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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Ephesians 4:18 They are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/ephesians/4-18.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/6/49_Eph_04_18.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Ephesians 4:18 - New Life in Christ " /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="They are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script> <script src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/biblehub.js' type='text/javascript'></script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/ephesians/4-18.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/ephesians/4-18.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/ephesians/">Ephesians</a> > <a href="/ephesians/4.htm">Chapter 4</a> > Verse 18</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad1.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/ephesians/4-17.htm" title="Ephesians 4:17">◄</a> Ephesians 4:18 <a href="/ephesians/4-19.htm" title="Ephesians 4:19">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Study Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Crossref </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comment </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/ephesians/4.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/ephesians/4.htm">New International Version</a> They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. <a href="/nlt/ephesians/4.htm">New Living Translation</a> Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. <a href="/esv/ephesians/4.htm">English Standard Version</a> They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. <a href="/bsb/ephesians/4.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> They are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts. <a href="/blb/ephesians/4.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> being darkened in the understanding, being alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance being in them on account of the hardness of their heart, <a href="/kjv/ephesians/4.htm">King James Bible</a> Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: <a href="/nkjv/ephesians/4.htm">New King James Version</a> having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; <a href="/nasb_/ephesians/4.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; <a href="/nasb/ephesians/4.htm">NASB 1995</a> being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; <a href="/nasb77/ephesians/4.htm">NASB 1977 </a> being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; <a href="/lsb/ephesians/4.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> being darkened in their mind, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart. <a href="/amp/ephesians/4.htm">Amplified Bible</a> for their [moral] understanding is darkened and their reasoning is clouded; [they are] alienated and self-banished from the life of God [with no share in it; this is] because of the [willful] ignorance and spiritual blindness that is [deep-seated] within them, because of the hardness and insensitivity of their heart. <a href="/csb/ephesians/4.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> They are darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them and because of the hardness of their hearts. <a href="/hcsb/ephesians/4.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> They are darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them and because of the hardness of their hearts. <a href="/asv/ephesians/4.htm">American Standard Version</a> being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their heart; <a href="/cev/ephesians/4.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> Their minds are in the dark, and they are stubborn and ignorant and have missed out on the life that comes from God. They no longer have any feelings about what is right, <a href="/erv/ephesians/4.htm">English Revised Version</a> being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their heart; <a href="/gwt/ephesians/4.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> They can't understand because they are in the dark. They are excluded from the life that God approves of because of their ignorance and stubbornness. <a href="/gnt/ephesians/4.htm">Good News Translation</a> and whose minds are in the dark. They have no part in the life that God gives, for they are completely ignorant and stubborn. <a href="/isv/ephesians/4.htm">International Standard Version</a> They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of their ignorance and hardness of heart. <a href="/msb/ephesians/4.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> They are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts. <a href="/net/ephesians/4.htm">NET Bible</a> They are darkened in their understanding, being alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts. <a href="/nheb/ephesians/4.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their hearts; <a href="/wbt/ephesians/4.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: <a href="/wey/ephesians/4.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> with darkened understandings, having by reason of the ignorance which is deep-seated in them and the insensibility of their moral nature, no share in the Life which God gives. <a href="/web/ephesians/4.htm">World English Bible</a> being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their hearts. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/ephesians/4.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> being darkened in the understanding, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart, <a href="/blb/ephesians/4.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> being darkened in the understanding, being alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance being in them on account of the hardness of their heart, <a href="/ylt/ephesians/4.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> being darkened in the understanding, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart, <a href="/slt/ephesians/4.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> Being darkened in understanding, alienated from the life of God by ignorance being in them, by the hardness of their heart;<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/ephesians/4.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> Having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their hearts. <a href="/cpdv/ephesians/4.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> having their intellect obscured, being alienated from the life of God, through the ignorance that is within them, because of the blindness of their hearts. <a href="/nabre/ephesians/4.htm">New American Bible</a> darkened in understanding, alienated from the life of God because of their ignorance, because of their hardness of heart, <a href="/nrsvce/ephesians/4.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of their ignorance and hardness of heart.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/ephesians/4.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And whose understanding is dark, and who are alienated from the life of God, because they have no knowledge, and because of the blindness of their hearts; <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/ephesians/4.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> And they are dark in their intellects and are aliens to the Life of God, because there is no knowledge in them and because of the blindness of their heart,<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/ephesians/4.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; <a href="/godbey/ephesians/4.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God through the ignorance being in themselves, on account of the blindness of their heart; <a href="/haweis/ephesians/4.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> darkened in understanding; alienated from the life of God through the ignorance which is in them; through the blindness of their hearts: <a href="/mace/ephesians/4.htm">Mace New Testament</a> which are overspread with darkness, and averse to a religious life, thro' their innate ignorance and obduracy: <a href="/wey/ephesians/4.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> with darkened understandings, having by reason of the ignorance which is deep-seated in them and the insensibility of their moral nature, no share in the Life which God gives. <a href="/worrell/ephesians/4.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their hearts; <a href="/worsley/ephesians/4.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> in the vanity of their mind, darkened in their understanding, and alienated from the life of God, through the ignorance that is in them, by reason of the hardness of their heart: <a href="/parallel/ephesians/4-18.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AfeSHen3sAQ?start=705" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/ephesians/4.htm">New Life in Christ </a> 17So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18<a href="/greek/4656.htm" title="4656: eskotōmenoi (V-RPM/P-NMP) -- (lit. or met.) I darken. From skotos; to obscure or blind.">They are darkened</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tē (Art-DFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">in their</a> <a href="/greek/1271.htm" title="1271: dianoia (N-DFS) -- From dia and nous; deep thought, properly, the faculty, by implication, its exercise.">understanding</a> <a href="/greek/1510.htm" title="1510: ontes (V-PPA-NMP) -- I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.">and</a> <a href="/greek/526.htm" title="526: apēllotriōmenoi (V-RPM/P-NMP) -- From apo and a derivative of allotrios; to estrange away, i.e. to be non-participant.">alienated from</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tēs (Art-GFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/2222.htm" title="2222: zōēs (N-GFS) -- Life, both of physical (present) and of spiritual (particularly future) existence. From zao; life.">life</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tou (Art-GMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/2316.htm" title="2316: Theou (N-GMS) -- A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.">of God</a> <a href="/greek/1223.htm" title="1223: dia (Prep) -- A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.">because of</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tēn (Art-AFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/52.htm" title="52: agnoian (N-AFS) -- Ignorance, inadvertence, sometimes with the idea of willful blindness. From agnoeo; ignorance.">ignorance</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tēn (Art-AFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/1510.htm" title="1510: ousan (V-PPA-AFS) -- I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.">that is</a> <a href="/greek/1722.htm" title="1722: en (Prep) -- In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; in, at, on, by, etc.">in</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autois (PPro-DN3P) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">them</a> <a href="/greek/1223.htm" title="1223: dia (Prep) -- A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.">due to</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tēn (Art-AFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/4457.htm" title="4457: pōrōsin (N-AFS) -- Hardness of heart, obtuseness. From poroo; stupidity or callousness.">hardness</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tēs (Art-GFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">of</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autōn (PPro-GN3P) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">their</a> <a href="/greek/2588.htm" title="2588: kardias (N-GFS) -- Prolonged from a primary kar; the heart, i.e. the thoughts or feelings; also the middle.">hearts.</a> 19Having lost all sense of shame, they have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity, with a craving for more.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/romans/1-21.htm">Romans 1:21</a> For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. <a href="/2_corinthians/4-4.htm">2 Corinthians 4:4</a> The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. <a href="/colossians/1-21.htm">Colossians 1:21</a> Once you were alienated from God and were hostile in your minds, engaging in evil deeds. <a href="/john/12-40.htm">John 12:40</a> “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so that they cannot see with their eyes, and understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.” <a href="/1_john/2-11.htm">1 John 2:11</a> But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness. He does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. <a href="/matthew/13-15.htm">Matthew 13:15</a> For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’ <a href="/acts/28-27.htm">Acts 28:27</a> For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’ <a href="/1_corinthians/2-14.htm">1 Corinthians 2:14</a> The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. <a href="/2_timothy/3-7.htm">2 Timothy 3:7</a> who are always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. <a href="/isaiah/6-9.htm">Isaiah 6:9-10</a> And He replied: “Go and tell this people, ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ / Make the hearts of this people calloused; deafen their ears and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” <a href="/jeremiah/5-21.htm">Jeremiah 5:21</a> “Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear. <a href="/ezekiel/12-2.htm">Ezekiel 12:2</a> “Son of man, you are living in a rebellious house. They have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious house. <a href="/psalms/82-5.htm">Psalm 82:5</a> They do not know or understand; they wander in the darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken. <a href="/proverbs/4-19.htm">Proverbs 4:19</a> But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they do not know what makes them stumble. <a href="/hosea/4-6.htm">Hosea 4:6</a> My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:the understanding.<a href="/psalms/74-20.htm">Psalm 74:20</a> Have respect unto the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.<a href="/psalms/115-4.htm">Psalm 115:4-8</a> Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands… <a href="/isaiah/44-18.htm">Isaiah 44:18-20</a> They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand… alienated.<a href="/ephesians/2-12.htm">Ephesians 2:12</a> That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:<a href="/romans/8-7.htm">Romans 8:7,8</a> Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be… <a href="/galatians/4-8.htm">Galatians 4:8</a> Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.because.<a href="/romans/1-21.htm">Romans 1:21</a> Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.<a href="/romans/2-19.htm">Romans 2:19</a> And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,<a href="/1_john/2-11.htm">1 John 2:11</a> But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.blindness.<a href="/daniel/5-20.htm">Daniel 5:20</a> But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:<a href="/matthew/13-15.htm">Matthew 13:15</a> For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.<a href="/john/12-40.htm">John 12:40</a> He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/ephesians/2-12.htm">Alienated</a> <a href="/romans/11-25.htm">Blindness</a> <a href="/2_corinthians/6-14.htm">Dark</a> <a href="/2_corinthians/3-14.htm">Darkened</a> <a href="/proverbs/22-15.htm">Deep-Seated</a> <a href="/galatians/6-9.htm">Due</a> <a href="/ephesians/2-12.htm">Estranged</a> <a href="/ephesians/2-19.htm">Excluded</a> <a href="/galatians/3-5.htm">Gives</a> <a href="/galatians/5-21.htm">Hard</a> <a href="/romans/11-25.htm">Hardening</a> <a href="/romans/2-5.htm">Hardness</a> <a href="/ephesians/4-1.htm">Heart</a> <a href="/ephesians/3-17.htm">Hearts</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/15-34.htm">Ignorance</a> <a href="/ephesians/2-2.htm">Life</a> <a href="/habakkuk/2-6.htm">Moral</a> <a href="/ephesians/2-14.htm">Nature</a> <a href="/ephesians/4-8.htm">Reason</a> <a href="/galatians/5-4.htm">Separated</a> <a href="/ephesians/2-19.htm">Share</a> <a href="/galatians/5-20.htm">Strange</a> <a href="/ephesians/3-20.htm">Thoughts</a> <a href="/ephesians/3-4.htm">Understanding</a> <a href="/hebrews/10-16.htm">Understandings</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/colossians/1-21.htm">Alienated</a> <a href="/genesis/19-11.htm">Blindness</a> <a href="/ephesians/5-8.htm">Dark</a> <a href="/revelation/8-12.htm">Darkened</a> <a href="/proverbs/22-15.htm">Deep-Seated</a> <a href="/2_thessalonians/2-13.htm">Due</a> <a href="/colossians/1-21.htm">Estranged</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/11-14.htm">Excluded</a> <a href="/ephesians/5-5.htm">Gives</a> <a href="/philippians/1-23.htm">Hard</a> <a href="/job/38-38.htm">Hardening</a> <a href="/2_timothy/2-3.htm">Hardness</a> <a href="/ephesians/5-19.htm">Heart</a> <a href="/ephesians/5-19.htm">Hearts</a> <a href="/1_timothy/1-13.htm">Ignorance</a> <a href="/ephesians/4-22.htm">Life</a> <a href="/james/1-21.htm">Moral</a> <a href="/ephesians/4-22.htm">Nature</a> <a href="/ephesians/4-25.htm">Reason</a> <a href="/1_thessalonians/2-17.htm">Separated</a> <a href="/ephesians/4-28.htm">Share</a> <a href="/colossians/3-5.htm">Strange</a> <a href="/philippians/2-3.htm">Thoughts</a> <a href="/ephesians/5-17.htm">Understanding</a> <a href="/hebrews/10-16.htm">Understandings</a><div class="vheading2">Ephesians 4</div>1. <a href="/ephesians/4-1.htm">He exhorts to unity;</a> 7. <a href="/ephesians/4-7.htm">and declares that God therefore gives various gifts unto men;</a> 11. <a href="/ephesians/4-11.htm">that his church might be edified,</a> 16. <a href="/ephesians/4-16.htm">and grow up in Christ.</a> 18. <a href="/ephesians/4-18.htm">He calls them from the impurity of the Gentiles;</a> 24. <a href="/ephesians/4-24.htm">to put on the new man;</a> 25. <a href="/ephesians/4-25.htm">to cast off lying;</a> 29. <a href="/ephesians/4-29.htm">and corrupt communication.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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The Greek word for "darkened" is "skotizo," which implies being obscured or deprived of light. In a biblical context, light often symbolizes truth and divine revelation. This darkness in understanding indicates a separation from the truth of God, leading to a life lived without the guidance of His wisdom. Historically, this reflects the condition of the Gentiles before the revelation of Christ, living in a world without the illumination of God's Word.and alienated from the life of God "Alienated" comes from the Greek "apallotrioo," meaning to be estranged or separated. This separation from the "life of God" signifies a disconnection from the spiritual vitality and eternal life that comes through a relationship with God. In the historical context of Ephesians, Paul addresses Gentile believers who were once far from God but have now been brought near through Christ. This alienation is not just a physical separation but a spiritual one, highlighting the need for reconciliation through Jesus.because of the ignorance that is in them "Ignorance" here is translated from the Greek word "agnoia," which denotes a lack of knowledge or awareness. This ignorance is not merely intellectual but spiritual, reflecting a willful rejection or neglect of God's truth. In the scriptural context, this ignorance is a result of turning away from God, leading to a life devoid of His wisdom and guidance. The historical backdrop of Ephesians shows a world steeped in paganism and idolatry, where the true knowledge of God was obscured.due to the hardness of their hearts The "hardness of their hearts" is a critical phrase, with "hardness" derived from the Greek "porosis," indicating a stubbornness or insensitivity. This metaphorical hardness suggests a resistance to God's truth and a refusal to be moved by His Spirit. Biblically, a hard heart is often associated with rebellion against God, as seen in Pharaoh's resistance in Exodus. In the context of Ephesians, Paul warns against the spiritual callousness that prevents individuals from experiencing the transformative power of God's love and grace.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/ephesians/4.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(18) Having the understanding darkened.--Of this vanity the first result noted is the intellectual. They are "darkened in the understanding," and so, "by the ignorance in them alienated from the life of God." The phrase "the life of God" is unique. It may, however, be interpreted by a similar phrase, the "righteousness of God" (<a href="/romans/1-7.htm" title="To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.">Romans 1:7</a>), i.e., the righteousness given by God. What the life given by God is, we know by our Lord's own words (<a href="/john/17-3.htm" title="And this is life eternal, that they might know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.">John 17:3</a>), "This is the life eternal, to know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou has sent." So far as the understanding is concerned, this alienation signifies the loss of the central light of Truth in God, and with it the loss, partial or complete, of the vision of other truths in their right proportion and harmony.But the second result is moral. St. Paul attributes the alienation from God, or (possibly, though less probably) "the ignorance which is in them," to the hardness of their heart--for the marginal reading is correct; the word used signifies, almost technically, "callousness" and insensibility. To make his meaning clearer still he adds, "who (or, inasmuch as they) being past feeling, have given themselves over to lasciviousness." There is precisely a similar current of thought (noting, however, the characteristic difference referred to above) in <a href="/context/romans/1-24.htm" title="Why God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves:">Romans 1:24-32</a>, where St. Paul draws out, as consequences of the same vanity, first lusts of uncleanness, next unnatural sin, and at last breaks out into a fearful enumeration of the signs of the reprobate mind. On this side, therefore, "the alienation from the life of God" is the loss of the grace by which He dwells in the soul, and by indwelling gives it the moral and spiritual life.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/ephesians/4.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 18. - Being darkened in their understanding (second point of difference), and thus blind to all that is most vital - ignorant of God, of the way of salvation, of the love of Christ. Even at best the natural understanding cannot discover these things, and when it is not only imperfect but darkened - made more obscure than ever by sin (see after) - its guidance is altogether defective. It has been said truly that the youngest scholar in a Sunday school that has been taught the elements of the gospel has more light than the wisest of the heathen. Alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart (third point of difference). Two causes are given for their alienation, viz. ignorance, and hardness of heart, this last being the ultimate cause. Through worldly living, their hearts have become hard, callous, insensible to spiritual influences, perceiving no beauty in Divine things, no preciousness in Divine promises, no excellence in the Divine image; this makes them ignorant, careless, foolish; and such being their state of heart, they are alienated from the life of God, can't bear vital religion, hate the very idea of spiritual and holy service. <a href="/commentaries/ephesians/4-18.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>They are darkened ἐσκοτωμένοι (eskotōmenoi) Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_4656.htm">Strong's 4656: </a> (lit. or met.) I darken. From skotos; to obscure or blind. in [their] τῇ (tē) Article - Dative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. understanding διανοίᾳ (dianoia) Noun - Dative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1271.htm">Strong's 1271: </a> From dia and nous; deep thought, properly, the faculty, by implication, its exercise. [and] ὄντες (ontes) Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_1510.htm">Strong's 1510: </a> I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. alienated from ἀπηλλοτριωμένοι (apēllotriōmenoi) Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_526.htm">Strong's 526: </a> From apo and a derivative of allotrios; to estrange away, i.e. to be non-participant. the τῆς (tēs) Article - Genitive Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. life ζωῆς (zōēs) Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2222.htm">Strong's 2222: </a> Life, both of physical (present) and of spiritual (particularly future) existence. From zao; life. of God Θεοῦ (Theou) Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2316.htm">Strong's 2316: </a> A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very. because of διὰ (dia) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_1223.htm">Strong's 1223: </a> A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through. the τὴν (tēn) Article - Accusative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. ignorance ἄγνοιαν (agnoian) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_52.htm">Strong's 52: </a> Ignorance, inadvertence, sometimes with the idea of willful blindness. From agnoeo; ignorance. that is οὖσαν (ousan) Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1510.htm">Strong's 1510: </a> I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. in ἐν (en) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_1722.htm">Strong's 1722: </a> In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc. them αὐτοῖς (autois) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Neuter 3rd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. due to διὰ (dia) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_1223.htm">Strong's 1223: </a> A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through. the τὴν (tēn) Article - Accusative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. hardness πώρωσιν (pōrōsin) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_4457.htm">Strong's 4457: </a> Hardness of heart, obtuseness. From poroo; stupidity or callousness. of τῆς (tēs) Article - Genitive Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. their αὐτῶν (autōn) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Neuter 3rd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. hearts. καρδίας (kardias) Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2588.htm">Strong's 2588: </a> Prolonged from a primary kar; the heart, i.e. the thoughts or feelings; also the middle. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/ephesians/4-18.htm">Ephesians 4:18 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/ephesians/4-18.htm">Ephesians 4:18 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/ephesians/4-18.htm">Ephesians 4:18 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/ephesians/4-18.htm">Ephesians 4:18 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/ephesians/4-18.htm">Ephesians 4:18 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/ephesians/4-18.htm">Ephesians 4:18 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/ephesians/4-18.htm">Ephesians 4:18 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/ephesians/4-18.htm">Ephesians 4:18 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/ephesians/4-18.htm">Ephesians 4:18 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/ephesians/4-18.htm">Ephesians 4:18 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/ephesians/4-18.htm">NT Letters: Ephesians 4:18 Being darkened in their understanding alienated (Ephes. Eph. 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