Ephesians 3:17

Ephesians 3:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
• New International Version (NIV)so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,
• English Standard Version (ESV)so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
• New King James Version (NKJV)that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

Context of Ephesians 3:17

15from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name [God—the first and ultimate Father]. 16May He grant you out of the riches of His glory, to be strengthened and spiritually energized with power through His Spirit in your inner self, [indwelling your innermost being and personality], so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through your faith. And may you, having been [deeply] rooted and [securely] grounded in love, 18be fully capable of comprehending with all the saints (God’s people) the width and length and height and depth of His love [fully experiencing that amazing, endless love]; 19and [that you may come] to know [practically, through personal experience] the love of Christ which far surpasses [mere] knowledge [without experience], that you may be filled up [throughout your being] to all the fullness of God [so that you may have the richest experience of God’s presence in your lives, completely filled and flooded with God Himself].

Ephesians 3:17 word by word

κατοικῆσαι τὸν Χριστὸν διὰ τῆς πίστεως ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν ἐν ἀγάπῃ ἐρριζωμένοι καὶ τεθεμελιωμένοι,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Thatὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
• may dwellκατοικέωkatoikeō · to dwellG2730
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• yourσύsu · youG4771
• heartsκαρδίαkardia · heartG2588
• byδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• faithπίστιςpistis · faithG4102
• that ye, being rootedῥιζόωrhizoō · to rootG4492
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• groundedθεμελιόωthemelioō · to foundG2311
• loveἀγάπηagapē · loveG26

Cross-references for Ephesians 3:17

• Ephesians 2:21in whom the whole structure is joined together, and it continues [to increase] growing into a holy temple in the Lord [a sanctuary dedicated, set apart, and sacred to the presence of the Lord].
• Isaiah 57:15For the high and exalted One He who inhabits eternity, Whose name is Holy says this, “I dwell on the high and holy place, But also with the contrite and humble in spirit In order to revive the spirit of the humble And to revive the heart of the contrite [overcome with sorrow for sin].
• John 6:56He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood [believes in Me, accepts Me as Savior] remains in Me, and I [in the same way remain] in him.
• John 14:17the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive [and take to its heart] because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He (the Holy Spirit) remains with you continually and will be in you.
• John 17:23I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected and completed into one, so that the world may know [without any doubt] that You sent Me, and [that You] have loved them, just as You have loved Me.
• Romans 8:9However, you are not [living] in the flesh [controlled by the sinful nature] but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God lives in you [directing and guiding you]. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him [and is not a child of God].
• 2 Corinthians 6:16What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said: “I will dwell among them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
• Galatians 2:20I have been crucified with Christ [that is, in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body I live by faith [by adhering to, relying on, and completely trusting] in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
• Colossians 1:27God [in His eternal plan] chose to make known to them how great for the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in and among you, the hope and guarantee of [realizing the] glory.
• 1 John 4:4Little children (believers, dear ones), you are of God and you belong to Him and have [already] overcome them [the agents of the antichrist]; because He who is in you is greater than he (Satan) who is in the world [of sinful mankind].
• Revelation 3:20Behold, I stand at the door [of the church] and continually knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him (restore him), and he with Me.
• Matthew 13:6But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
• Romans 5:5Such hope [in God’s promises] never disappoints us, because God’s love has been abundantly poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
• 1 Corinthians 8:1Now about food sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge [concerning this]. Knowledge [alone] makes [people self-righteously] arrogant, but love [that unselfishly seeks the best for others] builds up and encourages others to grow [in wisdom].
• 2 Corinthians 5:14For the love of Christ controls and compels us, because we have concluded this, that One died for all, therefore all died;
• Galatians 5:6For [if we are] in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but only faith activated and expressed and working through love.

Commentaries on Ephesians 3:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith - In this as well as in many other passages, and particularly that in Ephesians 2:21; (note), the apostle compares the body or Church of true believers to a temple, which, like that of Solomon, is built up to be a habitation of God through the Spirit. Here, as Solomon did at the dedication of the temple at Jerusalem, 2 Chronicles 6:1, etc., Paul, having considered the Church at Ephesus completely formed, as to…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith - see the notes, Ephesians 2:22. Expressions like this often occur in the Scriptures, where God is said to dwell in us, and we are said to be the temples of the Holy Spirit; see the John 14:23, note; 1 Corinthians 6:19, note. That ye being rooted - Firmly established - as a tree is whose roots strike deep, and extend afar. The meaning is, that his love should be as firm in our hearts, as a tree is in the soil…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-19Verses 13-19 The apostle seems to be more anxious lest the believers should be discouraged and faint upon his tribulations, than for what he himself had to bear. He asks for spiritual blessings, which are the best blessings. Strength from the Spirit of God in the inner man; strength in the soul; the strength of faith, to serve God, and to do our duty. If the law of Christ is written in our hearts, and the love of Christ is shed abroad there, then Christ…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts: Having Christ make his home in your hearts is what gives believers spiritual power for life and ministry (see John 14:16–17, 23; 15:4–5; Galatians 2:20).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. That--So that. dwell--abidingly make His abode (Joh 14:23). Where the Spirit is there Christ is (Joh 14:16, 18). by faith--Greek, "through faith," which opens the door of the heart to Jesus (Joh 3:20). It is not enough that He be on the tongue, or flit through the brain: the heart is His proper seat [Calvin]. "You being rooted and grounded in love" (compare Ep 3:19), is in the Greek connected with this clause, not with the clause, "that ye may be able…Read the comment

Topics related to Ephesians 3:17

• Church
• Faith
• Intercession
• Jesus, the Christ
• Love
• Paradox
• Righteous
• Wisdom

In the dictionaries

• Christ
• Christ, Messiah
• Boldness
• Dwell
• Effectual
• Fellowship
• Ground
• Inner
• Purpose
• Revelation

Commentaries on Ephesians 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings