Ephesians 5:8

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live like children of light–

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • John 8:12 : 12 Jesus as the Light of the World Then Jesus spoke out again,“I am the light of the world! The one who follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
  • Acts 26:18 : 18 to open their eyes so that they turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
  • 1 Pet 2:9-9 : 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may proclaim the virtues of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 You once were not a people, but now you are God’s people. You were shown no mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to keep away from fleshly desires that do battle against the soul,
  • 1 John 1:7 : 7 But if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
  • Eph 2:2 : 2 in which you formerly lived according to this world’s present path, according to the ruler of the domain of the air, the ruler of the spirit that is now energizing the sons of disobedience,
  • John 12:36 : 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become sons of light.” When Jesus had said these things, he went away and hid himself from them.
  • Luke 16:8 : 8 The master commended the dishonest manager because he acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their contemporaries than the people of light.
  • Isa 42:6-7 : 6 “I, the LORD, officially commission you; I take hold of your hand. I protect you and make you a covenant mediator for people, and a light to the nations, 7 to open blind eyes, to release prisoners from dungeons, those who live in darkness from prisons.
  • Isa 60:19-20 : 19 The sun will no longer supply light for you by day, nor will the moon’s brightness shine on you; the LORD will be your permanent source of light– the splendor of your God will shine upon you. 20 Your sun will no longer set; your moon will not disappear; the LORD will be your permanent source of light; your time of sorrow will be over.
  • Isa 2:5 : 5 O descendants of Jacob, come, let us walk in the LORD’s guiding light.
  • Isa 9:2 : 2 (9:1) The people walking in darkness see a bright light; light shines on those who live in a land of deep darkness.
  • Eph 4:18 : 18 They are darkened in their understanding, being alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts.
  • Eph 6:12 : 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.
  • Col 1:13 : 13 He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son he loves,
  • 1 Thess 5:4-8 : 4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the darkness for the day to overtake you like a thief would. 5 For you all are sons of the light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of the darkness. 6 So then we must not sleep as the rest, but must stay alert and sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8 But since we are of the day, we must stay sober by putting on the breastplate of faith and love and as a helmet our hope for salvation.
  • Titus 3:3 : 3 For we too were once foolish, disobedient, misled, enslaved to various passions and desires, spending our lives in evil and envy, hateful and hating one another.
  • 1 John 2:8-9 : 8 On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. 9 The one who says he is in the light but still hates his fellow Christian is still in the darkness. 10 The one who loves his fellow Christian resides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But the one who hates his fellow Christian is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
  • Ps 74:20 : 20 Remember your covenant promises, for the dark regions of the earth are full of places where violence rules.
  • Gal 5:25 : 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also behave in accordance with the Spirit.
  • Rom 1:21 : 21 For although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or give him thanks, but they became futile in their thoughts and their senseless hearts were darkened.
  • Rom 2:19 : 19 and if you are convinced that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,
  • 1 Cor 1:30 : 30 He is the reason you have a relationship with Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption,
  • 2 Cor 3:18 : 18 And we all, with unveiled faces reflecting the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, which is from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
  • 2 Cor 4:6 : 6 For God, who said“Let light shine out of darkness,” is the one who shined in our hearts to give us the light of the glorious knowledge of God in the face of Christ.
  • John 1:4-5 : 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind. 5 And the light shines on in the darkness, but the darkness has not mastered it.
  • John 1:9 : 9 The true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
  • John 12:46 : 46 I have come as a light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in darkness.
  • Acts 17:30 : 30 Therefore, although God has overlooked such times of ignorance, he now commands all people everywhere to repent,
  • Jer 13:16 : 16 Show the LORD your God the respect that is due him. Do it before he brings the darkness of disaster. Do it before you stumble into distress like a traveler on the mountains at twilight. Do it before he turns the light of deliverance you hope for into the darkness and gloom of exile.
  • Matt 4:16 : 16 the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, and on those who sit in the region and shadow of death a light has dawned.”
  • Luke 1:79 : 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
  • Isa 42:16 : 16 I will lead the blind along an unfamiliar way; I will guide them down paths they have never traveled. I will turn the darkness in front of them into light, and level out the rough ground. This is what I will do for them. I will not abandon them.
  • Isa 49:6 : 6 he says,“Is it too insignificant a task for you to be my servant, to reestablish the tribes of Jacob, and restore the remnant of Israel? I will make you a light to the nations, so you can bring my deliverance to the remote regions of the earth.”
  • Isa 49:9 : 9 You will say to the prisoners,‘Come out,’ and to those who are in dark dungeons,‘Emerge.’ They will graze beside the roads; on all the slopes they will find pasture.
  • Isa 60:1-3 : 1 Zion’s Future Splendor“Arise! Shine! For your light arrives! The splendor of the LORD shines on you! 2 For, look, darkness covers the earth and deep darkness covers the nations, but the LORD shines on you; his splendor appears over you. 3 Nations come to your light, kings to your bright light.
  • 2 Cor 6:14 : 14 Unequal Partners Do not become partners with those who do not believe, for what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship does light have with darkness?
  • Eph 2:11-12 : 11 New Life Corporately Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh– who are called“uncircumcision” by the so-called“circumcision” that is performed on the body by human hands– 12 that you were at that time without the Messiah, alienated from the citizenship of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
  • Eph 5:2 : 2 and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • 1 Thess 5:4-6
    3 verses
    84%

    4But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the darkness for the day to overtake you like a thief would.

    5For you all are sons of the light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of the darkness.

    6So then we must not sleep as the rest, but must stay alert and sober.

  • Eph 5:7
    80%

    7Therefore do not be sharers with them,

  • Col 3:7
    78%

    7You also lived your lives in this way at one time, when you used to live among them.

  • Eph 5:9-17
    9 verses
    78%

    9for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth–

    10trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

    11Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

    12For the things they do in secret are shameful even to mention.

    13But all things being exposed by the light are made visible.

    14For everything made visible is light, and for this reason it says:“Awake, O sleeper! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you!”

    15Live Wisely Therefore consider carefully how you live– not as unwise but as wise,

    16taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

    17For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord’s will is.

  • John 12:35-36
    2 verses
    77%

    35Jesus replied,“The light is with you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.

    36While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become sons of light.” When Jesus had said these things, he went away and hid himself from them.

  • Eph 5:1
    76%

    1Live in Love Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved children

  • 1 John 1:5-7
    3 verses
    76%

    5God Is Light, So We Must Walk in the Light Now this is the gospel message we have heard from him and announce to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.

    6If we say we have fellowship with him and yet keep on walking in the darkness, we are lying and not practicing the truth.

    7But if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

  • Eph 2:1-3
    3 verses
    75%

    1New Life Individually And although you were dead in your offenses and sins,

    2in which you formerly lived according to this world’s present path, according to the ruler of the domain of the air, the ruler of the spirit that is now energizing the sons of disobedience,

    3among whom all of us also formerly lived out our lives in the cravings of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath even as the rest…

  • Eph 4:17-18
    2 verses
    74%

    17Live in Holiness So I say this, and insist in the Lord, that you no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.

    18They are darkened in their understanding, being alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts.

  • Phil 2:15
    74%

    15so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without blemish though you live in a crooked and perverse society, in which you shine as lights in the world

  • Rom 13:12-13
    2 verses
    74%

    12The night has advanced toward dawn; the day is near. So then we must lay aside the works of darkness, and put on the weapons of light.

    13Let us live decently as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in discord and jealousy.

  • 1 John 2:8
    74%

    8On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.

  • Luke 11:35-36
    2 verses
    73%

    35Therefore see to it that the light in you is not darkness.

    36If then your whole body is full of light, with no part in the dark, it will be as full of light as when the light of a lamp shines on you.”

  • Col 2:6
    73%

    6Warnings Against the Adoption of False Philosophies Therefore, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him,

  • Matt 5:14
    72%

    14You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill cannot be hidden.

  • 1 Cor 6:11
    72%

    11Some of you once lived this way. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

  • Col 1:13
    72%

    13He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son he loves,

  • 2 Cor 4:6
    72%

    6For God, who said“Let light shine out of darkness,” is the one who shined in our hearts to give us the light of the glorious knowledge of God in the face of Christ.

  • John 8:12
    72%

    12Jesus as the Light of the World Then Jesus spoke out again,“I am the light of the world! The one who follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

  • 1 Pet 1:14
    71%

    14Like obedient children, do not comply with the evil urges you used to follow in your ignorance,

  • John 1:5
    71%

    5And the light shines on in the darkness, but the darkness has not mastered it.

  • 2 Cor 5:7
    71%

    7for we live by faith, not by sight.

  • Col 4:5
    71%

    5Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunities.

  • 1 Thess 2:12
    71%

    12exhorting and encouraging you and insisting that you live in a way worthy of God who calls you to his own kingdom and his glory.

  • 2 Cor 6:14
    71%

    14Unequal Partners Do not become partners with those who do not believe, for what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship does light have with darkness?

  • John 3:19
    70%

    19Now this is the basis for judging: that the light has come into the world and people loved the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds were evil.

  • Eph 2:12
    70%

    12that you were at that time without the Messiah, alienated from the citizenship of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

  • Matt 5:16
    70%

    16In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven.

  • John 11:10
    70%

    10But if anyone walks around at night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”

  • Gal 3:26
    70%

    26For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith.

  • Isa 9:2
    70%

    2(9:1) The people walking in darkness see a bright light; light shines on those who live in a land of deep darkness.

  • Eph 4:20
    70%

    20But you did not learn about Christ like this,