Ephesians 4:31

31 All bitterness, and wrath, and indignation, and cry, and blasphemy be taken away from you, with all malice;

Ephesians 4:31 Meaning and Commentary

Ephesians 4:31

Let all bitterness
These words are a dehortation from several vices good men are liable to, by which the Spirit of God is grieved: "bitterness" sometimes designs the corruption of nature, which is the gall of bitterness, and bond of iniquity; and sometimes actual sins and transgressions, even those of God's own people, which are evil and bitter things; and sometimes heretical doctrines, which are roots of bitterness; and sometimes sinful words spoken by the saints, one against another; and here perhaps it signifies, the first offence taken in the mind, against any person, upon any account, which should at once be put away, and not encouraged:

and wrath:
heat of spirit, which follows upon bitterness, or upon the spirit being embittered and offended; see ( Ezekiel 3:14 ) .

And anger;
a sinful one, cautioned against before, ( Ephesians 4:26 ) .

And clamour and evil speaking;
such as brawlings, contentions, contumelies, reproaches, slanders arising from an embittered, wrathful, and angry disposition: these should all

be put away from you, with all malice;
being the deeds of the old man, unbecoming such as are born again, and grieving to the Spirit of God.

Ephesians 4:31 In-Context

29 Each evil word go not out of your mouth; but if any is good to the edification of faith, that it give grace to men that hear [that it give grace to men hearing].
30 And do not ye make the Holy Ghost of God sorry [And do not ye make the Holy Ghost of God sorry, or heavy], in which ye be marked in the day of redemption.
31 All bitterness, and wrath, and indignation, and cry, and blasphemy be taken away from you, with all malice;
32 and be ye together benign [forsooth be ye together benign, or of good will], merciful, forgiving together, as also God forgave to you in Christ.
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.