What Does Ephesians 5:11 Mean in the King James?
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The boundary is participation versus exposure: fellowship makes the works common ground, while reproof brings them into view.
THE MEANING
The verse speaks to the reader’s present participation: sharing in fruitless works makes them common ground, while exposing them draws what is hidden into view. Its force is relational and revealing; the works are named by their fruitlessness and brought into the light through exposure.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The lie is that quiet involvement is only proximity. The verse names shared participation as fellowship.
THE ROOT
συγκοινωνεῖτε
synkoinōneite
GROWS FROM
κοινων-
koinōn-
To share in common; to participate.
The verb translated “fellowship” means sharing together, from the word family for sharing in common. The boundary is participatory: these works become common ground through involvement.
ALSO GROWS
koinōnia: Sharing in common
κοινωνία
This noun makes clear that fellowship involves a shared part in something.
koinōnos: Partner; sharer
κοινωνός
A partner is one who has a share, illuminating the personal involvement carried by this verb.
ἐλέγχετε
elenchete
GROWS FROM
ἐλεγχ-
elench-
To expose, bring to proof, or convict.
The verb translated “reprove” carries the force of exposing or bringing a matter to proof. The next verse describes the effect: what is exposed is made manifest by the light.
ALSO GROWS
elenchos: Proof; conviction
ἔλεγχος
This noun links the root’s exposing action with something brought into evidence.
elegmos: Reproof
ἐλεγμός
This related noun carries the corrective sense of bringing something into the open.
ἀκάρποις
akarpois
GROWS FROM
καρπ-
karp-
Fruit; what is produced.
“unfruitful” in this verse is akarpois. The word combines the negative prefix ἀ- with καρπός, “fruit.” The works are described by what they produce, or fail to produce, rather than only by their association with darkness.
ALSO GROWS
karpos: Fruit; produce
καρπός
The base word names the result by which the works are described as unfruitful.
karpophoreō: Bear fruit
καρποφορέω
This verb shows the same root in its productive form, clarifying the contrast with what bears no fruit.
THE PATTERN
What is concealed is brought into view when it meets the light.
He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.THE THREAD
But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.The Greek verb behind “reprove” belongs to the same ἐλέγχω (elenchō) word family as “reproved” here. This verse states the effect of that exposure: what is brought to light becomes manifest.
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