Ephesians 5:10
New International Version
and find out what pleases the Lord.

New Living Translation
Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.

English Standard Version
and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.

Berean Standard Bible
Test and prove what pleases the Lord.

Berean Literal Bible
discerning what is well-pleasing to the Lord.

King James Bible
Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

New King James Version
finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.

New American Standard Bible
as you try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

NASB 1995
trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

NASB 1977
trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

Legacy Standard Bible
trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

Amplified Bible
trying to learn [by experience] what is pleasing to the Lord [and letting your lifestyles be examples of what is most acceptable to Him—your behavior expressing gratitude to God for your salvation].

Christian Standard Bible
testing what is pleasing to the Lord.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
discerning what is pleasing to the Lord.

American Standard Version
proving what is well-pleasing unto the Lord;

Contemporary English Version
as you try to please the Lord.

English Revised Version
proving what is well-pleasing unto the Lord;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Determine which things please the Lord.

Good News Translation
Try to learn what pleases the Lord.

International Standard Version
Determine what pleases the Lord,

Majority Standard Bible
Test and prove what pleases the Lord.

NET Bible
trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

New Heart English Bible
proving what is well pleasing to the Lord.

Webster's Bible Translation
Proving what is acceptable to the Lord.

Weymouth New Testament
and learn in your own experiences what is fully pleasing to the Lord.

World English Bible
proving what is well pleasing to the Lord.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
proving what is well-pleasing to the LORD;

Berean Literal Bible
discerning what is well-pleasing to the Lord.

Young's Literal Translation
proving what is well-pleasing to the Lord,

Smith's Literal Translation
Trying what is pleasing to the Lord.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Proving what is well pleasing to God:

Catholic Public Domain Version
affirming what is well-pleasing to God.

New American Bible
Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

New Revised Standard Version
Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And so you must discern that which is acceptable before our LORD.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Distinguish what is pleasing before Our Lord.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
learning what is acceptable to the Lord;

Godbey New Testament
proving what is acceptable to the Lord;

Haweis New Testament
proving what is acceptable to the Lord.

Mace New Testament
consider what is acceptable to the Lord;

Weymouth New Testament
and learn in your own experiences what is fully pleasing to the Lord.

Worrell New Testament
proving what is well-pleasing to the Lord;

Worsley New Testament
approving what is well-pleasing to the Lord.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Children of Light
9for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth. 10Test and prove what pleases the Lord. 11Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.…

Cross References
Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Philippians 1:10
so that you may be able to test and prove what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,

1 Thessalonians 5:21
but test all things. Hold fast to what is good.

Colossians 1:10
so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,

1 John 4:1
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Hebrews 13:21
equip you with every good thing to do His will. And may He accomplish in us what is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

1 Corinthians 3:13
his workmanship will be evident, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will prove the quality of each man’s work.

2 Corinthians 5:9
So we aspire to please Him, whether we are at home in this body or away from it.

Galatians 1:10
Am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

1 Peter 2:5
you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Romans 14:18
For whoever serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.

2 Timothy 2:15
Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth.

1 John 3:22
and we will receive from Him whatever we ask, because we keep His commandments and do what is pleasing in His sight.

Psalm 19:14
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Proverbs 16:7
When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even the man’s enemies live at peace with him.


Treasury of Scripture

Proving what is acceptable to the Lord.

Proving.

1 Samuel 17:39
And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.

Romans 12:1,2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service…

Philippians 1:10
That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;

acceptable.

Psalm 19:14
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

Proverbs 21:3
To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

Isaiah 58:5
Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?

Jump to Previous
Acceptable Agreeable Experience Experiences Find Fully Learn Pleases Pleasing Proving Testing Try Trying Well-Pleasing
Jump to Next
Acceptable Agreeable Experience Experiences Find Fully Learn Pleases Pleasing Proving Testing Try Trying Well-Pleasing
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.














Test and prove
The phrase "test and prove" is translated from the Greek word "δοκιμάζω" (dokimazō), which means to examine, scrutinize, or put to the test for the purpose of approval. In the context of Ephesians, Paul is urging believers to actively discern and evaluate their actions and thoughts to ensure they align with God's will. This is not a passive suggestion but a call to intentional and continuous examination of one's life. Historically, this concept of testing was akin to the process of refining metals, where impurities are removed to reveal the pure substance. In a spiritual sense, believers are encouraged to refine their lives, removing what is impure or unworthy, to reveal a life that is pleasing to God.

what pleases the Lord
The phrase "what pleases the Lord" focuses on the ultimate goal of a believer's life: to live in a manner that is acceptable and delightful to God. The Greek word for "pleases" is "εὐάρεστος" (euarestos), which conveys the idea of being well-pleasing or fully acceptable. This is not merely about following rules but about cultivating a relationship with God that is characterized by love, obedience, and devotion. Scripturally, this aligns with the broader biblical narrative that emphasizes the importance of the heart's posture towards God, as seen in passages like Micah 6:8, which calls for justice, mercy, and humility before God. Historically, the early church faced numerous cultural and societal pressures, and Paul's exhortation would have served as a reminder to prioritize God's standards over societal norms. In a modern context, this phrase challenges believers to consider their daily choices and actions, ensuring they reflect God's character and desires.

(10) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.--So in Romans 12:2, the "proving what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God," is the fruit of transformation "in the renewing of the mind." "To prove" is to try in each case, by the full light of God, what is accordant to His will; it is a work partly of thought, partly of practical experience; and it always implies a searching examination of heart and action by the touchstone of God's word.

Verse 10. - Proving what is well-pleasing to the Lord. A general rule applicable to the whole walk. To prove is to ascertain by test and experiment. Our whole walk should be directed to finding out what things are pleasing to Christ, rejecting at once everything that is not so, and clinging to all that is. We are not to follow the tradition of our people, and not to take a vague view of duty; we are to prove the matter, to put it to the test. For the supreme practical rule of the Christian's life must be to please Christ.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Test and prove
δοκιμάζοντες (dokimazontes)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1381: From dokimos; to test; by implication, to approve.

what
τί (ti)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5101: Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.

pleases
εὐάρεστον (euareston)
Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 2101: Acceptable, well-pleasing (especially to God), grateful. From eu and arestos; fully agreeable.

the
τῷ (tō)
Article - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Lord.
Κυρίῳ (Kyriō)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2962: Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master.


Links
Ephesians 5:10 NIV
Ephesians 5:10 NLT
Ephesians 5:10 ESV
Ephesians 5:10 NASB
Ephesians 5:10 KJV

Ephesians 5:10 BibleApps.com
Ephesians 5:10 Biblia Paralela
Ephesians 5:10 Chinese Bible
Ephesians 5:10 French Bible
Ephesians 5:10 Catholic Bible

NT Letters: Ephesians 5:10 Proving what is well pleasing to (Ephes. Eph. Ep)
Ephesians 5:9
Top of Page
Top of Page