Ephesians 4:19 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Bible Comments

Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

Who being, х hoitines (G3748)] - as being persons who: inasmuch as they.

Past feeling - senseless, shameless, hopeless, with conscience, seared: the ultimate result of a long process of 'hardening' or habit of sin (Ephesians 4:18). Delta G f g, Vulgate, read 'being past hope,' despairing. A B, Origen, support "past feeling," which includes past hope (Jeremiah 2:25; Jeremiah 18:12).

Given themselves over. In Romans 1:24 it is, "God gave them up to uncleanness." Their giving themselves to it was punished in kind, God judicially giving them up to it by withdrawing His preventing grace: their sin was made their punishment. They gave themselves up to the slavery of their lust, to do all its pleasure, as captives who have ceased to strive with the foe: so God gave them up to it.

Lasciviousness, х aselgeia (G766)] - 'wantonness.' So Romans 13:13; 2 Peter 2:18. It does not necessarily include lasciviousness, but incontinent, reckless readiness for it, and for every self-indulgence. 'The first beginnings of unchastity.' 'Lawless insolence and wanton caprice,' (Trench). To work all uncleanness, х eis (G1519) ergasian (G2039)] - 'with a deliberate view to the working (as their business; not a mere accidental fall into sin) of uncleanness of every kind.'

With greediness - Greek, 'IN greediness.' Uncleanness and greediness of gain go hand in hand (Ephesians 5:3; Ephesians 5:5; Colossians 3:5); though "greediness" х pleonexia (G4124)] here includes all kinds of self-seeking.

Ephesians 4:19

19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.