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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

Context of Ephesians 4:16

14so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 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. 17Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• Fromἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• whomὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• the wholeπᾶςpas · allG3956
• bodyὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• bodyσῶμαsōma · bodyG4983
• fitly joined togetherσυναρμολογέωsunarmologeō · to joinG4883
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• compactedσυμβιβάζωsumbibazō · to join withG4822
• byδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• jointἁφήhaphē · jointG860
• suppliethἐπιχορηγίαepichorēgia · supplyG2024
• according toκατάkata · according toG2596
• the effectual workingἐνέργειαenergeia · active energyG1753
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• the measureμέτρονmetron · measureG3358
• ·εἷςheis · oneG1520
• of everyἕκαστοςhekastos · eachG1538
• partμέροςmeros · partG3313
• makethποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• increaseαὔξησιςauxēsis · growthG838
• untoεἰςeis · towardG1519
• the edifyingοἰκοδομήoikodomē · buildingG3619
• of itselfἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
• loveἀγάπηagapē · loveG26

Cross-references for Ephesians 4:16

• Ephesians 4:12to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
• John 15:5I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears 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 being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
• 1 Corinthians 12:12For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
• Colossians 2:19and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.
• Ephesians 3:7Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:13And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.
• Ephesians 4:15Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
• Ephesians 1:4even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
• Ephesians 3:17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
• 1 Corinthians 8:1Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that "all of us possess knowledge." This "knowledge" puffs up, but love builds up.
• 1 Corinthians 13:4Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant
• 1 Corinthians 14:1Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.
• Galatians 5:6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
• Philippians 1:9And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,

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