Ephesians 3:19

Ephesians 3:19 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
• New International Version (NIV)and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
• English Standard Version (ESV)and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
• New King James Version (NKJV)to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Context of Ephesians 3:19

17so 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]; and [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, 21to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 3:19 word by word

γνῶναί τε τὴν ὑπερβάλλουσαν τῆς γνώσεως ἀγάπην τοῦ Χριστοῦ, ἵνα πληρωθῆτε εἰς πᾶν τὸ πλήρωμα τοῦ θεοῦ.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Andτεte · and/bothG5037
• to knowγινώσκωginōskō · to knowG1097
• the loveἀγάπηagapē · loveG26
• of ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
• passethὑπερβάλλωhuperballō · to surpassG5235
• knowledgeγνῶσιςgnōsis · knowledgeG1108
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• ye might be filledπληρόωplēroō · to fulfillG4137
• withεἰςeis · towardG1519
• allπᾶςpas · allG3956
• the fulnessπλήρωμαplērōma · fulfillmentG4138
• of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316

Cross-references for Ephesians 3:19

• Ephesians 3:18be 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];
• Ephesians 5:2and walk continually in love [that is, value one another—practice empathy and compassion, unselfishly seeking the best for others], just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God [slain for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.
• John 17:3Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true [supreme and sovereign] God, and [in the same manner know] Jesus [as the] Christ whom You have sent.
• 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 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.
• Philippians 2:5Have this same attitude in yourselves which was in Christ Jesus [look to Him as your example in selfless humility],
• Colossians 1:10so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord [displaying admirable character, moral courage, and personal integrity], to [fully] please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing in the knowledge of God [with deeper faith, clearer insight and fervent love for His precepts];
• 2 Peter 3:18but grow [spiritually mature] in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory (honor, majesty, splendor), both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
• 1 John 4:9By this the love of God was displayed in us, in that God has sent His [One and] only begotten Son [the One who is truly unique, the only One of His kind] into the world so that we might live through Him.
• Philippians 1:7It is right for me to feel this way about you, because [you have me in your heart as] I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the good news [regarding salvation], all of you share in [His matchless] grace with me.
• Ephesians 1:23which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills and completes all things in all [believers].
• Psalms 17:15As for me, I shall see Your face in righteousness; I will be [fully] satisfied when I awake [to find myself] seeing Your likeness.
• Psalms 43:4Then I will go to the altar of God, To God, my exceeding joy; With the lyre I will praise You, O God, my God!
• Matthew 5:6“Blessed [joyful, nourished by God’s goodness] are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness [those who actively seek right standing with God], for they will be [completely] satisfied.
• John 1:16For out of His fullness [the superabundance of His grace and truth] we have all received grace upon grace [spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing, favor upon favor, and gift heaped upon gift].
• Colossians 2:9For in Him all the fullness of Deity (the Godhead) dwells in bodily form [completely expressing the divine essence of God].

Commentaries on Ephesians 3:19

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 19To know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge - It is only by the love of Christ that we can know the love of God: the love of God to man induced him to give Christ for his redemption; Christ's love to man induced him to give his life's blood for his salvation. The gift of Christ to man is the measure of God's love; the death of Christ for man is the measure of Christ's love. God so loved the world, etc. Christ loved us, and gave himself for us. But…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 19And to know the love of Christ - The love of Christ toward us; the immensity of redeeming love. It is not merely the love which he showed for the Gentiles in calling them into his kingdom, which is here referred to; it is the love which is shown for the lost world in giving himself to die. This love is often referred to in the New Testament, and is declared to surpass all other which has ever been evinced; see the Romans 5:7-8, notes; John 15:13, note. To…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. 19to know this love: The Christian life is based on experiencing and personally knowing God's grace and love through Jesus Christ (see Romans 12:1). that surpasses knowledge: Christ's love is much greater than ordinary human love (see Romans 5:6–8). A believer's life becomes complete when filled with the fullness of life and power through Christ's presence (see Ephesians 1:23; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 1:27). The believer then conforms to his image and…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1919. passeth--surpasseth, exceeds. The paradox "to know ... which passeth knowledge," implies that when he says "know," he does not mean that we can adequately know; all we know is, that His love exceeds far our knowledge of it, and with even our fresh accessions of knowledge hereafter, will still exceed them. Even as God's power exceeds our thoughts (Ep 3:20). filled with--rather, as Greek, "filled even unto all the fulness of God" (this is the grand…Read the comment

Topics related to Ephesians 3:19

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

In the dictionaries

• Christ
• God
• Christ, Messiah
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Boldness
• Dwell
• Effectual
• Fellowship
• Ground
• Inner

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