Bible Strands
Ephesians 4:28
He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing good with his own hands, that he may have something to share with the one in need.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul addresses the Ephesian church, listing specific vices to be abandoned in place of Christ-like conduct (4:25–32). This verse sits between the warning against giving the devil a foothold (4:27) and the command to speak only what builds up (4:29).
The words — kopiatō (G2872), "he should toil," is the positive imperative and carries more force than a simple "work"; mallon (G3123), "rather," is the pivot that turns the sentence from prohibition into duty.
The thread — 1 Thessalonians 4:11 commands quiet, self-directed labor with one's own hands; Galatians 6:10 and 1 Timothy 6:18 extend the principle to doing good and sharing generously.
Why it lands — The purpose clause makes the end of work not comfort but provision for the needy. It is a direct ethical command: stop taking, start producing, and the surplus belongs to the person in need.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
Cross-references
- 1 Timothy 6:18 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share,
- Galatians 6:10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:11 and to aspire to live quietly, to attend to your own matters, and to work with your own hands, as we instructed you.
- Exodus 20:15 You shall not steal.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:11 For we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives, accomplishing nothing, but being busybodies.
- Zechariah 5:3 Then he told me, “This is the curse that is going out over the face of all the land, for according to one side of the scroll, every thief will be removed; and according to the other side, every perjurer will be removed.
- Luke 21:1 Then Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury,
- 2 Thessalonians 3:6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who leads an undisciplined life that is not in keeping with the tradition you received from us.
- Hosea 4:2 Cursing and lying, murder and stealing, and adultery are rampant; one act of bloodshed follows another.
- Luke 3:10 The crowds asked him, “What then should we do?”