Ephesians 4:27
New International Version
and do not give the devil a foothold.

New Living Translation
for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

English Standard Version
and give no opportunity to the devil.

Berean Standard Bible
and do not give the devil a foothold.

Berean Literal Bible
neither give opportunity to the devil.

King James Bible
Neither give place to the devil.

New King James Version
nor give place to the devil.

New American Standard Bible
and do not give the devil an opportunity.

NASB 1995
and do not give the devil an opportunity.

NASB 1977
and do not give the devil an opportunity.

Legacy Standard Bible
and do not give the devil an opportunity.

Amplified Bible
And do not give the devil an opportunity [to lead you into sin by holding a grudge, or nurturing anger, or harboring resentment, or cultivating bitterness].

Christian Standard Bible
and don’t give the devil an opportunity.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
and don’t give the Devil an opportunity.

American Standard Version
neither give place to the devil.

Contemporary English Version
and don't give the devil a chance.

English Revised Version
neither give place to the devil.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Don't give the devil any opportunity [to work].

Good News Translation
Don't give the Devil a chance.

International Standard Version
and do not give the devil an opportunity to work.

Majority Standard Bible
and do not give the devil a foothold.

NET Bible
Do not give the devil an opportunity.

New Heart English Bible
neither give place to the devil.

Webster's Bible Translation
Neither give place to the devil.

Weymouth New Testament
and do not leave room for the Devil.

World English Bible
and don’t give place to the devil.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
neither give place to the Devil;

Berean Literal Bible
neither give opportunity to the devil.

Young's Literal Translation
neither give place to the devil;

Smith's Literal Translation
Neither give place to the accuser.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Give not place to the devil.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Provide no place for the devil.

New American Bible
and do not leave room for the devil.

New Revised Standard Version
and do not make room for the devil.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And do not give the devil a chance.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Neither should you give place to The Slanderer.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
nor give place to the devil.

Godbey New Testament
neither give place to the devil.

Haweis New Testament
nor give place to the devil.

Mace New Testament
lest the devil take hold of the opportunity.

Weymouth New Testament
and do not leave room for the Devil.

Worrell New Testament
neither give place to the Devil.

Worsley New Testament
and give not the devil room to ensnare you.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
New Life in Christ
26“Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set upon your anger, 27and do not give the devil a foothold. 28He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing good with his own hands, that he may have something to share with the one in need.…

Cross References
James 4:7
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

1 Peter 5:8-9
Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. / Resist him, standing firm in your faith and in the knowledge that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering.

2 Corinthians 2:10-11
If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And if I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven it in the presence of Christ for your sake, / in order that Satan should not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

1 John 3:8
The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the very start. This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil.

Romans 12:19-21
Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.” / On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.” / Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Matthew 4:1-11
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. / After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry. / The tempter came to Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” ...

1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can stand up under it.

1 Timothy 3:6-7
He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same condemnation as the devil. / Furthermore, he must have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the snare of the devil.

2 Timothy 2:26
Then they will come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, who has taken them captive to his will.

Genesis 4:7
If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you refuse to do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires you, but you must master it.”

Proverbs 4:23
Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.

Proverbs 25:28
Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who does not control his temper.

Job 1:6-12
One day the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them. / “Where have you come from?” said the LORD to Satan. “From roaming through the earth,” he replied, “and walking back and forth in it.” / Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one on earth like him, a man who is blameless and upright, who fears God and shuns evil.” ...

Zechariah 3:1-2
Then the angel showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, with Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. / And the LORD said to Satan: “The LORD rebukes you, Satan! Indeed, the LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebukes you! Is not this man a firebrand snatched from the fire?”

Luke 22:31-32
Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you like wheat. / But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”


Treasury of Scripture

Neither give place to the devil.

Ephesians 6:11,16
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil…

Acts 5:3
But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

2 Corinthians 2:10,11
To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; …

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Ephesians 4
1. He exhorts to unity;
7. and declares that God therefore gives various gifts unto men;
11. that his church might be edified,
16. and grow up in Christ.
18. He calls them from the impurity of the Gentiles;
24. to put on the new man;
25. to cast off lying;
29. and corrupt communication.














and do not
This phrase is an imperative command, indicating a strong exhortation to the believers. It suggests an active role in resisting certain behaviors or attitudes. The use of "do not" implies a choice and responsibility on the part of the believer to avoid actions that could lead to negative spiritual consequences. This aligns with the broader biblical theme of vigilance against sin, as seen in 1 Peter 5:8, which warns believers to be sober-minded and watchful.

give
The term "give" suggests an act of offering or allowing something to happen. In this context, it implies that believers have the power to either permit or prevent the devil's influence in their lives. This reflects the biblical teaching that humans have free will and are accountable for their actions, as seen in Deuteronomy 30:19, where God sets before the people life and death, blessings and curses, urging them to choose life.

the devil
The devil, also known as Satan, is depicted in the Bible as the adversary of God and His people. He is a fallen angel who opposes God's purposes and seeks to lead believers astray. The devil's role as a tempter and accuser is evident in passages like Job 1:6-12 and Matthew 4:1-11. Understanding the devil's nature and tactics is crucial for believers to effectively resist his influence.

a foothold
A foothold refers to a secure position from which further progress can be made. In a spiritual sense, it suggests a small area of influence or control that can be expanded if not addressed. This concept is akin to the idea of a "stronghold" mentioned in 2 Corinthians 10:4, where believers are encouraged to demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God. Allowing the devil a foothold can lead to greater spiritual compromise and sin.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Paul the Apostle
The author of the letter to the Ephesians, Paul was a key figure in the early Christian church, known for his missionary journeys and theological teachings.

2. The Church in Ephesus
The recipients of the letter, the Ephesian church was a community of believers in the city of Ephesus, a major center of commerce and culture in the Roman Empire.

3. The Devil
Referred to in this verse, the devil is considered the adversary of God and His people, often seeking to lead believers astray.
Teaching Points
Guard Your Heart
Be vigilant in protecting your heart from anger and bitterness, as these emotions can give the devil a foothold in your life.

Practice Forgiveness
Holding onto grudges can open the door to the devil's influence. Practice forgiveness to close that door.

Stay Alert
Be aware of the devil's schemes and remain spiritually alert to avoid giving him any opportunity to influence your life.

Rely on God's Strength
Recognize that resisting the devil requires God's strength and guidance. Regular prayer and scripture study are essential.

Cultivate Peace
Strive to maintain peace in your relationships, as discord can create opportunities for the devil to work.(27) Neither give place (i.e., scope) to the devil.--The name "Devil" is used by St. Paul only in his later Epistles (see Ephesians 6:11; 1Timothy 3:6-7; 1Timothy 6:9; 2Timothy 2:26; Titus 2:3); in the earlier Epistles (Romans 16:20; 1Corinthians 5:5; 1Corinthians 7:5; 2Corinthians 2:11; 2Corinthians 11:14, 2Co_12:7; 1Thessalonians 2:18; 2Thessalonians 2:9) we have the name "Satan," which is also found, less frequently, in the later also (1Timothy 1:20; 1Timothy 5:15). The latter name simply describes him as "the enemy "; the former describes one method of his enmity (as "the Tempter" another), for it signifies "one who sets at variance," man with God, and man with man. Since this fiendish work is mostly contemplated as wrought by slander, the name is commonly taken to mean "the slanderer;" and when applied to human beings (as in 1Timothy 3:11; 2Timothy 3:3; Titus 2:3) it seems to convey some such meaning. But here the original sense suits the distinctive idea of the passage. In accordance with the general principle noted above, excess of wrath is forbidden, as giving opportunity to the enemy, who desires to break up unity, and "set at variance" those who should be one in Jesus Christ. . . . Verse 27. - Neither give place to the devil. Place or room, opportunity and scope for acting in and through you. There seems no special reference to the last exhortation, but as that demands a special act of vigilance and self-control, so the activity of the devil demands vigilance and self-control on all occasions, and especially on those on which the devil is most apt to try to get a foothold. The reference to the devil is not a figure, but an obvious recognition of his personality, and of the liability of all Christians to fall under his influence.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
[and] {do} not
μηδὲ (mēde)
Conjunction
Strong's 3366: And not, not even, neither?nor. From me and de; but not, not even; in a continued negation, nor.

give
δίδοτε (didote)
Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 1325: To offer, give; I put, place. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to give.

the
τῷ (tō)
Article - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

devil
διαβόλῳ (diabolō)
Adjective - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1228: From diaballo; a traducer; specially, Satan.

a foothold.
τόπον (topon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5117: Apparently a primary word; a spot, i.e. Location; figuratively, condition, opportunity; specially, a scabbard.


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NT Letters: Ephesians 4:27 Neither give place to the devil (Ephes. Eph. Ep)
Ephesians 4:26
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