Ephesians 5:18
New International Version
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,

New Living Translation
Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,

English Standard Version
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

Berean Standard Bible
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

Berean Literal Bible
and not to be drunk with wine in which is debauchery. Instead be filled with the Spirit,

King James Bible
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

New King James Version
And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,

New American Standard Bible
And do not get drunk with wine, in which there is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

NASB 1995
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,

NASB 1977
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,

Legacy Standard Bible
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,

Amplified Bible
Do not get drunk with wine, for that is wickedness (corruption, stupidity), but be filled with the [Holy] Spirit and constantly guided by Him.

Christian Standard Bible
And don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless living, but be filled by the Spirit:

Holman Christian Standard Bible
And don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless actions, but be filled by the Spirit:

American Standard Version
And be not drunken with wine, wherein is riot, but be filled with the Spirit;

Contemporary English Version
Don't destroy yourself by getting drunk, but let the Spirit fill your life.

English Revised Version
And be not drunken with wine, wherein is riot, but be filled with the Spirit;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Don't get drunk on wine, which leads to wild living. Instead, be filled with the Spirit?your[ spirit.">]

Good News Translation
Do not get drunk with wine, which will only ruin you; instead, be filled with the Spirit.

International Standard Version
Stop getting drunk with wine, which leads to wild living, but keep on being filled with the Spirit.

Majority Standard Bible
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

NET Bible
And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit,

New Heart English Bible
Do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

Webster's Bible Translation
And be not drunk with wine, in which is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

Weymouth New Testament
Do not over-indulge in wine--a thing in which excess is so easy--

World English Bible
Don’t be drunken with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and do not be drunk with wine, in which is wastefulness, but be filled in the Spirit,

Berean Literal Bible
and not to be drunk with wine in which is debauchery. Instead be filled with the Spirit,

Young's Literal Translation
and be not drunk with wine, in which is dissoluteness, but be filled in the Spirit,

Smith's Literal Translation
And be not drunk with wine, in which is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit;
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is luxury; but be ye filled with the holy Spirit,

Catholic Public Domain Version
And do not choose to be inebriated by wine, for this is self-indulgence. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,

New American Bible
And do not get drunk on wine, in which lies debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

New Revised Standard Version
Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And do not become drunk with wine, wherein is intemperance; but be filled with the Spirit,

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Neither be drunk with wine in which is debauchery, but be filled with The Spirit.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And be not drunk with wine, in which is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit;

Godbey New Testament
Be not drunk with wine, in which there is riot, but be ye filled with the Spirit;

Haweis New Testament
And be not drunk with wine, in which there is sottishness, but be filled with the Spirit;

Mace New Testament
do not drink to excess, for that tends to dissoluteness, but be regal'd with spiritual entertainments:

Weymouth New Testament
Do not over-indulge in wine--a thing in which excess is so easy--

Worrell New Testament
And be not drunken with wine, in which is riot, but be filled with the Spirit;

Worsley New Testament
And be not drunk with wine, in which there is riotous excess; but be filled with the Spirit:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Children of Light
17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord,…

Cross References
Galatians 5:16-25
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. / For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want. / But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. ...

Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

Romans 8:9-14
You, however, are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. / But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. / And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you. ...

1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; / you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.

Acts 2:4
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

John 14:16-17
And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever— / the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you.

1 Thessalonians 5:19
Do not extinguish the Spirit.

Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

1 Peter 4:3-4
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. / Because of this, they consider it strange of you not to plunge with them into the same flood of reckless indiscretion, and they heap abuse on you.

Isaiah 5:11-12
Woe to those who rise early in the morning in pursuit of strong drink, who linger into the evening, to be inflamed by wine. / At their feasts are the lyre and harp, tambourines and flutes and wine. They disregard the actions of the LORD and fail to see the work of His hands.

Proverbs 20:1
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise.

Joel 2:28-29
And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. / Even on My menservants and maidservants, I will pour out My Spirit in those days.

Ezekiel 36:26-27
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. / And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances.

Jeremiah 31:33
“But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD. I will put My law in their minds and inscribe it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people.

Psalm 104:15
wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil that makes his face to shine, and bread that sustains his heart.


Treasury of Scripture

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

be not.

Genesis 9:21
And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.

Genesis 19:32-35
Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father…

Deuteronomy 21:20
And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.

excess.

Matthew 23:25
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.

1 Peter 4:3,4
For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: …

but.

Psalm 63:3-5
Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee…

Song of Solomon 1:4
Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee.

Song of Solomon 7:9
And the roof of thy mouth like the best wine for my beloved, that goeth down sweetly, causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak.

Jump to Previous
Debauchery Dissipation Dissoluteness Drunk Drunken Easy Excess Filled Full Instead Leads Overcome Overmuch Riot Spirit Wherein Wine
Jump to Next
Debauchery Dissipation Dissoluteness Drunk Drunken Easy Excess Filled Full Instead Leads Overcome Overmuch Riot Spirit Wherein Wine
Ephesians 5
1. After general exhortations to love;
3. to flee sexual immorality;
4. and all uncleanness;
7. not to converse with the wicked;
15. to walk carefully;
18. and to be filled with the Spirit;
22. he descends to the particular duties, how wives ought to obey their husbands;
25. and husbands ought to love their wives,
32. even as Christ does his church.














Do not get drunk on wine
The phrase "do not get drunk on wine" serves as a direct admonition against excessive consumption of alcohol. The Greek word for "drunk" is "methyskō," which implies a state of intoxication that impairs judgment and self-control. In the historical context of Ephesus, a city known for its pagan worship and revelry, this command would have been particularly poignant. Wine was often used in religious ceremonies, and drunkenness was associated with pagan rituals. The Apostle Paul is urging believers to distinguish themselves from the surrounding culture by exercising self-control and sobriety.

which leads to reckless indiscretion
The Greek word translated as "reckless indiscretion" is "asōtia," which conveys a sense of wastefulness and debauchery. This term suggests a lifestyle that is devoid of moral restraint and leads to destructive behavior. In the broader scriptural context, such behavior is often contrasted with the fruit of the Spirit, which includes self-control and righteousness. The warning here is clear: indulgence in alcohol can lead to a loss of moral clarity and a life that dishonors God.

Instead, be filled with the Spirit
The contrast between being drunk with wine and being filled with the Spirit is stark and intentional. The Greek word for "filled" is "plēroō," which means to be fully supplied or complete. This filling is not a one-time event but a continuous process of yielding to the Holy Spirit's influence and guidance. In the historical and scriptural context, being filled with the Spirit results in a life characterized by the fruits of the Spirit, such as love, joy, peace, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). This command encourages believers to seek spiritual fulfillment and empowerment rather than temporary and destructive pleasures.

(18) Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess.--From the general idea of reckless levity, St. Paul passes on to the special sin of drunkenness, as not (like gluttony) primarily a gratification of the appetite, but as a reckless pursuit of excitement at all costs--glorified as an excitement of emotion, and even of wit and intellect, in such contemporary writers as Horace, and actually confused, as in the Dionysiac or Bacchanalian frenzy, with a divine inspiration. How necessary the admonition was we see by the directions as to the choice of clergy in the Pastoral Epistles (1 Tim. 3:28; Titus 1:7; Titus 2:3); the more necessary, because (as 1Timothy 5:23 shows) the right use of wine was recognised. Hence St. Paul emphatically brands drunkenness as "excess," a word properly signifying "recklessness"--"incapable of saving," or denying itself anything, and naturally passing through this want of self-restraint into profligacy--rightly translated "riot" in Titus 1:6, 1Peter 4:4, as the corresponding adverb is rendered "riotous living" in Luke 15:13. For drunkenness is at once the effect and cause of utter recklessness. It is the effect of a self-abandonment, by which the sensual or passionate elements of the nature are stimulated to frenzy, while the self-controlling judgment is drugged to sleep. It is the cause of yet greater recklessness: for as these passions and appetites become jaded, they need stronger and stronger stimulants, till the whole nature, bodily and mental, is lost in delirium or stupor. . . . Verse 18. - And be not intoxicated with wine, wherein is dissoluteness. Drunkenness is suggested because it is a work of darkness; it is the foe to vigilance and earnestness, and it leads all who yield to it to act unwisely. It is the social aspect of drunkenness the apostle has in view - the exhilarating influence of wine in company, giving a rush of high spirits. Ασωτία, from α and σωζω, the opposite of savingness, wastefulness, dissoluteness, or the process of being dissolved, involving perdition. Spoken of the prodigal son, "riotous living;" the habit which sends everything to wreck and ruin. But be filled with the Spirit. Instead of resorting to wine to cheer and animate you, throw your hearts open the Holy Spirit, so that he may come and fill them; seek the joy that the Spirit inspires when he makes you to sit with Christ in heavenly places, so that, instead of pouring out your joyous feelings in bacchanalian songs, you may do so in Christian hymns.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
{Do} not
μὴ (mē)
Adverb
Strong's 3361: Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether.

get drunk
μεθύσκεσθε (methyskesthe)
Verb - Present Imperative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 3182: To make drunk; pass: I become drunk. A prolonged form of methuo; to intoxicate.

on wine,
οἴνῳ (oinō)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3631: Wine. A primary word (yayin); 'wine'.

which
(hō)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

leads to
ἐστιν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

reckless indiscretion.
ἀσωτία (asōtia)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 810: Wantonness, profligacy, wastefulness. From a compound of a and a presumed derivative of sozo; properly, unsavedness, i.e. profligacy.

Instead,
ἀλλὰ (alla)
Conjunction
Strong's 235: But, except, however. Neuter plural of allos; properly, other things, i.e. contrariwise.

be filled
πληροῦσθε (plērousthe)
Verb - Present Imperative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4137: From pleres; to make replete, i.e. to cram, level up, or to furnish, satisfy, execute, finish, verify, etc.

with
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

[the] Spirit.
Πνεύματι (Pneumati)
Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4151: Wind, breath, spirit.


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NT Letters: Ephesians 5:18 Don't be drunken with wine in which (Ephes. Eph. Ep)
Ephesians 5:17
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