Bible Strands
Ephesians 5:1
Be imitators of God, therefore, as beloved children,
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul, writing to the church at Ephesus, issues this imperative at the head of a series of ethical exhortations (Eph 4:25–5:21) that follow the letter's doctrinal foundation (chapters 1–3). It is the pivot from "what you are in Christ" to "how you are to conduct yourselves."
The words — μιμηταί (mimētai) is a strong noun meaning "imitators," the kind of word used for deliberate copying, not casual resemblance; it appears six times in the NT: here, 1 Corinthians 4:16 and 11:1, 1 Thessalonians 1:6 and 2:14, and Hebrews 6:12. The basis clause ὡς τὰ τέκνα ἀγαπητά ("as beloved children") grounds the command in identity, not in moral striving.
The thread — The pattern "be X as God is X" recurs in 1 Peter 1:15 (holy as He is holy), 1 John 4:11 (love as He loved), and Ephesians 4:32 (forgive as God forgave). Ephesians 5:1 is the most sweeping instance: the standard is God's whole character, not a single attribute.
Why it lands — The verse asks the reader to treat God's own conduct as the template for their own, with the only warrant being that they are already His children. It is a command to copy, not to admire.
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
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
Cross-references
- 1 John 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
- 1 Peter 1:15 But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do,
- Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.
- Matthew 5:48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
- Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
- Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
- Leviticus 11:45 For I am the LORD, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt so that I would be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.
- 1 John 3:1 Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.
- John 1:12 But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—
- Matthew 5:45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.