Bible Strands
Ephesians 4:30
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul writes to the Ephesian congregation in the middle of an ethical exhortation: v. 29 commands wholesome speech, v. 31 commands removal of bitterness and malice. This verse bridges those two, naming the consequence of the very sins it forbids.
The words — λυπεῖτε (lupeite), present imperative, "stop grieving" — the present tense marks an ongoing habit, not a single lapse. The LXX uses the same verb (λυπέω) in Isaiah 63:10 for Israel grieving God's Spirit, making the connection explicit.
The thread — Isaiah 63:10 supplies the Old Testament precedent with the identical verb; 1 Thessalonians 5:19 offers the parallel command "do not extinguish the Spirit"; Ephesians 1:13 provides the sealing language that this verse reuses.
Why it lands — The verse treats the Spirit as a person who can be wounded by conduct, not a power to be managed. The present imperative demands a pattern of behavior, not a single act of restraint.
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
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Cross-references
- 1 Thessalonians 5:19 Do not extinguish the Spirit.
- Isaiah 63:10 But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit. So He turned and became their enemy, and He Himself fought against them.
- Ephesians 1:13 And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
- Acts 7:51 You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did.
- Genesis 6:6 And the LORD regretted that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.
- Romans 8:23 Not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
- Romans 8:11 And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.
- Psalms 78:40 How often they disobeyed Him in the wilderness and grieved Him in the desert!
- Isaiah 43:24 You have not bought Me sweet cane with your silver, nor satisfied Me with the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened Me with your sins; you have wearied Me with your iniquities.
- Mark 3:5 Jesus looked around at them with anger and sorrow at their hardness of heart. Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and it was restored.