The Greek noun aischrotēs (αἰσχρότης) means baseness, obscenity, or shameful conduct. It is the abstract noun form of aischros, referring to the quality or character of what is morally base and degrading. The word appears only once in the New Testament, in Ephesians 5:3–4, where Paul categorizes it with sexual immorality, impurity, greed, and obscene speech — all as things that should not even be named among believers.
The rarity of the word underscores the severity of the condemnation — this is one of the most absolute of Paul's vice lists, drawing a clear boundary between the culture of the kingdom and the culture of the world.
Ephesians 5:3–7 is one of the sharpest holiness passages in Paul's letters. He names sexual immorality, all impurity, greed, aischrotēs (obscenity), foolish talk, and coarse joking — and says these things 'should not even be named among you, as is proper among holy people.'
This is a culture-shaping passage. Paul is not merely prohibiting individual acts; he is describing the atmosphere of a holy community. The question is not only 'Is this technically sinful?' but 'Does this belong in the house of God's people?' The standard is being hagios — holy, set apart, distinct. A community that takes this seriously will be noticeably different from the surrounding culture — in conversation, in entertainment choices, in what it celebrates and what it refuses to normalize.