Ephesians 4 19

Ephesians 4:19 kjv

Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

Ephesians 4:19 nkjv

who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

Ephesians 4:19 niv

Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

Ephesians 4:19 esv

They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.

Ephesians 4:19 nlt

They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.

Ephesians 4 verses

Ephesians 4 19 Meaning

Believers have become insensitive. They have surrendered themselves to lawlessness. This allows them to practice impurity. They are driven by greed for material possessions and worldly desires.

Ephesians 4 19 Context

Ephesians 4 describes the unity of the church and how believers should live to maintain that unity. Paul exhorts believers to live a life worthy of their calling, characterized by humility, gentleness, patience, and love (Eph 4:1-3). He stresses the importance of the "unity of the Spirit" through various spiritual gifts given by Christ to equip the saints for ministry (Eph 4:11-16). In contrast to this godly unity and maturity, Paul describes the fallen state of the Gentiles who are separated from the life of God due to ignorance and hardness of heart. Verse 19 specifically details this fallen state, highlighting the resulting insensitivity, lawlessness, and unchecked pursuit of carnal desires driven by greed. This serves as a stark contrast to the transformation and renewed mind that believers are called to embrace in Christ, as detailed in the verses that follow (Eph 4:20-24).

Ephesians 4 19 Word Analysis

• οὕτως (houtōs): Thus, so, in this way. This word indicates the manner or way in which something is done or happens. It directly links the preceding state of ignorance and hardened heart to the subsequent description of their conduct.
• ἀπηλγισμένοι (apēlgismenoi): Past participle of ἀπαλγέω (aplgeō), meaning to cease feeling pain, to be past feeling, become insensitive, hard-hearted. This conveys a state of emotional and spiritual numbness. They have reached a point where their conscience no longer signals distress or warning concerning sin.
• ἑαυτοὺς (heautous): Themselves. Reflexive pronoun, emphasizing that this condition and their subsequent actions are a result of their own yielding and choice.
• παρεδώκαν (paredōkan): Gave up, surrendered, delivered. This is the third-person plural, perfect active indicative of παραδίδωμι (paradidōmi). The perfect tense suggests a completed action with a continuing result – they have given themselves over and remain in that state. They have actively surrendered their will and bodies to sin.
• εἰς (eis): Unto, into, to. A preposition indicating direction or result, signifying that their self-surrender led them into a state of doing these things.
• ἀσέλγειαν (aselgeian): Lewdness, wantonness, debauchery, licentiousness, impurity. This refers to unrestrained sexual immorality and gross indulgence. It describes behavior characterized by shameless excess.
• πᾶσαν (pasan): All, every. An adjective intensifying the extent of their impurity; it was not limited to one form but encompassed all types.
• ἐν (en): In, by. A preposition that can denote the sphere or the means by which something is done. Here, it signifies the manner or sphere within which this practice of impurity occurred – i.e., characterized by it.
• ἁγνείαν (hagneian): This is a fascinating part of the phrase. In most manuscripts, it's translated as "uncleanness" or "impurity." However, the phrasing eis [...] pasanal literally means "into all uncleanness." The word commonly translated as impurity is "akatharsian" (ἀκαθαρσίαν).
  • The KJV renders it "to the practice of all uncleanness." Other versions vary.
  • Let's consider the term rendered as "uncleanness" (often akatharsian) or potentially hagneian in some textual traditions. If we consider a less common reading or a textual variant, hagneian (ἁγνείαν) means purity or chastity. If the verse read "eis pasa hagneia," it would be "into all purity," which would be nonsensical in this context.
  • The typical reading of the Greek text behind Ephesians 4:19 uses words related to impurity and greed, not purity. For example, in the UBS5 edition, the reading is: "οὕτως ἀπηλγισμένοι ἑαυτοὺς παρέδωκαν τῇ ἀσελγείᾳ εἰς ἐργασίαν πάσης ἀκαθαρσίας ἐν πλεονεξίᾳ." (houtōs apēlgismenoi heautous paredōkan tē aselgeiā eis ergasian pasēs akatharsias en pleonexiā.)
    • ἀκαθαρσίας (akatharsias): Uncleanness, impurity, filthiness. This refers to moral impurity in general, often associated with sexual sins but not exclusively so.
    • ἐν (en): In, by, with.
    • πλεονεξίᾳ (pleonexiā): Greed, covetousness, excessive desire for more. This is a key aspect of their spiritual malaise – the insatiable desire for worldly gain, possessions, or pleasure, which fuels their sinful behavior.
• In group analysis: "ἀσέλγειαν εἰς ἐργασίαν πάσης ἀκαθαρσίας" (aselgeian eis ergasian pasēs akatharsias) – "sensuality for the practice of every impurity." This phrase paints a grim picture of lives completely surrendered to depraved indulgence, with the specific motivation being the endless pursuit of defilement in all its forms. This is driven by an insatiable greed.

Ephesians 4 19 Bonus Section

The concept of becoming "past feeling" or "hardened" is seen in various parts of Scripture. It is not merely a passive state but often the result of repeated willful resistance to God's Spirit and truth (Hebrews 3:8, 13). This hardening can be a judicial act of God on individuals or societies who persistently reject Him. The mention of "greed" (πλεονεξία - pleonexia) at the end of the verse is crucial, as the New Testament frequently links covetousness with idolatry (Colossians 3:5). For the unregenerate Gentile, this often manifested in the worship of created things and the pursuit of carnal pleasures as substitutes for the true God. This verse highlights a significant theological point: apart from Christ, humanity naturally drifts into spiritual insensitivity and sinful excess, driven by desires that lead to destruction rather than life.

Ephesians 4 19 Commentary

Paul here describes the devastating consequence of a life lived apart from God. When people ignore God, their consciences become desensitized, much like an athlete stops feeling pain after extensive overuse or injury. This insensitivity allows them to embrace wickedness without remorse. They actively choose to give themselves over to a life of shameless indulgence and depravity, leading them to practice every conceivable kind of impurity. This unchecked sin is fueled by a relentless covetousness, a deep-seated desire for more—more pleasure, more possessions, more power. It’s a cycle of spiritual deadness, active surrender to sin, and relentless lust that characterizes those who have turned away from the light of God's truth. This state is characterized by an inability to feel guilt or shame, making them further susceptible to the corrupting influences of the world and leading to an endless pursuit of sin.