Ephesians 4:28

King James Version with Strong's Numbers

Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

📖 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 own hands, as we commanded you; 12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.
• 2 Thess 3:11-12 : 11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our 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, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
• Gal 6:10 : 10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
• 2 Cor 8:12 : 12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
• 2 Cor 9:12-15 : 12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; 13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men; 14 And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you. 15 {G1161} Thanks be unto 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 he received of us. 7 For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; 8 Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:
• Exod 20:17 : 17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour'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 no more.
• Prov 13:11 : 11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.
• Prov 14:23 : 23 In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
• Prov 28:13 : 13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
• Prov 30:9 : 9 Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.
• Jer 7:9 : 9 Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not;
• Hos 4:2 : 2 By swearing, and lying, 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 earth: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that 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 people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? 11 He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. 12 Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? 13 And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you. 14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; 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 taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
• Luke 21:1-4 : 1 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. 2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. 3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: 4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.
• John 12:6 : 6 {G1161} This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
• John 13:29 : 29 For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.
• Acts 20:34-35 : 34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. 35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
• Rom 12:13 : 13 Distributing to the necessity of 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 are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
• 2 Cor 8:2 : 2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.