Ephesians Chapter 4 verse 29 Holy Bible
Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for edifying as the need may be, that it may give grace to them that hear.
read chapter 4 in ASV
Let no evil talk come out of your mouth, but only what is good for giving necessary teaching, and for grace to those who give ear.
read chapter 4 in BBE
Let no corrupt word go out of your mouth, but if [there be] any good one for needful edification, that it may give grace to those that hear [it].
read chapter 4 in DARBY
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
read chapter 4 in KJV
read chapter 4 in WBT
Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for building up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear.
read chapter 4 in WEB
Let no corrupt word out of your mouth go forth, but what is good unto the needful building up, that it may give grace to the hearers;
read chapter 4 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 29. - Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth. Not pagans only, but some of whom better things might be expected, need this charge. How revolting is the tendency in some circles to foul and blasphemous conversation; to profane and obscene jests, songs, and allusions: to feed as it were on moral garbage! From Christian mouths no such word should ever issue - it is simply abominable. But that which is good for improvement of the occasion, that it may give grace to them that hear. Speaking should ever bear on improvement or edification, especially on turning passing things to good account. This should be the aim; it does not require speaking to be uniformly grave, but to have an object. It may be quite right to have an enlivening object, but among Christians it should always be such as befits their profession, and tends to help on the exalted objects at which they aim.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(29) Let no corrupt communication . . .--The word rendered "corrupt," is a strong word, signifying "rotten"; used in Matthew 7:17-18, and elsewhere in the literal sense, here alone in the metaphorical. By the corrupt word, probably, here is meant especially the foul word, which is rotten in itself, and spreads rottenness in others.The use of edifying.--This is a mistranslation, by inversion, of a difficult expression, "the building up of the need"--that is, the supplying by suggestion of good the peculiar "need" or defect of the hearer's spiritual state. Perhaps, as before, the word "good" may be taken for gracious and full of sympathy, noting by the quick insight of love what each man's need is, and hastening to speak accordingly, so as to "give grace" or blessing to meet that peculiar need. The same use of the word "grace" is found in 2Corinthians 1:15 ("that ye might have a second benefit"). The same idea is found in 1Thessalonians 3:10, "to perfect that which is lacking in your faith."Here again we have a similar treatment of moral duty. The corrupt word is forbidden, not because it defiles the speaker's own soul, and is an offence in the pure eyes of God, but because it is a sin against others, pulling down instead of building them up, and aggravating, instead of supplying, their moral defects. Like the falsehood, and wrath, and dishonesty, forbidden above, it sins against the unity of all in God.
