Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

◄ Ephesians 4:29 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

English Standard Version
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

New American Standard Bible
Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.

King James Bible
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
No foul language is to come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear.

International Standard Version
Let no filthy talk be heard from your mouths, but only what is good for building up people and meeting the need of the moment. This way you will administer grace to those who hear you.

American Standard Version
Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for edifying as the need may be, that it may give grace to them that hear.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Let no evil speech proceed from your mouth; but that which is good, to the edification of faith, that it may administer grace to the hearers.

Darby Bible Translation
Let no corrupt word go out of your mouth, but if there be any good one for needful edification, that it may give grace to those that hear it.

Young's Literal Translation
Let no corrupt word out of your mouth go forth, but what is good unto the needful building up, that it may give grace to the hearers;

Cross References

Ecclesiastes 10:12
The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.

Matthew 12:34
O generation of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

Romans 14:19
Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things with which one may edify another.

Romans 15:2
Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification.

Ephesians 5:4
Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

Colossians 3:8
But now you also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

Colossians 4:6
Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man.

1 Thessalonians 5:11
Why comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also you do.

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Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

4:29-32 Filthy words proceed from corruption in the speaker, and they corrupt the minds and manners of those who hear them: Christians should beware of all such discourse. It is the duty of Christians to seek, by the blessing of God, to bring persons to think seriously, and to encourage and warn believers by their conversation. Be ye kind one to another. This sets forth the principle of love in the heart, and the outward expression of it, in a humble, courteous behaviour. Mark how God's forgiveness causes us to forgive. God forgives us, though we had no cause to sin against him. We must forgive, as he has forgiven us. All lying, and corrupt communications, that stir up evil desires and lusts, grieve the Spirit of God. Corrupt passions of bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, evil-speaking, and malice, grieve the Holy Spirit. Provoke not the holy, blessed Spirit of God to withdraw his presence and his gracious influences. The body will be redeemed from the power of the grave at the resurrection day. Wherever that blessed Spirit dwells as a Sanctifier, he is the earnest of all the joys and glories of that redemption day; and we should be undone, should God take away his Holy Spirit from us.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

29. corrupt—literally, "insipid," without "the salt of grace" (Col 4:6), so worthless and then becoming corrupt: included in "foolish talking" (Eph 5:4). Its opposite is "that which is good to edifying."

communication—language.

that which, &c.—Greek, "whatever is good."

use of edifying—literally, "for edifying of the need," that is, for edifying where it is needed. Seasonably edifying; according as the occasion and present needs of the hearers require, now censure, at another time consolation. Even words good in themselves must be introduced seasonably lest by our fault they prove injurious instead of useful. Trench explains, Not vague generalities, which would suit a thousand other cases equally well, and probably equally ill: our words should be as nails fastened in a sure place, words suiting the present time and the present person, being "for the edifying of the occasion" (Col 4:6).

minister—Greek, "give." The word spoken "gives grace to the hearers" when God uses it as His instrument for that purpose.