Ephesians 5 12

Ephesians 5:12 kjv

For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.

Ephesians 5:12 nkjv

For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.

Ephesians 5:12 niv

It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.

Ephesians 5:12 esv

For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.

Ephesians 5:12 nlt

It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret.

Ephesians 5 verses

Ephesians 5 12 meaning

Ephesians 5:12 declares that it is morally repulsive and disgraceful to even mention, let alone elaborate on, the secret acts committed by those who engage in darkness. The verse underscores the extreme vileness and indecency of such deeds, implying that their very description would be defiling to the speaker and hearers, reflecting the deep contrast between Christian conduct and pagan immorality.

Ephesians 5 12 Context

Ephesians 5:12 stands within a section (Eph 5:3-14) where Paul exhorts believers to live as children of light, sharply contrasting their new identity with the behaviors characteristic of their former lives and the surrounding pagan culture. Beginning in verse 3, Paul lists various vices like sexual immorality, impurity, greed, filthy talk, and coarse jesting, declaring that these are "not even to be named" among believers. Verse 11 instructs them to have no fellowship with the "unfruitful deeds of darkness" but instead to "expose them." Verse 12 then offers a powerful explanation for why these deeds must not only be shunned but are also abhorrent to even articulate: "For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret." This bridges the command to "expose" in v.11 with the method and limits of exposure, further elucidated in v.13, where light makes all things visible. Historically, the Ephesian context included pervasive pagan worship, often involving mystery cults and rituals associated with immorality, revelry, and occult practices conducted away from public view. Paul's admonition thus functions as a direct polemic against such lifestyles, emphasizing a radical separation for the Christian.

Ephesians 5 12 Word analysis

• For (γὰρ, gar): A conjunction introducing an explanation or reason. It links this verse back to the preceding command to expose deeds of darkness (v.11), providing the justification for why it is also shameful to speak of them.
• it is shameful (αἰσχρόν, aischron): This Greek word denotes something disgraceful, repulsive, base, morally repugnant, or ugly. It goes beyond mere inappropriateness, conveying a strong sense of moral abhorrence and infamy. The focus is on the inherent foulness of the acts.
• even (καὶ, kai): An emphatic particle here, stressing the extreme nature of the shame. It's not just shameful to do them, but "even to speak" about them is shameful, highlighting the depth of their depravity.
• to speak (λέγειν, legein): The infinitive verb, meaning "to say," "to tell," "to speak." Paul warns against verbalizing, describing, or detailing these actions. The very act of naming or narrating them risks defiling the listener and speaker.
• of those things (τὰ, ta): The definite article, plural neuter, functioning substantivally. It refers broadly to the unspecified, unspeakable acts mentioned in context (sexual immorality, impurity, greed, debauchery, etc., implied from previous verses).
• which are done (γινόμενα, ginomena): Present participle, neuter plural, meaning "being done" or "occurring." It suggests ongoing, active, and continuous commission of these deeds.
• by them (ὑπ’ αὐτῶν, hyp' autōn): Refers to the "sons of disobedience" or those engaged in the "unfruitful deeds of darkness" from v.6-11, i.e., those living outside of Christ's light.
• in secret (κρυφῇ, kryphē): An adverb, meaning "secretly," "in hidden places," "privately." It underscores the covert nature of these acts, often associated with a deliberate attempt to conceal their evil from public view, further associating them with darkness and moral corruption.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "For it is shameful even to speak": This phrase underscores the absolute moral repugnance of the actions. The strong Greek term for "shameful" (aischron) indicates an act so morally abhorrent that mere verbalization carries a risk of defilement or desensitization. The addition of "even" (kai) intensifies this prohibition, emphasizing that these actions fall beyond the bounds of ordinary discussion.
• "of those things which are done by them in secret": This specifies the subject of the shame: the hidden, continuing practices of unbelievers. "In secret" highlights the character of darkness associated with these deeds, distinguishing them from open, public sins (though no less condemned). It suggests a deliberate concealment of vile acts. "By them" clearly demarcates the practitioners as those who oppose the ways of God.

Ephesians 5 12 Bonus section

The tension between "exposing them" (v.11) and "it is shameful even to speak of" (v.12) is often discussed by scholars. The resolution lies in understanding the nature of "exposure." Exposing evil deeds means shining light on their existence and demonstrating their moral vileness according to God's standards (e.g., calling out specific categories of sin such as sexual immorality, impurity, greed, as Paul does in v.3), rather than giving explicit, descriptive details that might defile the speaker or listener. It means revealing that they are happening and that they are wrong, rather than narrating the "how" in lurid detail. The shame in speaking is tied to the morally corrupting content of the speech, not to the general condemnation of sin. A healthy Christian dialogue condemns sin in principle and in specific general terms, but does not indulge in recounting its repulsive manifestations, particularly those committed covertly. This verse implicitly teaches a boundary for how Christians discuss even genuine evils; purity of speech must always be maintained.

Ephesians 5 12 Commentary

Ephesians 5:12 functions as a stern caution and moral compass within Paul's discourse on Christian living. After urging believers to expose the unfruitful deeds of darkness, Paul provides a necessary qualifier: while exposure is vital for light-dwellers, it is not an invitation to gratuitously detail or wallow in the sordid specifics of depravity. The "shameful" (αἰσχρόν) nature of these secret acts means that their mere mention is considered polluting. This prohibition serves multiple purposes: it preserves the moral purity of the believer's tongue and mind, shields the hearers from defilement and potential temptation, and powerfully emphasizes the immense chasm between the ethics of Christ's kingdom and the pervasive immorality of the pagan world. Exposure (v.11) should involve judging the nature of sin and identifying it as evil, not graphically recounting its specific, repugnant details, especially those hidden in darkness. The point is not to ignore evil, but to recoil from its loathsome essence, including the contamination of verbalizing its specifics.