Ephesians Chapter 5 verse 8 Holy Bible
For ye were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord: walk as children of light
read chapter 5 in ASV
For you at one time were dark, but now are light in the Lord: let your behaviour be that of children of light
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for ye were once darkness, but now light in [the] Lord; walk as children of light,
read chapter 5 in DARBY
For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
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read chapter 5 in WBT
For you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,
read chapter 5 in WEB
for ye were once darkness, and now light in the Lord; as children of light walk ye,
read chapter 5 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 8. - For ye were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Another expressive "but." To make the contrast more emphatic, it is not said, "ye were in darkness, but are now in light;" but, "ye were darkness itself, and are now light itself," and this last is explained by the usual formula, "in the Lord." There was a celebrated Ephesian philosopher, Alexander, who was called "The Light;" but not from that source had the light come. The idea of light-giving is also involved in their being light. "Arise, shine, for thy light is come." Walk as children of light. Another expressive image, denoting close connection with light, as if they were actually born of it; hence their lives should be full of it. The figure connecting darkness with sin and light with purity, common to all languages, underlies the exhortation.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(8) Ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord.--This expression is unique, and far more emphatic than the more common phrases of "being," or "walking," "in darkness" and "in light." (See Romans 2:9; Colossians 1:2; 1Thessalonians 5:4; 1John 1:6-7; 1John 2:9-10.) For here the outward element of light or darkness is said to pervade the inner nature of the soul. (1) Christ is the "true Light," the "Sun of Righteousness" (John 1:4-9; John 3:19; John 8:12; John 9:5; John 12:46). His servants are sometimes mere secondary lights (or "candles") (Luke 11:33-34; Luke 11:36; John 5:35; 2Peter 1:19), kindled from His rays; sometimes, like the moon or planets, they are said, as reflecting His light, or as having His light in them (John 12:35), to be actually "the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14), which, however, shines as a mere reflected light, so that "men glorify" not it, but "the Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). They thus become light, but only "in the Lord:" that is, as being made one with Him. (2) So, on the other hand, they who walk in darkness are said to be themselves darkness--new sources, so to speak, of the darkness which hates and quenches light, both to themselves and to others. "The light" which is in them "becomes darkness;" "and how great is that darkness!" (Matthew 6:23.) As there is a natural delight in giving light, so the reprobate state is distinguished by a horrible pleasure in spreading the cloud of delusion, sin, or unbelief, by which to hide God from man. . . .
