Ephesians Chapter 5 verse 16 Holy Bible

ASV Ephesians 5:16

redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
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BBE Ephesians 5:16

Making good use of the time, because the days are evil.
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DARBY Ephesians 5:16

redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
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KJV Ephesians 5:16

Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
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WBT Ephesians 5:16


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WEB Ephesians 5:16

redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
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YLT Ephesians 5:16

redeeming the time, because the days are evil;
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Pulpit Commentary

Pulpit CommentaryVerse 16. - Redeeming the time, because the days are evil; or, buying up for yourselves the opportunity, the idea being that of a merchant who, knowing the value of an article and the good use to which he can put it, buys it up. The opportunity is the opportunity of spreading the light and acting according to it; and the reason assigned, "because the days are evil," indicates that, owing to the prevalence of evil, there is much need for the light over which the Christian has control. It may be hinted likewise that the prevalence of evil is apt to cool the love and diminish the zeal of the Christian; hence the need for special eagerness of spirit in the matter - he must greedily watch for his opportunity.

Ellicott's Commentary

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(16) Redeeming the time.--Or rather, the opportunity, whenever it arises. The meaning of this phrase (used also in Colossians 4:5) is clearly illustrated by its use (although in a bad sense) in Daniel 2:8, "I know that you would gain the time"--i.e., catch the opportunity to escape from difficulty. To "redeem" is "to buy up for oneself"--not having essentially the idea of ransom or redemption, which attaches to the use of the word in Galatians 3:13; Galatians 4:5, only from the nature of the context. As applied to opportunity, it carries with it the idea, first of making sacrifice for it, then quickness in seizing it, and sagacity in using it to the utmost, whether by silence or by speech, by facing or avoiding danger, by yielding to a crisis (see Romans 12:11) or conquering it. The reason given that "the days are evil" must be taken in the widest sense, of all that induces temptation to swerve out of the "strictness" of the right way. The general lesson is that which is drawn by our Lord in the parable of the Unjust Steward--to apply the wisdom of the buyers and sellers of the world to the work of "the children of light."