Bible Strands
Ephesians 5:9
for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul writes to the Ephesian believers immediately after declaring their transition from darkness to light in the Lord. He places this instruction directly after commanding them to walk as children of light.
The words — καρπὸς (karpos) translates to fruit, and φωτὸς (phōtos) translates to light. The text uses these terms to describe the visible moral output that emerges from a life aligned with God.
The thread — The concept appears in Galatians 5:22, which lists virtues produced by the Spirit. 3 John 1:11 commands believers to imitate good rather than evil, while 1 John 3:9 addresses the cessation of sinning for those born of God.
Why it lands — The verse demands that believers verify their new identity through tangible ethical conduct. It requires active production of moral character rather than passive belief.
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 the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
Cross-references
- Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
- 3 John 1:11 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.
- 1 John 3:9 Anyone born of God refuses to practice sin, because God’s seed abides in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.
- Romans 15:14 I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, brimming with knowledge, and able to instruct one another.
- Ephesians 6:14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed,
- 1 Timothy 6:11 But you, O man of God, flee from these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.
- Philippians 1:11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
- Psalms 16:2 I said to the LORD, “You are my Lord; apart from You I have no good thing.”
- 1 Peter 2:24 He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. “By His stripes you are healed.”
- Romans 2:4 Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?