Ephesians 3:18

Ephesians 3:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
• New International Version (NIV)may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,
• English Standard Version (ESV)may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
• New King James Version (NKJV)may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—

Context of Ephesians 3:18

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], 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through your faith. And may you, having been [deeply] rooted and [securely] grounded in love, be 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]. 20Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us,

Ephesians 3:18 word by word

ἵνα ἐξισχύσητε καταλαβέσθαι σὺν πᾶσιν τοῖς ἁγίοις τί τὸ πλάτος καὶ μῆκος καὶ ὕψος καὶ βάθος,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• May be ableἐξισχύωexischuō · to have powerG1840
• toἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• comprehendκαταλαμβάνωkatalambanō · to graspG2638
• withσύνsun · withG4862
• allπᾶςpas · allG3956
• saintsἅγιοςhagios · holy: saintG40
• whatτίςtis · which?G5101
• the breadthπλάτοςplatos · widthG4114
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• lengthμῆκοςmēkos · lengthG3372
• depthβάθοςbathos · depthG899
• heightὕψοςhupsos · heightG5311

Cross-references for Ephesians 3:18

• Ephesians 3:19and [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 1:18And [I pray] that the eyes of your heart [the very center and core of your being] may be enlightened [flooded with light by the Holy Spirit], so that you will know and cherish the hope [the divine guarantee, the confident expectation] to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints (God’s people),
• Job 11:7“Can you discover the depths of God? Can you [by searching] discover the limits of the Almighty [ascend to His heights, extend to His widths, and comprehend His infinite perfection]?
• Psalms 103:11For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear and worship Him [with awe-filled respect and deepest reverence].
• Psalms 139:6Such [infinite] knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high [above me], I cannot reach it.
• Isaiah 55:9“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts higher than your thoughts.
• John 15:13No one has greater love [nor stronger commitment] than to lay down his own life for his friends.
• 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.
• Galatians 3:13Christ purchased our freedom and redeemed us from the curse of the Law and its condemnation by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs [crucified] on a tree (cross)”—
• Philippians 2:5Have this same attitude in yourselves which was in Christ Jesus [look to Him as your example in selfless humility],
• Philippians 3:8But more than that, I count everything as loss compared to the priceless privilege and supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord [and of growing more deeply and thoroughly acquainted with Him—a joy unequaled]. For His sake I have lost everything, and I consider it all garbage, so that I may gain Christ,
• 1 Timothy 1:14The grace of our Lord [His amazing, unmerited favor and blessing] flowed out in superabundance [for me, together] with the faith and love which are [realized] in Christ Jesus.
• 1 Timothy 3:16And great, we confess, is the mystery [the hidden truth] of godliness: He (Jesus Christ) who was revealed in human flesh, Was justified and vindicated in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory.
• Revelation 3:21He who overcomes [the world through believing that Jesus is the Son of God], I will grant to him [the privilege] to sit beside Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down beside My Father on His throne.
• Ephesians 1:10with regard to the fulfillment of the times [that is, the end of history, the climax of the ages]—to bring all things together in Christ, [both] things in the heavens and things on the earth.
• Deuteronomy 33:2He said, “The Lord came from Sinai, And dawned on them from Seir; He shone forth from Mount Paran, And He came from among ten thousand holy ones; At His right hand was a flaming fire, a law, for them.

Commentaries on Ephesians 3:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18May be able to comprehend with all saints - ̔ . These words are so exceedingly nervous and full of meaning, that it is almost impossible to translate them. The first word, , from , intensive, and , to be strong, signifies that they might be thoroughly able, by having been strengthened with might, by God's power. The second word , from , intensive, and , to take, catch, or seize on, may be translated, that ye may fully catch, take in, and comprehend this…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18May be able to comprehend with all saints - That all others with you may be able to understand this. It was his desire that others, as well as they, might appreciate the wonders of redemption. What is the breadth, and length, … - It has been doubted to what this refers. Locke says it refers to the mystery of calling the Gentiles as well as the Jews. Chandler supposes there is an allusion in all this to the temple at Ephesus. It was one of the wonders of…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. 18to comprehend the length and width and height and depth: Christ's love is great in every dimension (see Romans 8:38–39).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. May be able--even still further. Greek, "May be fully able." breadth ... length ... depth ... height--namely, the full dimensions of the spiritual temple, answering to "the fulness of God" (Ep 3:19), to which the Church, according to its capacity, ought to correspond (compare Ep 4:10, 13) as to "the fulness of Christ." The "breadth" implies Christ's world-wide love, embracing all men: the "length," its being extended through all ages (Ep 3:21); the…Read the comment

Topics related to Ephesians 3:18

• Intercession
• Jesus, the Christ
• Love
• Mysteries
• Paradox
• Righteous
• Wisdom

In the dictionaries

• Boldness
• Dwell
• Effectual
• Fellowship
• Ground
• Inner
• Purpose
• Revelation
• Riches
• Root

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