But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul links "covetousness" right alongside sexual sins, not as a lesser offense, but as a vice so debasing it should be unnamed among believers, highlighting how deeply it corrodes the heart and spirit. It’s treated as equal to impurity because both stem from an unholy desire that puts self and possessions above God and others.
But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is shifting from the positive example of Christ's love to a strong warning against behaviors that contradict this new identity in Christ. He emphasizes that believers are to be imitators of God and live lives of love, which means completely renouncing the sinful practices common in their pagan surroundings. This includes sexual immorality, impurity, and greed, which are to be considered so foreign to their calling that they shouldn't even be mentioned among them.
Paul says certain sins shouldn't 'even be named' among believers. What does that radical command really mean for us today?
Beyond Mere Mention
Paul's command in Ephesians 5:3, 'let it not even be named among you,' is a strong call to a life so transformed that the very idea of these sins becomes foreign. This doesn't mean we can never discuss sin to understand and avoid it, as Paul himself does here. Instead, it means these actions should have no place in our community, no tolerance, and no approval.
Think of it like this: Imagine a family that has completely given up smoking. They wouldn't say, 'Let's not smoke in the house.' They'd say, 'Smoking just isn't something we do.' The habit is gone, the conversation around it is minimal, and the smell is absent. Paul calls believers to that same level of holy separation from impurity and greed.
Why is 'covetousness' lumped in with sexual immorality and impurity? What makes this desire so dangerous?
The Root of Greed
Paul connects 'covetousness' (or greed) directly with sexual immorality and impurity. This isn't just about wanting a new gadget; it's a deeper, insatiable desire that can manifest in many ways. Commentators suggest it's a sin against our neighbor, a grasping after what isn't ours, whether it's material possessions, status, or even another person's spouse.
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This 'insatiable desire' is dangerous because it fuels other sins. When we relentlessly pursue more, we can become blind to God's provision, disregard justice, and neglect our responsibilities to others. It can quietly take root, just like sexual sins, and become a degrading force in our lives and in the church.
Paul calls believers 'saints.' What does this title demand of our daily lives, especially concerning sin?
Living Up to Your Name
The word 'saints' (hagioi) literally means 'holy ones.' This isn't a title we earn; it's a description of our new identity in Christ, given by God. Because we are set apart for Him, our lives are meant to reflect this holiness.
Paul reminds us that it is 'proper' or 'fitting' for saints to abstain from these sins. Our behavior should align with our new nature. It's not just about avoiding punishment; it's about honoring God and living a life that is distinct from the world's standards. This radical separation from sin, including the serious sins of impurity and greed, is what makes the community of faith a light in the darkness.
Understand the original words
porneia · Greek Noun
A broad term for all forms of sexual activity outside the bounds of the marriage covenant between a man and a woman; it denotes a fundamental perversion of God's design for human sexuality.
akatharsia · Greek Noun
Moral uncleanness or corruption, often implying a lack of purity in heart, thought, or lifestyle; it stands in opposition to the holiness expected of believers.
pleonexia · Greek Noun
An insatiable desire to have more, often at the expense of others; it is essentially the worship of material things over God.
hagiois · Greek Noun
Holy ones; believers who have been set apart (sanctified) by God for His exclusive use and purpose.
This passage directly parallels Paul's condemnation of sexual immorality, calling it a sin against one's own body and urging believers to flee from it, reinforcing the severity of the sins mentioned in Ephesians 5:3.
Colossians 3:5Here, 'covetousness' is explicitly called idolatry, linking it to the same destructive vices Paul warns against in Ephesians, showing how an unhealthy desire for earthly things can become a form of worship that displaces God.
Galatians 5:19-21This passage lists 'sexual immorality, impurity, and covetousness' alongside other 'works of the flesh' that disqualify people from inheriting the kingdom of God, highlighting the serious spiritual consequences of these sins.
Matthew 15:19Jesus himself identifies sinful desires originating from the heart as the source of evil deeds, including sexual immorality and covetousness, emphasizing that these are not just external actions but internal corruptions.
vincentEphesians 5:3: "But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;"
Or covetousnessOr sets this sin emphatically by itself.Let itIt refers to each of the sins.
barnesEphesians 5:3: "But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;"
But fornication - A "common" vice among the pagan then as it is now, and one into which they were in special danger of falling; see Romans 1:29 note; 1 Corinthians 6:18 note. And all uncleanness - Impurity of life; see the notes on Romans 1:24; compare Romans 6:19; Galatians 5:19; Ephesians 4:19; Colossians 3:5. Or covetousness - The "connection" in which this word is…
Paul links "covetousness" right alongside sexual sins, not as a lesser offense, but as a vice so debasing it should be unnamed among believers, highlighting how deeply it corrodes the heart and spirit. It’s treated as equal to impurity because both stem from an unholy desire that puts self and possessions above God and others.
Paul is shifting from the positive example of Christ's love to a strong warning against behaviors that contradict this new identity in Christ. He emphasizes that believers are to be imitators of God and live lives of love, which means completely renouncing the sinful practices common in their pagan surroundings. This includes sexual immorality, impurity, and greed, which are to be considered so foreign to their calling that they shouldn't even be mentioned among them.
Paul is shifting from the positive example of Christ's love to a strong warning against behaviors that contradict this new identity in Christ. He emphasizes that believers are to be imitators of God and live lives of love, which means completely renouncing the sinful practices common in their pagan surroundings. This includes sexual immorality, impurity, and greed, which are to be considered so foreign to their calling that they shouldn't even be mentioned among them.
"But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints." — Paul links "covetousness" right alongside sexual sins, not as a lesser offense, but as a vice so debasing it should be unnamed among believers, highlighting how deeply it corrodes the heart and spi…
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Last reviewed October 2026