Ephesians 4:26

Ephesians 4:26

Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

a. NLT: And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry,

b. NIV: “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,

c. YLT: Be angry and do not sin; let not the sun go down upon your wrath,

d. Amplified Bible Classic: When angry, do not sin; do not ever let your wrath (your exasperation, your fury or indignation) last until the sun goes down.

e. Worrell Translation: Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath;

f. Wuest Translation: Be constantly angry with a righteous indignation, and stop sinning. Do not allow the sun to go down upon your irritated, exasperated embittered anger.

1. “Be ye angry, and sin not…”

a. Be [ye] angry [Strong: 3710 orgizo or-gid'-zo from 3709; to provoke or enrage, i.e. (passively) become exasperated:--be angry (wroth).]

b. and [Strong: 2532 kai kahee apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

c. sin [Strong: 264 hamartano ham-ar-tan'-o perhaps from 1 (as a negative particle) and the base of 3313; properly, to miss the mark (and so not share in the prize), i.e. (figuratively) to err, especially (morally) to sin:--for your faults, offend, sin, trespass.]

d. not [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.]

1). Interesting verse in light of what other translations say in Matthew 5:22 about anger. Here in Ephesians 4:26 Paul writes, “Be angry” but don’t “sin”. In light of these words look at the various translations of Matthew 5:22.

a). NLT: “But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment!...”

b). NIV: “But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment…”

c). Worrell Translation: “But I say to you that every one who is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the judgment…”

d). Wuest Translation: “But, as for myself, I am saying to you that everyone who is provoked to anger against his brother shall be subject to the judgment…”

e). It is the same with most of all the newer translations, ASV, RSV, and NASB, they leave off the phrase ‘without a cause”.

2). The reason for the differences in translation is because of the differences in manuscripts. That being said, those who have delved into the study of textual criticism (which I have a little bit), or who have studied New Testament Greek (which I have not), are familiar with the arguments over the preferences of manuscripts. Personally, I generally prefer the King James Version and the text that backs it up, the Textus Receptus or the Received Text. There are exceptions, but this is not one of them. If you took the time (which I have in the past but will not now), to look at the Greek text from which all the translations that leave out “without a cause”, you would not find the Greek word for “without a cause”, that is, “eike” (Strong # 1500), in the text. It is because the text that supports those translations does not have it. The Greek text that supports the King James Version, the Received Text or Textus Receptus, does have “without a cause”, the Greek word “eike”, (Strong #1500).

3). If the King James translation is wrong, and the other translations that leave off “without a cause” are correct, then Jesus sinned.

a). Mark 3:1-5 And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand.

3:2 And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.

3:3 And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth.

3:4 And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.

3:5  And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

4). We know of course that Jesus did not sin.

a). Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

2. “…let not the sun go down upon your wrath:”

a. let…go down [Strong: 1931 epiduo ep-ee-doo'-o from 1909 and 1416; to set fully (as the sun):--go down.

b. not [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. the sun [Strong: 2246 helios hay'-lee-os from hele (a ray; perhaps akin to the alternate of 138); the sun; by implication, light:--+ east, sun.]

d. upon [Strong: 1909 epi ep-ee' a primary preposition; properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.:--about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, X have charge of, (be-, (where-))fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-)on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), with. In compounds it retains essentially the same import, at, upon, etc. (literally or figuratively).]

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

f. wrath [Strong: 3950 parorgismos par-org-is-mos' from 3949; rage:--wrath.]

1). Albert Barnes: Let not the sun go down - Do not cherish anger. Do not sleep upon it. Do not harbor a purpose of revenge; do not cherish ill-will against another. "When the sun sets on a man's anger, he may be sure it is wrong." The meaning of the whole of this verse then is, "If you be angry, which may be the case, and which may be unavoidable, see that the sudden excitement does not become sin. Do not let it overleap its proper bounds; do not cherish it; do not let it remain in your bosom even to the setting of the sun. Though the sun be sinking in the west, let not the passion linger in the bosom, but let his last rays find you always peaceful and calm."