complete verse (Ephesians 4:28)

Following are a number of back-translations of Ephesians 4:28:

  • Uma: “People who usually steal, shouldn’t keep on stealing any longer. Rather they should work with their own hands hunting for their food, so that they can share with others who have a lack.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “A person who steals should stop stealing, instead he should work hard so that he has a living and so that he has something to help the poor.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “As for the thief, He must stop stealing and work so that He might be able to get His living in a proper way so that He might help the poor.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “If there is a thief among you, he should stop-it so that he will be emphatically industrious to work so he will have a proper livelihood and there will of course be that which he can-use-to-help those who are-lacking.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “The person whose habit is stealing must drop (that) now and cause his sweat to drip in whatever good work, so that he will have that-with-which-to-help whoever has a lack.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Concerning the person who was a thief, he must separate from thieving and work. From his own work he will find what he needs for eating, and there will be that which he gives to people who are in need.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Ephesians 4:28

Commentators disagree on whether occasional or full-time thievery is implied; the positive injunction to work, however, would seem to indicate that the writer is talking about people who would support themselves by stealing. The new life in Christ requires a new way of making a living. The Greek verb “to steal” is the one used in the Septuagint to translate the commandment Do not steal (Exo 20.15), quoted in Matthew 19.18; Mark 10.19; Luke 18.20; Romans 13.9.

In English the word rob refers technically to taking possessions from someone by threat or force, while thievery or stealing implies taking possession without the owner knowing about it. However, the verb rob is often used to include both types of wrongdoing. But it would be more in keeping with the Greek text to translate “the man who is constantly stealing from others should stop stealing.”

In Greek the positive injunction is stated: “he is to toil, working with his own hands the good.” The first verb means “to work hard, to labor,” and the second verb “to work” is followed by the phrase “with his own hands,” as in 1 Corinthians 4.12; 1 Thessalonians 4.11. Good News Bible places the adjective idiais “own” within brackets. For the translator the sense is not affected by the absence of the adjective; the phrase still means “with his hands.” here means simply “to work hard”; it does not mean that only manual labor is recommended. And “the good” means “honestly”; Twentieth Century New Testament translates “let him toil with his hands at honest work.”

Start working may be expressed in some languages as “get a permanent job” or “start working at a job each day.”

To earn an honest living for himself may be made somewhat more specific by translating “to earn money by the good work that he has done and in this way support himself” or “… and in this way pay his expenses” or “… pay for what is needed.”

To be able to help the poor translates “in order that he might have (something) to share with the one having need.” It should be remembered that this applies primarily to the poor in the Christian fellowship; Barth takes it to have a wider application, including anyone who is in need.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert C. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1982. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 4:28

4:28a

He who has been stealing must steal no longer: Paul is speaking to the Ephesians who would have been thieves before their conversion to Christianity. Paul is reminding the Ephesians that stealing is not acceptable behavior for Christians.

In the Greek text, this is a direct declarative statement. Some English versions translate it as a conditional statement. If it is more natural in your language, you may want to translate this sentence in a conditional form. For example:

If you are a thief, quit stealing. (New Living Translation (2004))

must steal no longer: Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

must stop stealing (New Century Version)
-or-
quit stealing (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
must stop robbing (Good News Translation)

4:28b

but must: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but must is literally “but rather.” It is used to show a strong contrast between 4:28a and 4:28b. Translate this phrase is a way that would naturally show a strong contrast in your language.

work…with his own hands: To work…with his own hands is a figure of speech that means “to work for his daily food,” “to work to support himself,” or “to work so he can buy (or make or grow) the things he needs to live.” The thief formerly used his hands to steal, but now he should use his hands to do honest, good, and hard work.

Most people use their hands when they work, for example, farmers and carpenters. But Paul does not mean that former thieves must do only manual work (work with their hands) and no other kind of work.

In some languages, it may not be necessary to explicitly translate the phrase with his own hands. For example:

They should earn an honest living for themselves. (New Century Version)

doing good: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as doing good is literally “at (something) good.” Commentators are divided as to what it means in this context. The main two interpretations are:

(a) It refers to “honest work.” For example:

doing honest work… (Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, English Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New Century Version)

(b) It refers to good or useful work. For example:

They should do something good… (Berean Standard Bible, God’s Word, New International Version, New Living Translation (2004), NET Bible)

Since both interpretations have good translation and commentary support, either one is acceptable. You may want to follow the interpretation of your national translation.

4:28c

that he may have something to share with the one in need: The phrase the one in need refers to people who are poor and in need of food and clothing.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

and then give generously to others in need (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
so you will have something to give to people in need (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
If he does that, he will be able to give to people who don’t have things.

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