Ephesians 2:11

Ephesians 2:11 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
• New International Version (NIV)Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)—
• New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands—
• New Living Translation (NLT)Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts.

Context of Ephesians 2:11

9not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called "the uncircumcision" by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Ephesians 2:11 word by word

Διὸ μνημονεύετε ὅτι ποτὲ ὑμεῖς τὰ ἔθνη ἐν σαρκί, οἱ λεγόμενοι ἀκροβυστία ὑπὸ τῆς λεγομένης περιτομῆς ἐν σαρκὶ χειροποιήτου,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Whereforeδιόdio · thereforeG1352
• rememberμνημονεύωmnēmoneuō · to rememberG3421
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• yeσύsu · youG4771
• in time pastποτέpote · once/whenG4218
• Gentilesὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Gentilesἔθνοςethnos · GentilesG1484
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• the fleshσάρξsarx · fleshG4561
• calledλέγωlegō · to say: callG3004
• Uncircumcisionἀκροβυστίαakrobustia · uncircumcisionG203
• byὑπόhupo · by/under: byG5259
• the Circumcisionπεριτομήperitomē · circumcisionG4061
• made by handsχειροποίητοςcheiropoiētos · hand-madeG5499

Cross-references for Ephesians 2:11

• Ephesians 5:8for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
• Deuteronomy 5:15You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.
• Deuteronomy 8:2And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.
• Deuteronomy 9:7Remember and do not forget how you provoked the Lord your God to wrath in the wilderness. From the day you came out of the land of Egypt until you came to this place, you have been rebellious against the Lord.
• Deuteronomy 15:15You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God redeemed you; therefore I command you this today.
• Deuteronomy 16:12You shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt; and you shall be careful to observe these statutes.
• Isaiah 51:1"Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the Lord: look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug.
• Ezekiel 16:61Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed when you take your sisters, both your elder and your younger, and I give them to you as daughters, but not on account of the covenant with you.
• Ezekiel 20:43And there you shall remember your ways and all your deeds with which you have defiled yourselves, and you shall loathe yourselves for all the evils that you have committed.
• Ezekiel 36:31Then you will remember your evil ways, and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves for your iniquities and your abominations.
• 1 Corinthians 6:11And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
• 1 Corinthians 12:2You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led.
• Galatians 4:8Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods.
• Romans 2:29But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.
• Galatians 2:15We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners;
• Galatians 6:12It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.

Commentaries on Ephesians 2:11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11Wherefore remember - That ye may ever see and feel your obligations to live a pure and holy life, and be unfeignedly thankful to God for your salvation, remember that ye were once heathens in the flesh - without the pure doctrine, and under the influence of your corrupt nature; such as by the Jew's (who gloried, in consequence of their circumcision, to be in covenant with God) were called uncircumcision; i.e. persons out of the Divine covenant, and having…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11Wherefore remember - The design of this evidently is, to excite a sense of gratitude in their bosoms for that mercy which had called them from the errors and sins of their former lives, to the privileges of Christians. It is a good thing for Christians to “remember” what they were. No faculty of the mind can be better employed to produce humility, penitence, gratitude, and love, than the memory. It is well to recall the recollection of our former sins; to…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-13Verses 11-13 Christ and his covenant are the foundation of all the Christian's hopes. A sad and terrible description is here; but who is able to remove himself out of it? Would that this were not a true description of many baptized in the name of Christ. Who can, without trembling, reflect upon the misery of a person, separated for ever from the people of God, cut off from the body of Christ, fallen from the covenant of promise, having no hope, no…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11Traditionally, Jews avoided Gentiles and did not consider them part of God’s people. They called them uncircumcised, meaning they had not received the sign of the covenant (see Genesis 17:9–14). But Paul taught that it is shallow to judge people based only on outward signs. What matters is a person’s heart and faith. In Christ, physical circumcision does not make someone part of God’s family (see Romans 2:28–29).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. The Greek order in the oldest manuscripts is, "That in time past (literally, once) ye," &c. Such remembrance sharpens gratitude and strengthens faith (Ep 2:19) [Bengel]. Gentiles in the flesh--that is, Gentiles in respect to circumcision. called Uncircumcision--The Gentiles were called (in contempt), and were, the Uncircumcision; the Jews were called, but were not truly, the Circumcision [Ellicott]. in the flesh made by hands--as opposed to the true…Read the comment

Topics related to Ephesians 2:11

• Circumcision
• Depravity of Man
• Uncircumcision

In the dictionaries

• Afar
• Alien
• Church
• Create
• Cross
• Desire
• Nigh
• Prince
• Quicken
• Reconcile

Commentaries on Ephesians 2

• 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
• 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