Ephesians 4:27

Ephesians 4:27. Nor yet. A slight change in the form of the negative, sustained by the best authorities, shows that this is another prohibition; hence ‘neither' is inexact. The reference is, however, still to anger.

Give place (comp. Romans 12:19), give free play, room in the heart, to the devil, i.e., Satan. It is doubtful if the word diabolos ever means simply slanderer, or blasphemer, when used as a noun. The clause gives a reason why sinful anger should be avoided: it opens to Satan the heart which has been redeemed from his power by Christ.