Lexical Summary eutrapelia: Coarse jesting, vulgarity, ribaldry Original Word: εὐτραπελία Strong's Exhaustive Concordance jesting. From a compound of eu and a derivative of the base of trope (meaning well-turned, i.e. Ready at repartee, jocose); witticism, i.e. (in a vulgar sense) ribaldry -- jesting. see GREEK eu see GREEK trope NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom eu and the same as tropé Definition ready wit, coarse jesting NASB Translation coarse jesting (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2160: εὐτραπελίαεὐτραπελία, ἐυτραπελιας, ἡ (from εὐτράπελος, from εὖ, and τρέπω to turn: easily turning; nimble-witted, witty, sharp), pleasantry, humor, facetiousness ((Hippocrates), Plato, rep. 8, p. 563a.; Diodorus 15, 6; 20, 63; Josephus, Antiquities 12, 4, 3; Plutarch, others); in a bad sense, scurrility, ribaldry, low jesting (in which there is some acuteness): Ephesians 5:4; in a milder sense, Aristotle, eth. 2, 7, 13; (ἡ εὐτραπελία πεπαιδευμενη ὕβρις ἐστιν, rhet. 2, 12, 16 (cf. Cope, in the place cited); cf. Trench, § xxxiv.; Matt. Arnold, Irish Essays etc., p. 187ff (Speech at Eton) 1882). Topical Lexicon Definition and Context Strong’s Greek 2160 (εὐτραπελία) denotes the kind of humor or jesting that bends words toward impropriety. In classical literature it could refer to clever wit, but by the time of the New Testament the term was often colored by suggestiveness and moral looseness. Paul places it among sins of the tongue that corrupt fellowship and quench gratitude. Biblical Usage Eutrapelia appears once, in Ephesians 5:4: “Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving”. Within the epistle’s wider call to “walk worthy of the calling” (Ephesians 4:1) and to “walk in love” (Ephesians 5:2), verse 4 sets a sharp contrast between warped humor and grateful speech. The prohibition follows the warnings against sexual immorality and impurity (Ephesians 5:3), showing that speech and sexuality intertwine in the life of holiness. Theological Significance 1. Holiness of Speech: Scripture repeatedly ties the tongue to the heart’s condition (Matthew 12:34; James 3:9-12). Eutrapelia exposes a heart trivializing sin and normalizing impurity through laughter. Historical Interpretation • Patristic Era: Chrysostom, commenting on Ephesians, warned that “lascivious words make unclean souls,” arguing that jesting inflames the same passions as open acts of immorality. Practical Ministry Application • Personal Discipline: Believers monitor humor’s content and context, refusing jokes that trivialize sexuality, make light of sin, or demean people made in God’s image. Related Biblical Themes and References • Guarded Tongue: Proverbs 10:19; Proverbs 15:4; James 1:26 Summary Eutrapelia warns that humor is never neutral. Jesting that skirts impurity stands opposed to the thankful, worship-filled speech fitting for those redeemed in Christ. Faithful discipleship replaces coarse joking with words that reflect God’s holiness and foster gratitude in the body of Christ. Forms and Transliterations ευτραπελια ευτραπελία εὐτραπελία eutrapelia eutrapelíaLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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