Ephesians 4:16

Ephesians 4:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
• New International Version (NIV)From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
• English Standard Version (ESV)from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
• New King James Version (NKJV)from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Context of Ephesians 4:16

14Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming. 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head. From Him the whole body, fitted and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love through the work of each individual part. 17So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18They are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts.

Ephesians 4:16 word by word

ἐξ οὗ πᾶν τὸ σῶμα συναρμολογούμενον καὶ συμβιβαζόμενον διὰ πάσης ἁφῆς τῆς ἐπιχορηγίας κατ᾽ ἐνέργειαν ἐν μέτρῳ ἑνὸς ἑκάστου μέρους τὴν αὔξησιν τοῦ σώματος ποιεῖται εἰς οἰκοδομὴν ἑαυτοῦ ἐν ἀγάπῃ.¶Read the interlinear

• Fromἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• ·ὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• theὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• wholeπᾶςpas · allG3956
• bodyσῶμαsōma · bodyG4983
• fittedσυναρμολογέωsunarmologeō · to joinG4883
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• held togetherσυμβιβάζωsumbibazō · to join withG4822
• byδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• supportingἐπιχορηγίαepichorēgia · supplyG2024
• ligamentἁφήhaphē · jointG860
• growsαὔξησιςauxēsis · growthG838
• ·ποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• ·εἰςeis · towardG1519
• builds itself upοἰκοδομήoikodomē · buildingG3619
• builds itself upἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• loveἀγάπηagapē · loveG26
• throughκατάkata · according toG2596
• workἐνέργειαenergeia · active energyG1753
• of eachμέτρονmetron · measureG3358
• of eachἕκαστοςhekastos · eachG1538
• individualεἷςheis · oneG1520
• partμέροςmeros · partG3313

Cross-references for Ephesians 4:16

• Ephesians 4:12to equip the saints for works of ministry and to build up the body of Christ,
• John 15:5I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.
• Job 10:10Did You not pour me out like milk, and curdle me like cheese?
• Psalms 139:15My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in secret, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
• 1 Corinthians 12:12The body is a unit, though it is composed of many parts. And although its parts are many, they all form one body. So it is with Christ.
• Colossians 2:19He has lost connection to the head, from whom the whole body, supported and knit together by its joints and ligaments, grows as God causes it to grow.
• Ephesians 3:7I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace, given me through the working of His power.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:13And we continually thank God because, when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God, which is also now at work in you who believe.
• Ephesians 4:15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head.
• Ephesians 1:4For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love
• Ephesians 3:17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted and grounded in love,
• 1 Corinthians 8:1Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
• 1 Corinthians 13:4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
• 1 Corinthians 14:1Earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
• Galatians 5:6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. What matters is faith expressing itself through love.
• Philippians 1:9And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,

Commentaries on Ephesians 4:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16From whom the whole body - Dr. Macknight has a just view of this passage, and I cannot express my own in more suitable terms: "The apostle's meaning is, that, as the human body is formed by the union of all the members to each other, under the head, and by the fitness of each member for its own office and place in the body, so the Church is formed by the union of its members under Christ, the head. Farther, as the human body increases till it arrives at…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16From whom the whole body - The church, compared with the human body. The idea is, that as the head in the human frame conveys vital influence, rigor, motion, etc., to every part of the body; so Christ is the source of life, and rigor, and energy, and increase to the church. The sense is, “The whole human body is admirably arranged for growth and rigor. Every member and joint contribute to its healthful and harmonious action. One part lends vigor and…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-16Verses 7-16 Unto every believer is given some gift of grace, for their mutual help. All is given as seems best to Christ to bestow upon every one. He received for them, that he might give to them, a large measure of gifts and graces; particularly the gift of the Holy Ghost. Not a mere head knowledge, or bare acknowledging Christ to be the Son of God, but such as brings trust and obedience. There is a fulness in Christ, and a measure of that fulness given…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16Each part of the body of Christ has an important role and helps other parts grow. Christ, the head of the body, works through each part. He makes them fit together. He is the ultimate source of growth (see Colossians 2:19). When all believers serve effectively, the whole body will be healthy, growing, and full of love (compare 1 Corinthians 8:1). Love is the most important factor in Christian growth (1 Corinthians 13:1–13).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. (Col 2:19). fitly joined together--"being fitly framed together," as in Ep 2:21; all the parts being in their proper position, and in mutual relation. compacted--implying firm consolidation. by that which every joint supplieth--Greek, "by means of every joint of the supply"; joined with "maketh increase of the body," not with "compacted." "By every ministering (supplying) joint." The joints are the points of union where the supply passes to the…Read the comment

Topics related to Ephesians 4:16

• Church
• Physiology
• Regeneration
• Righteous
• Sanctification

In the dictionaries

• Bitterness
• Compact
• Dark
• Ephesians, Epistle to
• Faith
• Forbear
• Grieve
• Lasciviousness
• Lowliness
• Renew

Commentaries on Ephesians 4

• 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
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings