Ephesians 5:3

¶ But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

But {G2532} fornication {G4202}, and {G1161} all {G3956} uncleanness {G167}, or {G2228} covetousness {G4124}, let it {G3687} not be once {G3366} named {G3687} among {G1722} you {G5213}, as {G2531} becometh {G4241} saints {G40};

Among you there should not even be mentioned sexual immorality, or any kind of impurity, or greed; these are utterly inappropriate for God’s holy people.

But among you, as is proper among the saints, there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed.

But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as becometh saints;

Commentary

Ephesians 5:3 (KJV)

¶ But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

Commentary

This verse is part of Paul's exhortation to the Ephesian believers to live lives that reflect their new identity in Christ, in contrast to the pagan lifestyle they previously followed or were surrounded by in the city of Ephesus.

The passage lists specific behaviors that are utterly incompatible with being a "saint" (ἅγιος - hagios), which means "holy ones" or "set apart ones."

  • Fornication (πορνεία - porneia): This is a broad term encompassing various forms of sexual immorality outside of marriage.
  • Uncleanness (ἀκαθαρσία - akatharsia): Refers to moral impurity, often linked to sexual sins but can include other defiling practices or states of mind.
  • Covetousness (πλεονεξία - pleonexia): Greed, an insatiable desire for more, often linked by Paul to idolatry (see Colossians 3:5) because it involves putting worldly desires above God.

The strong phrase "let it not be once named among you" highlights the absolute incompatibility of these sins with Christian living. It suggests that these behaviors should be so foreign to the community of believers that they are not even topics of conversation or examples observed among them, except perhaps in condemnation of the world's ways.

The core message is a call to radical purity and separation from the immoral and greedy practices common in the surrounding culture. Believers, as those set apart for God, are to live lives marked by holiness, reflecting their true nature and calling.

Practically, this verse challenges believers to not only avoid the acts of sexual sin, impurity, and greed but also to cultivate an environment and conversation that is so contrary to these things that they are genuinely "not named" among them as accepted or practiced behaviors.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Colossians 3:5

    ¶ Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

  • Ephesians 5:5

    For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

  • Galatians 5:19

    Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

  • Galatians 5:21

    Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

  • 1 Corinthians 6:18

    Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

  • 1 Thessalonians 4:3

    For this is the will of God, [even] your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

  • 1 Thessalonians 4:7

    For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
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