Bible Strands
Ephesians 5:12
For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul writes to the Ephesian church as he contrasts the children of light with the children of darkness. He issues this command immediately after instructing believers to expose the fruitless deeds of darkness rather than participate in them.
The words — The Greek term αἰσχρὸν (aischron) translates literally as "shameful" or "disgraceful." It modifies the act of even speaking about the secret actions (κρυφῇ γινόμενα, kruphēa ginomena) performed by the disobedient.
The thread — This theme of exposing hidden deeds appears in Ephesians 5:3, which forbids even a hint of sexual immorality among believers. It also connects to Romans 2:16 and Ecclesiastes 12:14, where God’s judgment encompasses every secret and hidden thing.
Why it lands — The text commands believers to publicly identify the secret practices of the disobedient rather than treat them as private matters. It requires readers to reject complicity by speaking against hidden sin instead of preserving its concealment.
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
For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
Cross-references
- Ephesians 5:3 But among you, as is proper among the saints, there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed.
- Romans 2:16 on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Christ Jesus, as proclaimed by my gospel.
- Ecclesiastes 12:14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil.
- Jeremiah 23:24 “Can a man hide in secret places where I cannot see him?” declares the LORD. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the LORD.
- 2 Samuel 12:12 You have acted in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.’”
- Proverbs 9:17 “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is tasty!”
- Romans 1:24 Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity for the dishonoring of their bodies with one another.
- 1 Peter 4:3 For you have spent enough time in the past carrying out the same desires as the Gentiles: living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry.
- Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And books were opened, and one of them was the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books.
- Luke 12:1 In the meantime, a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling one another. Jesus began to speak first to His disciples: “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.