Ephesians 5 · Verse 9

Ephesians 5:9

(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
Ephesians 5:9, King James Version

Ephesians 5:9 in other translations

BSBfor the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth.
WEBfor the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth,
ASV(for the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth),
YLTfor the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth,
DARBY(for the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth,)
BBE(Because the fruit of the light is in all righteousness and in everything which is good and true),
Webster(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth;)

What does Ephesians 5:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
9. fruit of the Spirit--taken by transcribers from Ga 5:22. The true reading is that of the oldest manuscripts, "The fruit of THE LIGHT"; in contrast with "the unfruitful works of darkness" (Ep 5:11). This verse is parenthetic. Walk as children of light, that is, in all good works and words, "FOR the fruit of the light is [borne] in [Alford; but Bengel, 'consists in'] all goodness [opposed to 'malice,' Ep 4:31], righteousness [opposed to 'covetousness,' Ep 5:3] and truth [opposed to 'lying,' Ep 4:25]."

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 9. For the fruit of the Spirit. That is, since the Holy Spirit, through the gospel, produces goodness, righteousness, and truth, see that you exhibit these in your lives, and thus show that you are the children of light. On the fruits of the Spirit, Gall 5:22,23.

Is in all goodness. Is seen in producing all kinds of goodness. He who is not good is not a Christian.

(g) "of the Spirit" Gall 5:22

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 9 For the fruit of the Spirit - Instead of Spirit, Πνευματος, ABD*EFG, the Syriac, Coptic, Sahidic, Ethiopic, Armenian, Vulgate, and Itala, together with several of the fathers, read φωτος, light, which is supposed by most critics to be the true reading, because there is no mention made of the Spirit in any part of the context. As light, Eph 5:8, not only means the Divine influence upon the soul, but also the Gospel, with great propriety it may be said: The fruit of the light, i.e. of the Gospel, is in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth. Goodness, αγαθωσυνῃ, in the principle and disposition; righteousness, δικαιοσυνη, the exercise of that goodness in the whole conduct of life; truth, αληθεια, the director of that principle, and its exercise, to the glorification of God and the good of mankind.

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 5:9 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.

ὁho<the>G3588
γὰρgarforG1063
καρπὸςkarposthe fruitG2590
τοῦtouof theG3588
φωτὸςphōtoslight [is]G5457
ἐνeninG1722
πάσῃpasēallG3956
ἀγαθωσύνῃagathōsunēgoodnessG19
καὶkaiandG2532
δικαιοσύνῃdikaiosunēin righteousnessG1343
καὶkaiandG2532
ἀληθείᾳ,alētheiain truth —G225

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

Cross references for Ephesians 5:9

  • Galatians 5:22-23

    But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

  • 3 John 1:11

    Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

  • 1 John 3:9-10

    Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

  • Romans 15:14

    And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.

  • Ephesians 6:14

    Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

  • 1 Timothy 6:11

    But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

  • Philippians 1:11

    Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

  • Psalms 16:2-3

    O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee; But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.

  • 1 Peter 2:24-25

    Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

  • Hebrews 11:33

    Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

  • Ephesians 4:15

    But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

  • Romans 2:4

    Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the fruit.
Ga 5:22,23
goodness.
Ps 16:2,3; Ro 2:4; 15:14; 1Pe 2:25; 3Jo 1:11
righteousness.
Php 1:11; 1Ti 6:11; Heb 1:8; 11:33; 1Pe 2:24; 1Jo 2:29; 3:9,10
truth.
4:15,25; 6:14; Joh 1:47

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

Context

  • Ephesians 5:8

    For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

  • Ephesians 5:9

    (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

  • Ephesians 5:10

    Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

Read all of Ephesians 5

Ephesians 5:9 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
(Porque el fruto del Espíritu es en toda bondad, y justicia, y verdad;)
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
(car le fruit de la lumière consiste en toute bonté, et justice, et vérité),
German
Elberfelder 1871
,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
fructus enim lucis est in omni bonitate, et justitia, et veritate: