Ephesians 4:31-32
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Paul doesn't just list negative emotions; he describes a progression, moving from an inward "bitterness" and "malice" to outward expressions like "clamor" and "slander." This shows that these are not isolated feelings but a connected ecosystem of ungodliness that must be entirely purged from our lives.
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is calling believers to live out their new identity in Christ by shedding the old ways of the "ungodly life." This command to abandon harsh speech and attitudes directly follows his instruction to stop lying and to speak truthfully with their neighbors. It sets the stage for the positive virtues of kindness, tenderheartedness, and forgiveness that he will then encourage.
Ever feel like you're carrying a heavy backpack filled with old grudges and sharp words? Paul lists a whole arsenal of negative emotions and actions here.
Paul doesn't just mention one or two bad feelings; he unleashes a barrage of words to describe the destructive attitudes that can take root in our hearts and spill out in our lives.
Paul's command isn't a gentle suggestion; it's a radical call to action. How are we meant to deal with such ingrained negativity?
The phrase 'be put away' is a strong imperative. It means to actively remove, to cast off, to get rid of completely. Paul isn't asking us to these negative emotions; he's demanding a decisive expulsion.
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This isn't about trying harder in our own strength. It's about recognizing these attitudes as foreign and destructive to the new life we have in Christ. The goal is a complete revolution in our inner world, not just superficial adjustments.
Think of it like clearing out a room filled with toxic substances. You don't just open a window; you remove the dangerous materials entirely, ensuring they can't harm you or others.
If Paul tells us to get rid of all this negativity, what are we supposed to fill our lives with instead? The verses that follow give us the answer.
While Ephesians 4:31 lists what to put away, verses 32 and beyond reveal the positive, life-giving virtues that should replace them. This isn't just about stopping bad habits; it's about cultivating good ones.
The opposite of bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander, and malice is found in the character God calls us to embody:
This transformation isn't a one-time event but an ongoing process, empowered by the Holy Spirit and modeled after God's own forgiving heart in Christ.
Understand the original words
pikria · Greek Noun
A state of inner resentment, resentment that has soured, or a long-standing, harsh animosity toward others. It often reflects a heart that has failed to absorb the grace of God.
thymos · Greek Noun
A violent outburst or a boiling up of temper. It refers to a sudden, explosive expression of intense emotion or rage.
orgē · Greek Noun
A deep-seated, settled hostility or smoldering resentment. It is often contrasted with the sudden explosion of 'wrath' as a more enduring state of anger.
kraugē · Greek Noun
An outcry, loud shouting, or public disturbance of noise. It refers to a public, disruptive expression of anger or argumentativeness.
blasphemia · Greek Noun
Evil speaking, reviling, or blasphemy against someone. It involves defamatory speech aimed at damaging another person’s reputation.
kakia · Greek Noun
The overarching quality of wickedness, ill will, or the desire to see others suffer. It is the active, inner disposition that leads one to plot or wish harm upon another.
chrēstos · Greek Adjective
Being useful, gentle, or gracious in behavior. It describes a disposition that seeks the well-being and benefit of others, reflecting the character of God.
eusplagchnos · Greek Adjective
Deep compassion, mercy, or a heart that feels for others' suffering. It refers to the internal emotional response of pity and sympathy for the needs and pains of others.
charizomai · Greek Verb
The act of letting go of an offense or debt, graciously remitting the penalty or canceling the obligation of another. In the Bible, it is modeled on God’s grace in removing the barrier of sin.
This passage directly parallels Ephesians 4:31, also commanding believers to 'put away' similar negative attitudes and speech, highlighting the consistent call to purity in the early church.
Matthew 15:18-19Jesus explains that 'evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander' come from within, underscoring that the 'malice' and 'bitterness' Paul warns against originate in the heart and manifest in outward actions.
James 1:19-20This passage urges believers to be 'quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry,' directly addressing the temperaments (anger, wrath) and potential outcomes (clamor, slander) Paul seeks to eliminate.
Ephesians 4:26This verse, just prior to our text, states 'Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.' It provides a principle for managing anger that, when ignored, can escalate into the specific sins listed in Ephesians 4:31.
Ephesians 4:32This verse immediately follows our text and presents the positive counterparts to the negative emotions Paul lists, urging believers to be 'kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other.' It shows what should replace the bitterness and malice.
barnesEphesians 4:31: "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:"
Let all bitterness - see the notes on Ephesians 4:2 . And wrath - The word here does not differ essentially from anger. Anger - see the note on Ephesians 4:26. All cherished, unreasonable anger. And clamour - Noise, disorder, high words; such as men use in a brawl, or when they are excited. Christians are to be calm and serious. Harsh contentions and strifes; hoarse…
meyerEphesians 4:31: "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:"
Ephesians 4:31-32 . Πικρία ] Bitterness , i.e. fretting spitefulness, Acts 8:23 ; Jam 3:14 . See Wetstein, ad Rom. iii. 14; Loesner, Obss. p. 344 f.; Wyttenbach, ad Plut. Mor. VI. p. 1033. As to the distinction between θυμός ( ebullition of anger ) and ὀργή , see on Romans 2:8 ; Galatians 5:20 . The context shows, we may add, that here loveless and hostile anger is…
Paul doesn't just list negative emotions; he describes a progression, moving from an inward "bitterness" and "malice" to outward expressions like "clamor" and "slander." This shows that these are not isolated feelings but a connected ecosystem of ungodliness that must be entirely purged from our lives.
Paul is calling believers to live out their new identity in Christ by shedding the old ways of the "ungodly life." This command to abandon harsh speech and attitudes directly follows his instruction to stop lying and to speak truthfully with their neighbors. It sets the stage for the positive virtues of kindness, tenderheartedness, and forgiveness that he will then encourage.
Paul is calling believers to live out their new identity in Christ by shedding the old ways of the "ungodly life." This command to abandon harsh speech and attitudes directly follows his instruction to stop lying and to speak truthfully with their neighbors. It sets the stage for the positive virtues of kindness, tenderheartedness, and forgiveness that he will then encourage.
"Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." — Paul doesn't just list negative emotions; he describes a progression, moving from an inward "bitterness" and "malice" to outward expressions like "clamor" and "slander." This shows that these are not…
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Last reviewed October 2026
