Ephesians 5:18 kjv
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
Ephesians 5:18 nkjv
And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
Ephesians 5:18 niv
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,
Ephesians 5:18 esv
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,
Ephesians 5:18 nlt
Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,
Ephesians 5 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Eph 5:19 | ...speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs... | Connected theme of spiritual expression |
| Gal 5:16 | Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. | Principle of Spirit-led living |
| Gal 5:22-23 | But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; | Qualities produced by the Spirit's filling |
| Rom 12:2 | Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind... | Transformation through spiritual renewal |
| Acts 2:4 | And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. | The Spirit filling empowering outward expression |
| 1 Thes 5:19 | Do not quench the Spirit. | Exhortation regarding the Spirit's work |
| John 15:4-5 | Abide in me, and I in you. | The necessity of a continuous connection with Christ for spiritual vitality |
| Col 3:16 | Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom... | The Word and Spirit working together |
| Eph 1:23 | ...which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. | Christ as the source of fullness |
| Eph 3:19 | ...to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. | Experiencing God's fullness through love |
| Luke 1:15 | for he will be great before the Lord. And he must never drink wine or strong drink. | John the Baptist, set apart for God's service, abstaining from wine |
| Prov 20:1 | Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise. | Wisdom on the dangers of alcohol |
| Prov 23:29-30 | Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has fresh wounds without cause? Who has red eyes? Those who tarry long over wine... | Warnings against excessive drinking |
| Isa 5:11 | Woe to those who rise early in the morning, that they may pursue strong drink, who tarry late into the evening as the wine inflames them! | Prophetic denunciation of drunkenness |
| Joel 2:28-29 | “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.” | Old Testament prophecy of the Spirit's outpouring |
| Acts 4:8 | Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them... | New Testament example of Spirit-filled leadership |
| Acts 13:52 | And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. | Continued state of being filled with the Spirit |
| Rom 8:9 | ...if by any means the Spirit of God dwells in you. | The presence of the indwelling Spirit |
| 1 Cor 6:19-20 | Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you have been bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body. | The believer's body as a temple of the Spirit |
| 2 Cor 3:18 | And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. | Transformation by beholding the glory of the Lord through the Spirit |
| Eph 4:30 | And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. | The sensitivity of the Holy Spirit |
| Eph 6:18 | praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. | Prayer as an avenue for Spirit-filled living |
Ephesians 5 verses
Ephesians 5 18 Meaning
Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit. This verse contrasts habitual drunkenness, characterized by dissoluteness and ruin, with being continually filled with the Holy Spirit. It emphasizes a sober, self-controlled life empowered by the Spirit, leading to joyous expression and godly conduct.
Ephesians 5 18 Context
Ephesians chapter 5 is situated within Paul's pastoral instructions to the church in Ephesus, focusing on practical Christian living. Following exhortations on holy conduct and sexual purity (4:17-5:17), this verse serves as a pivotal command concerning the believer's internal state and external demeanor, particularly in social gatherings where wine consumption might be prevalent. The broader context of Ephesians addresses themes of unity in Christ, salvation by grace, and the spiritual resources available to believers through the church. Historically, communal meals were significant in Greco-Roman society, and excess in wine was a common societal issue.
Ephesians 5 18 Word analysis
- and (kai): A common conjunction connecting clauses and ideas.
- be not (mē metheuōmenoi): From methuō, meaning to be drunk, intoxicated. The present passive participle used imperatively (though translated with 'be not'), suggesting a continuous state to be avoided. It's an active refusal of this condition.
- drunk (metheuō): Specifically refers to intoxication by wine or strong drink. Implies being overcome or controlled by the substance.
- with wine (apo oinou): "From wine." Indicates wine as the source or cause of the intoxication.
- wherein is (en hōi estin): "in which is." Refers back to wine.
- excess (asōtia): From asōtos, meaning prodigality, debauchery, licentiousness, dissolute conduct, wastefulness. It signifies a reckless, unrestrained, and destructive lifestyle that squanders resources or life itself. It's a state of riotous living and moral corruption.
- but (alla): A strong contrast. Shifts from the negative to the positive.
- be filled (plērousthe): From plēroō, meaning to fill up, complete, fulfill, make full. This is a passive imperative. The action is done by an external agent – the Spirit. It implies being permeated, empowered, and controlled by the Spirit. The ongoing present tense suggests a continuous state of being filled, not a one-time event.
- with the Spirit (pneumatos): Genitive case, indicating the source or agent of the filling. "The Spirit" here refers specifically to the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess": This phrase directly addresses the practice of becoming intoxicated with wine, characterizing such intoxication as inherently linked to "excess"—a loss of self-control, moral decay, and potentially destructive behavior. It warns against any substance that leads to such unbridled living. The original Greek implies a state of being overpowered by wine.
- "but be filled with the Spirit": This is a direct command for believers to be filled, possessed, and controlled by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is presented as the divine agent of empowerment, wisdom, and godliness, directly contrasting with the carnal influence of excessive wine. This filling is to be a continuous, active engagement with the Holy Spirit, not a passive experience. It suggests yielding one's whole being to the Spirit's influence and control.
Ephesians 5 18 Bonus section
The word asōtia (excess) carries a strong sense of wasteful profligacy, suggesting that letting wine control oneself is a waste of God-given faculties and opportunities. Conversely, being "filled with the Spirit" implies that the Spirit’s presence makes one more effective and purposeful, not less. The contrast also hints at the nature of spiritual intoxication—a sobriety that is joyful and leads to worship, unlike the drunken state which leads to confusion and debauchery. This verse is foundational to understanding the empowered life of a Christian, which is entirely Spirit-dependent and oriented towards God's glory. The active, willing surrender to the Spirit's filling is crucial.
Ephesians 5 18 Commentary
This verse commands a distinct lifestyle for believers, contrasted with common societal excesses. Instead of being controlled by fermented drink and the accompanying loss of inhibition and reason, believers are called to be continuously controlled and empowered by the Holy Spirit. This "filling" is not about emotionalism alone but a deep, pervasive influence of the Spirit that results in changed behavior, speech, and worship. It calls for a deliberate yielding to the Spirit's leading in every aspect of life.
- Practical Application: Regularly dedicate your life to the Holy Spirit's control through prayer and dependence. Listen for His guidance in conversations and decisions. Pursue worship and spiritual activities that honor God.
- Worship Focus: The Spirit-filled life should manifest in joyful, God-honoring worship, as described in the following verses with singing and hymns.
- Self-Control: The antithesis of being drunk with wine is the self-control and sober-mindedness that results from being filled with the Spirit.