Ephesians 5:15
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Ephesians 5:15
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The verse urges us to "look how you walk," emphasizing the manner of our life, not just its general direction. It’s about being precise and accurate in following God's path, not simply avoiding obvious sin but living with an exactness that demonstrates true, God-given wisdom.
Paul is urging believers to live differently from the surrounding world, having just contrasted their lives with darkness and immorality. He exhorts them to walk carefully and wisely, as those illuminated by Christ, rather than living carelessly like the unwise. This charge sets the stage for his instructions on how to redeem the time because the days are evil.
Paul doesn't just tell us to walk, but to 'see how' we walk. What does this urgent command truly demand of us?
The verse begins with a powerful imperative: "Look carefully then how you walk." This isn't a casual suggestion; it's a call to deep, ongoing self-awareness. The original language emphasizes paying close attention to the manner of our walk, not just the direction.
More Than Just Moving Forward
Think of it like navigating a tricky path. You don't just put one foot in front of the other; you watch your step, notice the terrain, and adjust your movement. Paul urges us to bring that same level of focused attention to our spiritual journey.
This involves:
Paul contrasts two ways of living: the unwise and the wise. What's the fundamental difference, and which path are we truly on?
The core of the exhortation is a stark choice: "not as unwise but as wise." This isn't about intellectual brilliance, but about a practical, God-centered understanding that shapes our actions.
The Foolish Path
The 'unwise' walk is characterized by a lack of divine perspective. It's living according to impulse, worldly desires, and short-sighted goals. It's ignoring the eternal implications of our choices.
The Wise Path
The 'wise' walk, in contrast, is grounded in God's truth. It means:
Understand the original words
peripateō · Greek Verb
In a biblical sense, the conduct of one's life or daily manner of living; it encompasses all ethical decisions and actions.
asophos · Greek Adjective
Lacking spiritual insight or moral discernment; acting without regard for God’s will or the ultimate consequences of behavior.
sophos · Greek Adjective
Possessing spiritual discernment, moral prudence, and the ability to apply God’s truth to the practical circumstances of life.
This passage urges guarding your heart with all vigilance, which directly mirrors Ephesians 5:15's call to 'look carefully' at how you walk, emphasizing the importance of intentionality in our inner lives.
Colossians 4:5Paul uses a similar phrase here, advising believers to 'walk in wisdom toward outsiders,' which echoes the 'not as unwise but as wise' instruction by highlighting how our conduct impacts those around us.
Matthew 7:24-27Jesus' parable of the wise and foolish builders illustrates the profound difference between hearing and doing God's word. Building on solid rock (wise walking) versus sand (foolish walking) directly aligns with the wisdom Paul is calling believers to embrace.
Romans 12:2This verse calls believers not to be 'conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.' This renewal is the source of true wisdom, enabling us to discern and live out God's will, fulfilling the 'wise' walk Paul describes.
barnesEphesians 5:15: "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,"
See then that ye walk circumspectly - carefully, anxiously, solicitous lest you fall into sin. The word rendered "circumspectly" - ἀκριβῶς akribōs - means "diligently," and the idea here is, that they were to take special pains to guard against the temptations around them, and to live as they ought to. Not as fools, but as wise - Not as the people of this world live, indulging in foolish pleasures and desires,…
calvinEphesians 5:15-20: "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,"
- See then. If believers must not neglect to drive away the darkness of others by their own brightness, how much less ought they to be blind as to their own conduct in life? What darkness shall conceal those on whom Christ, the Sun of righteousness, has arisen? Placed, as it were, in a crowded theater, they ought to live under the eye of God and of angels. Let them stand in awe of these witnesses, though they…
The verse urges us to "look how you walk," emphasizing the manner of our life, not just its general direction. It’s about being precise and accurate in following God's path, not simply avoiding obvious sin but living with an exactness that demonstrates true, God-given wisdom.
Paul is urging believers to live differently from the surrounding world, having just contrasted their lives with darkness and immorality. He exhorts them to walk carefully and wisely, as those illuminated by Christ, rather than living carelessly like the unwise. This charge sets the stage for his instructions on how to redeem the time because the days are evil.
Paul is urging believers to live differently from the surrounding world, having just contrasted their lives with darkness and immorality. He exhorts them to walk carefully and wisely, as those illuminated by Christ, rather than living carelessly like the unwise. This charge sets the stage for his instructions on how to redeem the time because the days are evil.
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"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise," — The verse urges us to "look how you walk," emphasizing the manner of our life, not just its general direction. It’s about being precise and accurate in following God's path, not simply avoiding o…