From an example to a common definition
The dialogue places Socrates under a charge of impiety and Euthyphro in pursuit of a prosecution against his father. Euthyphro offers his own action as an example, while Socrates asks what makes all pious actions pious.
Defining piety through divine approval encounters disagreement among gods. The discussion therefore moves to what all gods love, attempting to avoid contrary judgments about the same action.
References: [1]
Approval and the reason for approval
Socrates compares being carried, seen and loved, separating an action from the condition it produces. Something is loved because loving occurs, which does not yet explain what makes it worthy of that response.
Euthyphro agrees that the gods love the pious because it is pious. On that answer, divine approval describes a consequence or attribute of piety rather than supplying the requested account of what piety itself is.
References: [1]
What the exchange leaves unresolved
The dialogue proceeds through piety as part of justice, care for the gods, and knowledge of prayer and sacrifice. Further questions follow, and Euthyphro departs without providing the definition Socrates requested.
The original setting concerns Greek gods and piety. Moving directly to a conclusion about every religious ethic would require further argument. The exchange exposes a problem about definition and explanatory direction rather than establishing a complete ethical system through the question alone.
References: [1]