What Does Ephesians 4:27 Mean?
Nor give ground to the Slanderer.
Key words are shown with the Hebrew or Greek and what each word meant.
Selah Decoded Version The Selah Decoded Version renders what the Hebrew and Greek words meant to the people who first heard them.
King James wording
King James Version
Neither give place to the devil.THE KEY
The Slanderer gains room through the space accusation is given.
THE MEANING
Here the Greek name means one who accuses and maligns. The verse speaks to the opening anger can leave between people: room granted to accusation begins to shape the relationship now.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The lie this undoes is that accusation can be privately entertained without affecting anyone else; the verse treats the space granted to it as a real opening.
THE ROOT
διάβολος
diabolos
GROWS FROM
διαβάλλω
diaballō
To slander, accuse, or malign; its formation carries the image of an accusation thrown across.
The word-family names the slanderer, whose work turns accusation into division. The warning becomes relational and concrete: a charge is given space between people.
ALSO GROWS
diaballō: To slander, accuse, or malign.
διαβάλλω
The verb names the action behind the title, making the warning about accusation concrete.
diabolē: Slander or accusation.
διαβολή
This related noun names the force produced by the act: an accusation that can take up room between people.
τόπον
topon
GROWS FROM
τόπος
topos
A place or location; also room or opportunity.
“give ground” in this verse is topon. The word can mean a location, room, or opportunity. “Give place” pictures an opening being granted to the Slanderer: space that can be occupied, not a vague abstraction.
ALSO GROWS
topos: Place, location, or room.
τόπος
Its concrete sense makes the verse’s image spatial: something is given room to operate.
atopos: Out of place, improper, or unreasonable.
ἄτοπος
This related word carries the sense of what does not fit its place, echoing how accusation disrupts a relationship.
δίδοτε
didote
GROWS FROM
δίδωμι
didōmi
To give, grant, or bestow.
“give” in this verse is didote. The verb makes the opening an act of giving: place is granted, not simply found. The line presents a foothold as room yielded to the Slanderer.
ALSO GROWS
paradidōmi: To hand over or deliver.
παραδίδωμι
This related verb sharpens the sense of transfer in giving room.
dosis: Giving or a gift.
δόσις
The noun keeps the focus on what is granted, illuminating the verse’s language of yielded space.
THE PATTERN
Anger left unresolved can create an opening where accusation and division take hold.
If you do well, will you not be lifted up? And if you do not do well, falling short crouches at the door. Its reaching is toward you, and you shall rule over it.Be angry, and do not miss the mark; let not the sun set upon your provocation.Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but give room to wrath. For it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will give back, says the LORD.THE THREAD
Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but give room to wrath. For it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will give back, says the LORD.Romans 12:19 uses the same “give place” construction and turns attention to what receives room. There, vengeance is entrusted to God; here, room is refused to the Slanderer, distinguishing surrendered vengeance from space given to accusation.
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