Ephesians 5 · Verse 12

Ephesians 5:12

For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.

Ephesians 5:12, King James Version

Ephesians 5:12 in other translations

BSB	For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.
WEB	For it is a shame even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.
ASV	for the things which are done by them in secret it is a shame even to speak of.
YLT	for the things in secret done by them it is a shame even to speak of,
DARBY	for the things that are done by them in secret it is shameful even to say.
BBE	For the things which are done by them in secret it is shame even to put into words.
Webster	For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.

What does Ephesians 5:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

12. The Greek order is, "For the things done in secret by them, it is a shame even to speak of." The "for" gives his reason for "not naming" (compare Ep 5:3) in detail the works of darkness, whereas he describes definitely (Ep 5:9) "the fruit of the light" [Bengel]. "Speak of," I think, is used here as "speaking of without reproving," in contrast to "even reprove them." Thus the "for" expresses this, Reprove them, for to speak of them without reproving them, is a shame (Ep 5:3). Thus "works of darkness" answers to "things done in secret."

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 12. For it is a shame even to speak, etc. Comp. Rom 1:24; also Rom 1:25-32. It is still a shame to speak of the practices of the heathen. Missionaries tell us that they cannot describe the images on the car of Juggernaut, or tell us what is done in the idol temples. All over the world the same thing is true. The cheek of modesty and virtue would be suffused with shame at the very mention of what is done by the worshippers of idols; and the same is true of what is done by multitudes in Christian lands, who are not worshippers of idols. Their deeds cannot be described in the circles of the refined and the delicate; they cannot be told in the presence of mothers and sisters. Is there not emphasis here in the words, "even to SPEAK of those things?" If the apostle would not allow, them to name those things, or to speak of them, is it wise or safe for Christians now to be familiar with the accounts of those practices of pollution, and for ministers to portray them in the pulpit, and for the friends of "moral reform" to describe them before the world? The very naming of those abominations often produces improper associations in the mind; the description creates polluting images before the imagination; the exhibition of pictures, even for the purpose of condemning them, defiles the soul. There are some vices which, from the corruptions of the human heart, cannot be safely described; and it is to be feared that, under the plea of faithfulness, many have done evil by exciting improper feelings, where they should only have alluded to the crime, and then spoken in thunder. Paul did not describe these vices, he denounced them; he did not dwell upon them long enough for the imagination to find employment, and to corrupt the soul. He mentioned the vice, and then he mentioned the wrath of God; he alluded to the sin, and then he spoke of the exclusion from heaven. Comp. 1Cor 6:18.

Which are done of them in secret. Many have supposed that there is an allusion here to the "mysteries" which were celebrated in Greece, usually at night, and far from the public eye. Many of these were indeed impure and abominable, but there is no necessity for supposing that there is such an allusion here. The reference may be to the vices which were secretly practised then as now; the abominations which flee from the eye of day, and which are performed far from the public gaze.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 12 For it is a shame even to speak - This no doubt refers to the Eleusinian and Bacchanalian mysteries, which were performed in the night and darkness, and were known to be so impure and abominable, especially the latter, that the Roman senate banished them both from Rome and Italy. How the discovery of these depths of Satan was made, and the whole proceedings in that case, may be seen in Livy, Hist. lib. xxxix. cap. 8-19, where the reader will see the force of what the apostle says here: It is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret; the abominations being of the most stupendous kind, and of the deepest dye.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ephesians 5:3-14

Filthy lusts must be rooted out. These sins must be dreaded and detested. Here are not only cautions against gross acts of sin, but against what some may make light of. But these things are so far from being profitable. that they pollute and poison the hearers. Our cheerfulness should show itself as becomes Christians, in what may tend to God's glory. A covetous man makes a god of his money; places that hope…

Read the full comment on Ephesians 5:3-14 →

Ephesians 5:12 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

τὰtathe [things]G3588

γὰρgarforG1063

κρυφῇkruphēain secretG2931

γινόμεναginomenabeing doneG1096

ὑπ᾽hup᾽byG5259

αὐτῶνautōnthemG846

αἰσχρόνaischronshamefulG150

ἐστινestinit isG1510

καὶkaievenG2532

λέγειν.legeinto mention.G3004

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Ephesians 5:12

Ephesians 5:3
But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
Romans 2:16
In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
Ecclesiastes 12:14
For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
Jeremiah 23:24
Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord.
2 Samuel 12:12
For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.
1 Peter 4:3
For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
Revelation 20:12
And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Romans 1:24-27
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
Proverbs 9:17
Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
Luke 12:1-2
In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

it.
3; Ro 1:24-27; 1Pe 4:3
in.
2Sa 12:12; Pr 9:17; Ec 12:14; Jer 23:24; Lu 12:1,2; Ro 2:16
Re 20:12

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Ephesians 5:11
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
Ephesians 5:12
For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
Ephesians 5:13
But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

Read all of Ephesians 5

Ephesians 5:12 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Porque torpe cosa es aun hablar de lo que ellos hacen en oculto.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	car les choses qu’ils font en secret, il est honteux même de les dire.
German Elberfelder 1871	denn was heimlich von ihnen geschieht, ist schändlich selbst zu sagen.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Quæ enim in occulto fiunt ab ipsis, turpe est et dicere.