Ephesians 4:28

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have whereof to give to him that hath need.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Ὁ κλέπτων μηκέτι κλεπτέτω: μᾶλλον δὲ κοπιάτω, ἐργαζόμενος τὸ ἀγαθόν ταῖς χερσὶν, ἵνα ἔχῃ μεταδιδόναι τῷ χρείαν ἔχοντι.

Transliteration

The one kleptōn no longer let him kleptetō: mallon de kopiatō, ergazomenos the agathon with the chersin, hina he might echē metadidonai to the one chreian echonti.

Grammar Details

• *kleptōn*: present active participle, nominative masculine singular - stealing
• *kleptetō*: present active imperative, 3rd singular - let him steal
• *mallon*: adverb - rather/instead
• *de*: postpositive particle - but/and
• *kopiatō*: present active imperative, 3rd singular - let him labor
• *ergazomenos*: present middle participle, nominative masculine singular - working/performing
• *agathon*: accusative neuter singular - good
• *chersin*: dative feminine plural - with hands
• *hina*: conjunction - so that/in order that
• *echē*: present active subjunctive, 3rd singular - he might have
• *metadidonai*: present active infinitive - to share/impart
• *chreian*: accusative feminine singular - need
• *echonti*: present active participle, dative masculine singular - having

Word Meanings

• *kleptōn*: stealing/thief
• *kleptetō*: steal/take secretly
• *kopiatō*: labor/toil/work hard
• *ergazomenos*: working/performing/doing
• *agathon*: good/beneficial/worthy
• *metadidonai*: share/impart/give
• *chreian echonti*: one having need/one in need

Referenced Verses

• Exod 20:15 : 15 Thou shalt not steal.
• 1 Thess 4:11-12 : 11 and that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your {G2398} hands, even as we charged you; 12 that ye may walk becomingly toward them that are without, and may have need of nothing.
• 2 Thess 3:11-12 : 11 For we hear of some that walk among you disorderly, that work not at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now them that are such we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
• 1 Tim 6:18 : 18 that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
• Gal 6:10 : 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us work that which is good toward all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith.
• 2 Cor 8:12 : 12 For if the readiness is there, [it is] acceptable according as [a man] hath, not according as [he] hath not.
• 2 Cor 9:12-15 : 12 For the ministration of this service not only filleth up the measure of the wants of the saints, but {G2076} aboundeth also through many thanksgivings unto God; 13 seeing that through the proving [of you] by this ministration they glorify God for the obedience of your confession unto the gospel of Christ, and for the liberality of [your] contribution unto them and unto all; 14 while they themselves also, with supplication on your behalf, long after you by reason of the exceeding grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.
• 2 Thess 3:6-8 : 6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which they received of us. 7 For yourselves know how ye ought to imitate us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; 8 neither did we eat bread for nought at any man's hand, but in labor and travail, working night and day, that we might not burden any of you:
• Exod 20:17 : 17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor's.
• Exod 21:16 : 16 And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.
• Job 34:32 : 32 That which I see not teach thou me: If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more?
• Prov 13:11 : 11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished; But he that gathereth by labor shall have increase.
• Prov 14:23 : 23 In all labor there is profit; But the talk of the lips [tendeth] only to penury.
• Prov 28:13 : 13 He that covereth his transgressions shall not prosper: But whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall obtain mercy.
• Prov 30:9 : 9 Lest I be full, and deny [thee], and say, Who is Jehovah? Or lest I be poor, and steal, And use profanely the name of my God.
• Jer 7:9 : 9 Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods that ye have not known,
• Hos 4:2 : 2 There is nought but swearing and breaking faith, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery; they break out, and blood toucheth blood.
• Zech 5:3 : 3 Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole land: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off on the one side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off on the other side according to it.
• Luke 3:8 : 8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
• Luke 3:10-14 : 10 And the multitudes asked him, saying, What then must we do? 11 And he answered and said unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath food, let him do likewise. 12 And there came also publicans to be baptized, and they said unto him, Teacher, what must we do? 13 And he said unto them, Extort no more than that which is appointed you. 14 And soldiers also asked him, saying, And we, what must we do? And he said unto them, Extort from no man by violence, neither accuse [any one] wrongfully; and be content with your wages.
• Luke 19:8 : 8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have wrongfully exacted aught of any man, I restore fourfold.
• Luke 21:1-4 : 1 And he looked up, and saw the rich men that were casting their gifts into the treasury. 2 And he saw a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. 3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, {G3754} This poor widow cast in more than they all: 4 for all these did of their superfluity cast in unto the gifts; {G2316} but she of her want did cast in all the living that she had.
• John 12:6 : 6 Now this he said, not because he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and having the bag took away what was put therein.
• John 13:29 : 29 For some thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus said unto him, Buy what things we have need of for the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.
• Acts 20:34-35 : 34 Ye yourselves know that these hands ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. 35 In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring ye ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
• Rom 12:13 : 13 communicating to the necessities of the saints; given to hospitality.
• 1 Cor 6:10-11 : 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye were washed, but ye were sanctified, but ye were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.
• 2 Cor 8:2 : 2 how that in much proof of affliction the abundance of their joy and {G2596} their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.