Ephesians 5:4

“Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, &c.] The former of these may include all filthy gestures and behaviour, every indecent habit and attire, and all actions which have a tendency to excite lust; and also all impure words, these discover an impure heart, and are the means of corrupting men's minds and manners; filthy speaking, is a verbal commission of the things that are spoken of; and it may include all impure songs and books, and the reading or hearing of them; this is what the Jews call hp lwbn, “filthiness of the mouth”, obscene words; which they say they do not use on feast days, as the Gentiles do f57: “foolish talking” does not so much design every imprudent thing…”

“filthiness--obscenity in act or gesture. foolish talking--the talk of fools, which is folly and sin together. The Greek of it, and of "filthiness," occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. nor--rather, "or" (compare Eph 5:3). jesting--Greek, "eutrapelia"; found nowhere else in the New Testament: implying strictly that versatility which turns about and adapts itself, without regard to principle, to the shifting circumstances of the moment, and to the varying moods of those with whom it may deal. Not scurrile buffoonery, but refined "persiflage" and "badinage," for which Ephesus was famed [PLAUTUS, A Boastful Soldier, 3.1,42-52], and which, so far from being censured, was and is thought by…”

“Neither filthiness - That is, obscene, or indecent conversation. Literally, that which is shameful, or deformed - αἰσχρότης aischrotēs. The word does not elsewhere occur in the New Testament. Nor foolish talking - This word - μωρολογία mōrologia - does not occur elsewhere in the New Testament. It means that kind of talk which is insipid, senseless, stupid, foolish; which is not suited to instruct, edify, profit - the idle “chitchat” which is so common in the world. The meaning is, that Christians should aim to have their conversation sensible, serious, sincere - remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, “that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the…”

“Nor foolish talking - Tittle tattle, talking of nothing, the weather, fashions, meat and drink. Or jesting - The word properly means, wittiness, facetiousness, esteemed by the heathens an half - virtue. But how frequently even this quenches the Spirit, those who are tender of conscience know. Which are not convenient - For a Christian; as neither increasing his faith nor holiness. Ephesians 5:6”

“5:4 The speech of God’s people is to be characterized by thankfulness to God (see 4:29; 5:3, 12).”

“filthiness: Eph 4:29; Pro 12:23, Pro 15:2; Ecc 10:13; Mat 12:34-37; Mar 7:22; Col 3:8; Jam 3:4-8; Pe2 2:7, Pe2 2:18; Jde 1:10, Jde 1:13 convenient: Rom 1:28; Plm 1:8 but: Eph 5:19, Eph 5:20, Eph 1:16; Psa 33:1, Psa 92:1, Psa 107:21, Psa 107:22; Dan 6:10; Joh 6:23; Co2 1:11; Co2 9:15; Phi 4:6; Col 3:15-17; Th1 3:9, Th1 5:18; Heb 13:15 Ephesians 5:5”