Ephesians 5:17

Ephesians 5:17

Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

a. YLT: Because of this become not fools, but -- understanding what is the will of the Lord,

b. RSV: Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

c. ASV: Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

d. Darby Translation: For this reason be not foolish, but understanding what is the will of the Lord.

1. “Wherefore be ye not unwise…”

a. Wherefore [Strong: 1223  diá, dee-ah'; a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional):—after, always, among, at, to avoid, because of (that), briefly, by, for (cause) … fore, from, in, by occasion of, of, by reason of, for sake, that, thereby, therefore, × though, through(-out), to, wherefore, with (-in).]

b. [Strong: 5124 toûto, too'-to; neuter singular nominative or accusative case of G3778; that thing:—here (-unto), it, partly, self(-same), so, that (intent), the same, there(-fore, -unto), this, thus, where(-fore).]

c. be ye [Strong: 1096 gínomai, ghin'-om-ahee; a prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e. (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.):—arise, be assembled, be(-come, -fall, -have self), be brought (to pass), (be) come (to pass), continue, be divided, draw, be ended, fall, be finished, follow, be found, be fulfilled, + God forbid, grow, happen, have, be kept, be made, be married, be ordained to be, partake, pass, be performed, be published, require, seem, be showed, × soon as it was, sound, be taken, be turned, use, wax, will, would, be wrought.]

d. not [Strong: 3361 mḗ, may; a primary particle of qualified negation (whereas G3756 expresses an absolute denial); (adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas G3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether:—any but (that), × 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.]

e. unwise [Strong: 878 áphrōn, af'-rone; from G1 (as a negative particle) and G5424; properly, mindless, i.e. stupid, (by implication) ignorant, (specially) egotistic, (practically) rash, or (morally) unbelieving:—fool(-ish), unwise.]

1). In a number of instances in the New Testament this word is translated “fool.”

a). Luke 11:40 Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also?

b). 1 Corinthians 15:36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:

2. “…but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”

a. but [Strong: 235 allá, al-lah'; neuter plural of G243; properly, other things, i.e. (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations):—and, but (even), howbeit, indeed, nay, nevertheless, no, notwithstanding, save, therefore, yea, yet.]

b. understanding [Strong: 4920 syníēmi, soon-ee'-ay-mee; from G4862 and ἵημι híēmi (to send); to put together, i.e. (mentally) to comprehend; by implication, to act piously:—consider, understand, be wise.]

c. what [Strong: 5101 tís, tis; probably emphatic of G5100; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what (in direct or indirect questions):—every man, how (much), + no(-ne, thing), what (manner, thing), where (-by, -fore, -of, -unto, - with, -withal), whether, which, who(-m, -se), why.]

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

e. will [Strong: 2307 thélēma, thel'-ay-mah; from the prolonged form of G2309; a determination (properly, the thing), i.e. (actively) choice (specially, purpose, decree; abstractly, volition) or (passively) inclination:—desire, pleasure, will.]

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

g. Lord [is] [Strong: 2962 kýrios, koo'-ree-os; from κῦρος kŷros (supremacy); supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title):—God, Lord, master, Sir.]

1). To know and understand the will of the Lord we must be familiar with his word.

a). Matthew 7:21-27Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

7:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.