the Third Commandment.

a). Exodus 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

b). Scripture declares that those who take God’s name in vain are his enemies.

c). Psalm 139:19, 20 Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.

139:20 For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine  enemies take thy name in vain.

2). Filthy talking should not come out of a believers mouth.

a). Ephesians 5:3, 4 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

5:4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

b). Colossians 3:8 But now you also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

3). Cursing should not come out of a believers mouth.

a). Psalm 109:17-19 As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him.

109:18 As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment, so let it come into his bowels like water, and like oil into his bones.

109:19 Let it be unto him as the garment which covereth him, and for a girdle wherewith he is girded continually.

b). Proverbs 4:24 Put away from thee a forward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.

2. “…but that which is good to the use of edifying…”

a. but [Strong: 235 alla al-lah' neuter plural of 243; properly, other things, i.e. (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations):--and, but (even), howbeit, indeed, nay, nevertheless, no, notwithstanding, save, therefore, yea, yet.]

b. that which [Strong: 1536 ei tis i tis from 1487 and 5100; if any:--he that, if a(-ny) man('s thing, from any, ought), whether any, whosoever.]

c. is good [Strong: 18 agathos ag-ath-os' a primary word; "good" (in any sense, often as noun):--benefit, good(-s, things), well.]

d. to [Strong: 4314 pros pros a strengthened form of 4253; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e. pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of, i.e. near to; usually with the accusative case, the place, time, occasion, or respect, which is the destination of the relation, i.e. whither or for which it is predicated):--about, according to , against, among, at, because of, before, between, (where-)by, for, X at thy house, in, for intent, nigh unto, of, which pertain to, that, to (the end that), X together, to (you) -ward, unto, with(-in). In the comparative case, it denotes essentially the same applications, namely, motion towards, accession to, or nearness at.]

e. the use [Strong: 5532 chreia khri'-ah from the base of 5530 or 5534; employment, i.e. an affair; also (by implication) occasion, demand, requirement or destitution:--business, lack, necessary(-ity), need(-ful), use, want.]

f. of edifying [Strong: 3619 oikodome oy-kod-om-ay' feminine (abstract) of a compound of 3624 and the base of 1430 architecture, i.e. (concretely) a structure; figuratively, confirmation:--building, edify(-ication, -ing).] [Outline of Biblical Usage: (the act of) building, building up, metaphorically, edifying, edification, the act of one who promotes another's growth in Christian wisdom, piety, happiness, holiness, a building (i.e. the thing built, edifice)]

1). These are words that will build up and encourage another person and/or provide what the next sentence fragment describes.

a). 1 Thessalonians 5:11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as ye do.

3. “…that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”

a. that [Strong: 2443 hina hin'-ah probably from the same as the former part of 1438 (through the demonstrative idea; compare 3588); in order that (denoting the purpose or the result):--albeit, because, to the intent (that), lest, so as, (so) that, (for) to.]

b. it may minister [Strong: 1325 didomi did'-o-mee a prolonged form of a primary verb (which is used as an alternative in most of the tenses); to give (used in a very wide application, properly, or by implication, literally or figuratively; greatly modified by the connection):--adventure, bestow, bring forth, commit, deliver (up), give, grant, hinder, make, minister, number, offer, have power, put, receive, set, shew, smite (+ with the hand), strike (+ with the palm of the hand), suffer, take, utter, yield.]

c. grace [Strong: 5485 charis khar'-ece from 5463; graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude):--acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace(- ious), joy, liberality, pleasure, thank(-s, -worthy).]

d. to the [Strong: 3588 * ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

e. hearers [Strong: akouo ak-oo'-o a primary verb; to hear (in various senses):--give (in the) audience (of), come (to the ears), (shall) hear(-er, -ken), be noised, be reported, understand.]

1). In every epistle of Paul he began his letter by instilling grace into them. The letter to the Romans is one example.

a). Romans 1:7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2). Our words need to be container of grace to those in need of being uplifted.

a). Isaiah 50:4 The LORD GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I hould know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.

3). Words of grace include speaking the word of God and knowing how and what we are to say to men.

a). Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

b). Colossians 4:6 Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how ye ought to answer every man.