The writer here takes up the matter of conversation; he forbids harmful words, literally “every rotten word.” The adjective is used literally of spoiled fish (Matt 13.48) and of rotten fruit (Matt 12.33; Luke 6.43). This means not simply idle talk that is normally neutral, but evil, filthy “foul talk” (Jerusalem Bible), “bad language” (New English Bible). It may be difficult to speak of harmful words, since words themselves do not appear to be harmful in the sense of causing direct physical harm to people. Sometimes, however, one can speak of “words that cause trouble” or even “words that are only bad.”

What follows in Greek is literally “but if (there is) any good (word) for building up of need.” This good language is the kind that builds up; it is helpful, constructive, beneficial. Helpful words may be “words that do good for people.” In some cases, however, one cannot use a term which specifies merely isolated words. What is meant are statements. The first part of verse 29 may be translated as “Do not say what causes harm but only say what is good for people” or “What you say must not be something which causes something bad but what you say must be that which causes something good.” Then the phrase the kind that build up may be rendered as “that which does good to people” or “that which helps people.”

Provide what is needed is an attempt to give the force of the genitive “of the need” but is not very clear. New International Version “for building others up according to their needs” is better. It means that the language should be appropriate to the occasion (Revised Standard Version “as fits the occasion”). It should meet the needs of those with whom one is speaking, or the need of the occasion, whatever the occasion requires; compare Field’s proposal: “that which is good for the improvement of the occasion.”

Do good translates the Greek “give a grace,” “confer a benefit.” The Greek word for “grace” usually has, as Abbott notes, “a specially spiritual meaning” in the New Testament, and this aspect can be represented here by “bring a blessing” (New English Bible), “will be a blessing” (Goodspeed).

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert C. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1982. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .