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

Ephesians 4:19 describes the progressive moral decline of unregenerate humanity, characterized by a complete loss of moral sensitivity and a deliberate surrender to unbridled desires. These individuals have become so spiritually hardened that they feel no compunction or regret over sin. Consequently, they freely and proactively engage in every conceivable form of moral defilement, driven by an insatiable craving or acquisitiveness for more sinful experiences and exploitative gain.

Ephesians 4 19 Context

Ephesians 4:19 is part of Paul's practical exhortation, urging believers to "walk in a manner worthy of the calling" (Eph 4:1). Having laid theological groundwork in the first three chapters, Paul pivots to apply these truths to daily conduct. Verses 17-19 describe the former pagan way of life (the "walk of the Gentiles"), a stark contrast against which the Christian's new life is to be measured. Paul vividly depicts the mind and heart of those outside Christ: futile thinking, darkened understanding, alienated from God's life, and ignorant due to hardening of heart (v. 17-18). Verse 19 specifically details the moral consequences of such a hardened heart, setting the stage for the command in verse 20 for believers not to have "learned Christ in this way." This description is not just an observation but a polemic against the pervasive moral depravity evident in Roman and Greek society, contrasting it sharply with the ethical demands of Christ.

Ephesians 4 19 Word analysis

• οἵτινες (hoitines) – "who, the kind of people who": This relative pronoun refers back to the "Gentiles" mentioned in verse 17. It highlights their defining characteristic—these are people whose very nature has become what is described next. It frames their actions as intrinsic to their unregenerate identity.
• ἀπηλγηκότες (apēlgēkotes) – "having become callous, past feeling": This perfect active participle of apalgeo is very strong. It signifies a state resulting from a prior action, emphasizing a permanent condition. It means to "cease to feel pain," to "become insensible," or to "despair." It’s more than just a hardened heart; it suggests a total loss of moral sensitivity and conscience, a complete despair of finding a better way. They no longer feel shame, guilt, or the desire to change, often seen as the climax of hardening found in earlier verses (Eph 4:18).
• ἑαυτοὺς (heautous) – "themselves": The reflexive pronoun emphasizes the volitional aspect. This moral degradation isn't something that merely happens to them; it is a conscious, active choice they make. They willingly participate in their own downfall.
• παρέδωκαν (paredōkan) – "gave over, handed over, surrendered": An aorist active indicative, implying a decisive, past act of deliberate surrender. It signifies an intentional handing over of themselves to a controlling force. This is not passive; it is an active giving up of personal will and autonomy to the demands of sin. It echoes the concept of God "giving over" people to their desires (Rom 1:24, 26, 28) but frames it as their direct action in surrendering.
• τῇ ἀσελγείᾳ (tē aselgeia) – "to sensuality, to wantonness, to debauchery": Aselgeia denotes a complete lack of moral restraint and self-control. It's often public, shameless indecency, frequently violent or arrogant. It is not merely sexual sin (porneia) but open defiance of social and moral conventions, a brazen revelry that shuns no scandal and has no regard for honor or self-respect.
• εἰς ἐργασίαν ἀκαθαρσίας (eis ergasian akatharsias) – "for the practice of impurity": Eis ergasian signifies "for the purpose of" or "unto the doing of/working of." This isn't just a byproduct; it is their deliberate objective. Akatharsia is a broad term for moral uncleanness or filth, often associated with sexual impurity, but also encompassing defilement in general. They have made impurity their very occupation or business.
• πάσης (pasēs) – "all, every kind of": This adjective, modifying akatharsia, intensifies the meaning. Their commitment is not just to impurity, but to every conceivable form of it, indicating an unrestrained and boundless appetite for defilement.
• ἐν πλεονεξίᾳ (en pleonexia) – "in greediness, with covetousness": This phrase modifies ergasian akatharsias, explaining the manner or motivation. Pleonexia literally means "desire for more," an insatiable greed or covetousness. While often for material gain, here it is tied directly to impurity. It signifies an unquenchable craving for more illicit sexual experiences, more sensual gratification, an exploitative desire that views others and situations as mere objects for selfish indulgence, transforming immorality into an idolatrous pursuit for "more."

Ephesians 4 19 Bonus section

The perfect tense of apēlgēkotes ("having become callous") is significant because it highlights a completed action in the past with ongoing effects in the present. This suggests a settled, irreversible state without divine intervention, implying a despairing resignation to a sinful lifestyle after repeatedly rejecting God's promptings. It represents a point of no return for their spiritual sensitivity. This verse underscores the active choice inherent in deep-seated sin—the individual willingly "hands over" their self-control and moral compass to their desires, rather than merely falling into temptation. The concept of pleonexia being linked with akatharsia transforms our understanding of greed, extending it beyond material wealth to encompass an insatiable appetite for illicit experiences. This 'spiritual greed' highlights how the drive for self-gratification can be limitless, mirroring material covetousness in its relentless pursuit of 'more', which God, in turn, 'gives over' (Rom 1) those who abandon Him.

Ephesians 4 19 Commentary

Ephesians 4:19 profoundly reveals the devastating spiritual and moral trajectory of those alienated from God's life. The progression is grim: from futile thinking (v.17) and darkened understanding to a full surrender to sin. The pivotal term, apēlgēkotes, depicts a person who has lost all feeling and shame for wrongdoing, reaching a point of moral indifference, much like a desensitized nerve. This callousness leads to an active and intentional "giving over" of oneself (paredōkan) to unrestrained lust (aselgeia). This isn't passive yielding, but a deliberate act of choosing a lifestyle marked by public defiance of decency. Furthermore, their goal is "the practice of every kind of impurity" (akatharsia), making moral defilement their ongoing work. The culminating evil is that this indulgence is fueled by an insatiable greediness (pleonexia)—a covetous desire for ever-increasing, illicit pleasure. This points to sin becoming a consuming idol, an unending quest for more and more forbidden gratification, highlighting the destructive and endless spiral away from God.