King James Version
Ephesians 4:32 in the King James Version says “And be ye kind one to another , tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.” — study this verse from Ephesians chapter 4 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.
“And be ye kind one to another , tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”
Ephesians 4:32 · King James Version
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
And be ye kind one to another , tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
KJV Study — Public Domain
Compare 4 commentaries from different scholars and time periods for a richer understanding.
“be”
G1096to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e., (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.)
“one to another”
G1519to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
“forgiving”
G5483to grant as a favor, i.e., gratuitously, in kindness, pardon or rescue
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
“God”
G2316a deity, especially (with g3588) the supreme divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; exceedingly (by hebraism)
“forgiving”
G5483to grant as a favor, i.e., gratuitously, in kindness, pardon or rescue
Ephesians 4:32 is situated within the Apostle Paul's letter to the church at Ephesus, specifically in a section contrasting the bondage of the Mosaic law with the freedom found in the gospel. The verse follows an exhortation against returning to legalistic observance and highlights the transformation believers experience as they become 'children of God' through faith. The language of kindness, tenderheartedness, and forgiveness reflects the new relational ethics expected of Christians who are united to Christ and empowered by the Spirit to live as God's adopted sons and daughters.
This verse teaches that Christian forgiveness is modeled on the divine forgiveness granted through Christ, emphasizing that believers are to extend kindness and compassion to one another as a reflection of God's grace. Forgiveness here is not a denial of justice but a selfless, unlimited release of anger, mirroring the forgiveness God has shown 'for Christ’s sake.' Theologically, this connects to the broader biblical call to imitate God (Ephesians 5:1), to forgive as taught by Jesus in the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:14-15), and to embody the unity and love that characterize the body of Christ, as seen in related passages like Colossians 3:12-13 and 1 Peter 3:8-9.
Verses related to Ephesians 4:32 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge