Ephesians 5:7 Meaning: Stepping Away from Sin's Company
Therefore don’t be partakers with them.
Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
Be not ye therefore partakers with them;
become not, then, partakers with them,
Be not ye therefore fellow-partakers with them;
Meaning in one sentence
Ephesians 5:7 urges believers not to share in the sins of those who reject God. Understand what it means to be a 'partaker' and live as light.
Context
Paul is writing to Christians in Ephesus, a city known for its wealth and moral corruption. In this chapter he has been listing sins that should have no place among God's people, sexual immorality, greed, crude talk. Then he gives a sharp warning: empty words can deceive you, because God's judgment is real for those who keep on in disobedience. Verse seven lands like a door closing: do not become joint partakers with them. The command is anchored in what came before, the wrath of God, and it points forward to the call to walk as children of light. This is not a suggestion but a boundary drawn by grace.
Key Words
Two Greek words carry the weight here. The verb behind “don’t be” is ginesthe, which means “become” or “keep on becoming.” Paul isn't saying “stop being” something you already are; he is saying “don't slip into becoming” something that isn't true of you. It is a guard against drifting. The noun “partakers” is summetochoi, a compound word: sun (together with) and metochos (a sharer). It appears only here and in Ephesians 3:6, where believers are called “fellow partakers of the promise.” The same word is used for holy belonging and for sinful complicity. Paul is drawing a line: you are meant to share in Christ, not in the disobedience of those who reject Him.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions agree on the basic command: do not participate in the sins of the disobedient. But they fill out the picture differently. Gill lists several ways one might become a partaker, keeping company that encourages sin, failing to correct, or committing the same acts. The Cambridge Bible notes the force of the verb: “Become not partakers,” a warning against sliding into what you once left. Barnes says simply: avoid these things because they displease God. JFB distinguishes this verse from verse 11, here it is fellowship with the workers, there it is fellowship with the works. Each tradition emphasizes a different angle, but the heart is the same: belonging to Christ means not belonging to their way of life.
A common misunderstanding
Some read this as a command to avoid all contact with non-Christians. But Paul is not telling believers to withdraw from the world, he ate with tax collectors and sinners. The prohibition is against sharing in their disobedience, not against sharing their company. In fact, the next verse calls believers to “reprove” the works of darkness, which requires proximity. The “them” here are those who persist in rebellion, the “children of disobedience” from verse 6. The command is about partnership in sin, not separation from people.
Living This Out
Think about the spaces where you spend time this week, the lunch table, the group chat, the office break room. When a joke turns cruel, when gossip begins to flow, when someone pressures you to cut a corner, the question is not whether you can stay friends. The question is whether you will join in. Verse seven asks you to notice the moment and step back. That might mean changing the subject or excusing yourself. It might mean a quiet, difficult word. It is an invitation to protect the light you have been given, not by hiding it, but by refusing to let the darkness pull you in.
Main takeaway: Because you belong to the light, you are called to step back from sharing in the disobedience of those who reject God.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
If your friends start doing something wrong, like being mean or taking something that isn't theirs, don't join in. God wants you to choose what is right, even when it's hard.
For ages 9, 12
Being a Christian means you don't just avoid sin yourself, you also don't join in when others do it. That can be tough, especially when you want to fit in. But God says you belong to the light, so you are strong enough to stand apart. Ask Him for help when you feel pressure to go along.
Questions People Ask
What does it mean to be a 'partaker' with them in Ephesians 5:7?
The Greek word is summetochos, meaning a joint sharer. Paul is warning against sharing in the sinful practices of the 'children of disobedience' mentioned in verse 6. This includes participating in their actions, encouraging them, or failing to correct them when you can.
Who are 'them' in this verse?
The immediate context points back to 'the sons of disobedience' in verse 6, people who persist in rejecting God and His ways. Paul is not talking about unbelievers in general, but about those who live habitually in the sins he listed earlier.
Does this mean Christians should avoid all contact with non-Christians?
No. Paul himself mixed with unbelievers and called believers to be salt and light in the world. The command is against sharing in their disobedience, not against having relationships with them. Verse 11 actually says to 'reprove' the works of darkness, which requires being present, not isolated.
How is this verse different from Ephesians 5:11?
Verse 7 warns against participating with the people who practice disobedience. Verse 11 warns against having fellowship with the deeds of darkness themselves. JFB notes that verse 7 is about the workers, while verse 11 is about the works. Both are serious, but they address different angles: who you join and what you join in.
Why does Paul say 'therefore' at the start of this verse?
The 'therefore' connects verse 7 to the warning in verse 6: empty words can deceive, and God's wrath comes on the disobedient. Because of that reality, believers must not become partakers with them. The consequence of sin is real, so the command is urgent.
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