The Meaning of Ephesians 5:16 Explained

Ephesians 5:16

KJV: Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

YLT: redeeming the time, because the days are evil;

Darby: redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

ASV: redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Redeeming  the time,  because  the days  are  evil. 

What does Ephesians 5:16 Mean?

Verse Meaning

We live wisely when we use every opportunity to please and glorify the Lord. Every day and every hour provide opportunities, and we should seize them for these purposes. This is important because we live in days that evil influences and evil individuals dominate.

Context Summary

Ephesians 5:13-21 - "redeeming The Time"
The earlier verses remind us of Isaiah 60:1-22. Awake, thou Christian soul; arise from the, dust and put on thy beautiful garments! Stand on the mountain-peak of prayer and Christ shall shine on thee as when morning gilds the highest Alps! The child of God must arise from among those who are yet in their graves, dead in trespasses and sins. He can have no complicity or fellowship with such. Is there effort in this, and cost? Christ will more than compensate. He will satisfy.
The opportunities of life are fleeting past; let us buy them up. They are most valuable, because they form the seed plot of eternity. In the other life we shall reap the harvests which we have prepared for here. "Give every flying minute something to keep in store." Chrysostom, as a young man, kept silent for days together to break himself of a bad habit of detraction. But the Apostle's method is better. Make room for the Holy Spirit. Be filled with Him, and He will use heart and lip in the service of praise and thanksgiving. It is as much our duty to be filled with the Spirit as it is not to get drunk. Remember to give thanks always for all things. Whether you like the packing-case or not, you may be sure that the contents are the very best that God could send you. [source]

Chapter Summary: Ephesians 5

1  After general exhortations to love;
3  to flee sexual immorality;
4  and all uncleanness;
7  not to converse with the wicked;
15  to walk carefully;
18  and to be filled with the Spirit;
22  he descends to the particular duties, how wives ought to obey their husbands;
25  and husbands ought to love their wives,
32  even as Christ does his church

Greek Commentary for Ephesians 5:16

Redeeming the time [εχαγοραζομενοι τον καιρον]
As in Colossians 4:5 which see. [source]
Redeeming the time [ἐξαγοραζόμενοι τὸν καιπόν]
See on Colossians 4:5. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Ephesians 5:16

Galatians 6:10 As we have opportunity [ὡς καιρὸν ἔχωμεν]
As there is a proper season for reaping, there is likewise a proper season for sowing. As this season comes to us, let us sow to the Spirit by doing good. Comp. Ephesians 5:16; Colossians 4:5. [source]
Galatians 3:13 Hath redeemed [ἐξηγόρασεν]
PoBetter redeemed. Comp. Galatians 4:5; Ephesians 5:16; Colossians 4:5. In lxx once, Daniel 2:8. See on Colossians 4:5. [source]
Galatians 3:13 Redeemed us [ημας εχηγορασεν]
First aorist active of the compound verb εχαγοραζω — exagorazō (Polybius, Plutarch, Diodorus), to buy from, to buy back, to ransom. The simple verb αγοραζω — agorazō (1 Corinthians 6:20; 1 Corinthians 7:23) is used in an inscription for the purchase of slaves in a will (Deissmann, Light from the Ancient East, p. 324). See also Galatians 4:5; Colossians 4:5; Ephesians 5:16. Christ purchased us from the curse of the law “Out from (εκ — ek repeated) under (υπο — hupo in Galatians 3:10) the curse of the law.” [source]
Colossians 4:5 Redeeming the time [τὸν καιρὸν ἐξαγοραζόμενοι]
Compare Ephesians 5:16, and Daniel 2:8, Sept. The word is used in the New Testament only by Paul, Galatians 3:13; Galatians 4:5; Ephesians 5:16. The compounded preposition ἐξ has the meaning out of; as Galatians 3:13, “Christ redeemed us out of the curse,” etc., and out and out, fully. So here and Ephesians 5:16, buy up. Rev., in margin, buying up the opportunity. The favorable opportunity becomes ours at the price of duty. [source]
Colossians 4:5 Redeeming the time [τον καιρον εχαγοραζομενοι]
We all have the same time. Paul goes into the open market and buys it up by using it rightly. See the same metaphor in Ephesians 5:16. [source]
2 Timothy 4:18 Every evil work [ἐκ ἔργου πονηρου]
Every design and attempt against him and his work. Πονηρός evilcannot be limited to evil on its active side. See on 1 Corinthians 5:13. The word is connected at the root with πένεσθαι tobe needy, and πονεῖν totoil; and this connection opens a glimpse of that sentiment which associated badness with a poor and toiling condition. The word means originally full of or oppressed by labors; thence, that which brings annoyance or toil. Comp. ἡμέρα πονηρά evilday, Ephesians 5:16; Ephesians 6:13; ἕλκος πονηρὸν agrievous sore, Revelation 16:2. [source]
2 Timothy 3:1 In the last days [εν εσχαταις ημεραις]
See note on James 5:3 and 1 Timothy 4:1. Grievous (χαλεποι — chalepoi). Hard. See Ephesians 5:16. Shall come Future middle of ενιστημι — enistēmi (intransitive use), old verb, to stand on or be at hand, as in 2 Thessalonians 2:2. [source]
2 Timothy 3:1 Grievous [χαλεποι]
Hard. See Ephesians 5:16. [source]

What do the individual words in Ephesians 5:16 mean?

redeeming the time because the days evil are
ἐξαγοραζόμενοι τὸν καιρόν ὅτι αἱ ἡμέραι πονηραί εἰσιν

ἐξαγοραζόμενοι  redeeming 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἐξαγοράζω  
Sense: to redeem.
καιρόν  time 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: καιρός  
Sense: due measure.
ὅτι  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
ἡμέραι  days 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Plural
Root: ἡμέρα  
Sense: the day, used of the natural day, or the interval between sunrise and sunset, as distinguished from and contrasted with the night.
πονηραί  evil 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Feminine Plural
Root: πονηρός  
Sense: full of labours, annoyances, hardships.