Ephesians 5:9 kjv
(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
Ephesians 5:9 nkjv
(for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),
Ephesians 5:9 niv
(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)
Ephesians 5:9 esv
(for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),
Ephesians 5:9 nlt
For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.
Ephesians 5 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Eph 5:10 | ...to the Lord. | Clarifies the ultimate aim of spiritual fruit |
| Gal 5:22 | But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, | Defines the specific aspects of the Spirit's fruit |
| Col 1:9 | ...filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; | Links spiritual fruit to God's will |
| 1 Thess 5:23 | ... your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. | Shows the holistic nature of spiritual renewal |
| Titus 2:12 | ... live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world; | Mirrors the virtues mentioned in Eph 5:9 |
| 1 John 3:8 | ...the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. | Connects the Spirit's work to victory over sin |
| Acts 10:38 | ... God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. | Illustrates "doing good" in action |
| Phil 1:11 | Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. | Attributes righteous fruit to Christ |
| Romans 6:22 | But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. | Connects fruit to holiness and eternal life |
| Hebrews 12:11 | Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. | Links righteousness to discipline |
| 2 Peter 1:5-7 | And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. | Lists virtues complementary to the Spirit's fruit |
| 1 Cor 6:19-20 | What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are of God. | Emphasizes the indwelling Spirit's role |
| John 15:5 | I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. | Stresses dependence on Christ for fruitfulness |
| Eph 4:30 | And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. | Warns against quenching the Spirit's work |
| Gal 3:3 | Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? | Contrasts Spirit-led life with flesh-led life |
| Eph 5:11 | And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. | Provides a contrasting behavior to the fruit of the Spirit |
| Eph 5:13 | But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth manifest is light. | Links spiritual fruit to exposure of darkness |
| Eph 4:24 | And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. | Echoes the concepts of righteousness and truth |
| 1 John 1:7 | But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. | Connects walking in light with purity |
| Col 3:10 | And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: | Reinforces the concept of a transformed life |
| 2 Cor 3:18 | But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. | Describes the process of transformation by the Spirit |
Ephesians 5 verses
Ephesians 5 9 Meaning
The fruit of the Spirit, manifesting in all goodness, righteousness, and truth.
Ephesians 5 9 Context
Ephesians 5:9 follows a command to "walk as children of light." In the preceding verses, Paul contrasts the conduct of believers with the "unfruitful works of darkness." He then instructs them to expose these works by bringing them to light. Verse 9 provides the positive and essential characteristic of this "walking in the light." It is not merely a negative abstinence from evil, but a positive outworking of the Spirit's presence within them. The chapter itself deals with living a life worthy of one's calling in Christ, emphasizing unity, holiness, and imitating God. The immediate context highlights the radical transformation that occurs when one becomes a child of light, shifting from a life characterized by darkness to one filled with the attributes of God. This transformed life is demonstrated through actions and attitudes that are pleasing to Him.
Ephesians 5 9 Word Analysis
- γαρ (gar): A conjunction, often translated as "for" or "because." It introduces an explanation or reason for the preceding statement. Here, it signifies that the fruit of the Spirit is the very essence of walking as children of light.
- ο (ho): The definite article, "the." It points to a specific and well-defined category: the "fruit."
- καρπος (karpos): Means "fruit." It refers to the product or outcome of growth. In a spiritual sense, it signifies the results of the Holy Spirit's indwelling and work in a believer's life. This is a singular noun, suggesting a unified expression of the Spirit's presence, though manifested in diverse ways.
- του (tou): The genitive case of the definite article, "of the." It connects "fruit" to its source.
- πνευματος (pneumatos): The genitive case of πνεῦμα (pneuma), meaning "spirit" or "Spirit." This refers to the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, who indwells believers. The fruit is produced by and belongs to the Holy Spirit.
- εξ (ex): A preposition meaning "from" or "out of." It indicates the origin or source from which the fruit is derived.
- παντος (pantos): The genitive neuter singular of πᾶς (pas), meaning "all" or "every." When used with "goodness," it intensifies the meaning, suggesting a fullness and completeness.
- αγαθωσυνη (agathosynē): Means "goodness," "benevolence," or "virtue." It refers to an innate quality of moral excellence and well-doing, a disposition to do good. It is an active rather than a passive goodness.
- και (kai): A conjunction, usually translated as "and." It links two or more items, in this case, "goodness" and "righteousness" and "truth."
- δικαιοσυνη (dikaiosynē): Means "righteousness." It signifies conformity to divine law, justice, and moral uprightness. It involves both imputed righteousness (standing right with God) and imparted righteousness (living right before God).
- αληθεια (alētheia): Means "truth." It refers to reality, sincerity, faithfulness, and honesty. In a spiritual context, it points to that which is genuine, unfeigned, and in alignment with God's revealed truth.
Word Groups Analysis
- "fruit of the Spirit" (καρπος του πνευματος): This phrase is foundational. It distinguishes this goodness, righteousness, and truth as divinely generated, not self-achieved. It contrasts with the "works of the flesh" (Gal 5:19-21), which are impure and temporary. The singularity of "fruit" suggests a unified essence of the Spirit's work, blossoming into various attributes.
- "all goodness" (παντος αγαθωσυνη): "All" (παντος) here amplifies "goodness," suggesting completeness and comprehensiveness. It's not just isolated acts of kindness but an entire disposition of moral excellence, covering every facet of one's character and actions.
- "righteousness and truth" (δικαιοσυνη και αληθεια): These two terms represent the outward manifestation of inner purity. Righteousness is the correct conduct, alignment with God's will, while truth is the sincere and genuine nature of that conduct. Together, they paint a picture of a life that is not only outwardly compliant with God's standards but also inwardly characterized by sincerity and reality.
Ephesians 5 9 Bonus Section
The specific combination of "goodness, righteousness, and truth" echoes Old Testament descriptions of God's character and requirements for His people. For instance, Hosea 4:1 states, "Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land." This verse in Ephesians calls believers to embody these very qualities that were lacking in Israel. Furthermore, the progression from darkness to light, and the resultant fruit, is a theme that runs throughout Scripture, marking the salvific work of God and the transformation of the believer. The concept of "fruit of the Spirit" in a singular form, elaborated by Galatians 5:22-23, emphasizes a unified outworking of the Spirit's presence. The enumeration in Ephesians 5:9 offers a concise summary of the major categories that the fruit of the Spirit should encompass: ethical well-being, correct relationship with God and man, and inner integrity.
Ephesians 5 9 Commentary
Ephesians 5:9 succinctly describes the core essence of Christian living as a direct result of the Holy Spirit's presence. It is the tangible expression of spiritual transformation. This is not about self-improvement or legalistic adherence to rules, but about the inherent character produced by the Spirit within a believer. "All goodness" speaks to a comprehensive inner disposition of moral excellence that flows outward. "Righteousness" is the active pursuit and embodiment of God's standards in all actions. "Truth" ensures that this goodness and righteousness are genuine, sincere, and reflect the reality of God's truth. Therefore, this verse presents a tripartite nature of the fruit of the Spirit: an intrinsic moral quality, outward ethical behavior, and sincere authenticity, all sourced from the Holy Spirit and lived out in the context of divine illumination. It is the evidence of having transitioned from the works of darkness to the ways of light, pleasing and glorifying God.
Practical Usage Examples
- When responding to a difficult person, exhibiting patient understanding ("goodness"), speaking a truthful but gentle correction ("righteousness"), and being genuine in your concern ("truth").
- In the workplace, consistently delivering high-quality work ("goodness"), being fair and honest in dealings ("righteousness"), and being transparent in communication ("truth").
- When discussing doctrinal matters, holding to biblical truth ("truth"), upholding sound doctrine ("righteousness"), and showing a spirit of love and grace even in disagreement ("goodness").