Ephesians 5:8 kjv
For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
Ephesians 5:8 nkjv
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
Ephesians 5:8 niv
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light
Ephesians 5:8 esv
for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
Ephesians 5:8 nlt
For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!
Ephesians 5 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 1:9 | ...the true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. | Light of the world |
| John 3:19-21 | Light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light... | Rejection of Light |
| John 8:12 | "I am the light of the world..." | Jesus as Light |
| John 12:35-36 | "Walk in the light while you have the light..." | Walking in Light |
| Acts 26:18 | "...to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light..." | Transformation |
| Rom 1:21 | ...became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. | Spiritual Darkness |
| Rom 13:12 | ...let us put off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. | Contrast of Lives |
| 1 Cor 6:11 | And such were some of you. But you were washed... sanctified... justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ... | Sanctification |
| 2 Cor 4:6 | For God, who said "Let light shine out of darkness," has made this light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory... | God's Illumination |
| Eph 4:17-18 | ...live no longer as the Gentiles live, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding... | Futile Minds |
| Eph 4:22-24 | ...put off your old self, which belongs to your former way of life and is corrupted... be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and... put on the new self, created after the likeness of God... | New Self |
| Eph 5:11 | Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. | Exposing Darkness |
| Col 1:13-14 | He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption... | Deliverance |
| Col 3:7 | In these you too once walked, when you were living among them. | Past Life |
| Col 3:10 | ... and have been renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. | Renewal |
| 1 Thess 5:5 | For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. | Children of Light |
| 1 Thess 5:8 | ...put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. | Spiritual Armor |
| Heb 12:1 | ...let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us | Running the Race |
| 1 Peter 2:9 | But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. | Called out of Darkness |
| 1 John 1:7 | But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. | Fellowship in Light |
| 1 John 2:9 | Whoever says he is in the light, but hates his brother, is still in darkness. | Love for Brother |
| 1 John 2:11 | But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness... | Hatred in Darkness |
Ephesians 5 verses
Ephesians 5 8 Meaning
You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.
Ephesians 5 8 Context
This verse is part of Paul's exhortation in Ephesians 5 for believers to live transformed lives. Chapter 5 begins with "Be imitators of God" (5:1) and moves to instructions about walking in love, avoiding sexual immorality and impurity, and speaking in psalms. It contrasts the behavior of those in darkness with the lifestyle expected of those who are light in the Lord. This specific verse serves as a foundational statement, explaining the radical shift that occurs through Christ. The context of the letter itself is Paul's profound understanding of God's eternal purpose, the unity of Jews and Gentiles in the church, and the spiritual blessings believers have received in Christ.
Ephesians 5 8 Word Analysis
- vhm" (hēm’) - Greek pronoun, meaning "you" (plural). Refers to the recipients of Paul's letter, the believers at Ephesus.
- p0otvj (pote) - Greek adverb, meaning "once," "at one time," "formerly." It signifies a past state or condition that has now changed.
- %y't3 (es-te) - Greek verb, second person plural present indicative of "eimi" (eimi), meaning "to be." It asserts a present reality: "you are."
- tovrw (skoto) - Greek noun, dative case, meaning "darkness." It refers to a state of spiritual ignorance, sinfulness, and alienation from God. In a broader sense, it signifies a place or condition characterized by these attributes.
- nwJ qhOq (phōs en) - Greek phrase, meaning "light in." "Phōs" (phōs) means light, illumination, revelation, and truth. It represents spiritual understanding, holiness, and closeness to God. "En" (en) is a preposition meaning "in." This phrase indicates the location or source of this light—within the Lord.
- kuiu (kuriō) - Greek noun, dative case, meaning "Lord." This refers to Jesus Christ, who is Lord over all. Being "in the Lord" signifies being united with Him through faith.
Group Analysis:
- "You were once darkness": This phrase "es-te skoto" emphasizes a former state. The believers are not described as in darkness but as being darkness, highlighting the pervasiveness of their past condition of sin and ignorance before their conversion.
- "but now you are light in the Lord": The contrast is stark. "Phōs en kuriō" signifies a fundamental transformation. They have not merely received light, but they now are light, and this new nature, this capacity for spiritual illumination and holiness, is found "in the Lord" – a direct result of their union with Christ.
Ephesians 5 8 Bonus Section
The concept of light and darkness is a recurring motif throughout Scripture, established in Genesis 1:3 ("Let there be light") and extending through Revelation 22:5 ("they need no lamp nor the light of the sun, for the Lord God will be their light"). Jesus identifies Himself as "the light of the world" (John 8:12), and believers are called to be "children of light" (1 Thess 5:5) and to "walk in the light" (1 John 1:7). This verse in Ephesians emphasizes that the source and basis of this new identity as light is their profound, life-transforming union with the Lord Jesus Christ. It is not something they achieve or earn, but something received and lived out in Him. The change from "darkness" to "light" is total, affecting their spiritual perception, moral disposition, and eternal destiny.
Ephesians 5 8 Commentary
This verse succinctly describes the salvific transformation experienced by believers. Before encountering Christ, their spiritual state was one of pervasive darkness—marked by ignorance of God, association with sin, and separation from divine truth. The advent of Christ into their lives, through the power of the Holy Spirit, has fundamentally changed their identity. They are now 'light in the Lord,' meaning they possess spiritual understanding, live in holiness, and are aligned with God's truth, all because of their inseparable union with Jesus Christ. This is not merely a change in behavior but a change in essence.
- Practical Usage: When facing temptation to revert to old sinful habits, remember you are light in the Lord, empowered to overcome.
- Practical Usage: Live in a way that reflects this new identity, illuminating the world around you with God's truth and love.
- Practical Usage: Understand that this transformation is solely due to being "in the Lord," humbling us and attributing all glory to Christ.