God’s Word Translation
Ephesians 1:21
21He is far above all rulers, authorities, powers, lords, and all other names that can be named, not only in this present world but also in the world to come.
Ephesians 1:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
- New International Version (NIV)far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
- English Standard Version (ESV)far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
- New King James Version (NKJV)far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
Context of Ephesians 1:21
19You will also know the unlimited greatness of his power as it works with might and strength for us, the believers. 20He worked with that same power in Christ when he brought him back to life and gave him the honored position—the one next to God the Father on the heavenly throne. He is far above all rulers, authorities, powers, lords, and all other names that can be named, not only in this present world but also in the world to come. 22God has put everything under the control of Christ. He has made Christ the head of everything for the good of the church. 23The church is Christ’s body and completes him as he fills everything in every way.
Read all of Ephesians 1Ephesians 1:21 word by word
ὑπεράνω πάσης ἀρχῆς καὶ ἐξουσίας καὶ δυνάμεως καὶ κυριότητος καὶ παντὸς ὀνόματος ὀνομαζομένου οὐ μόνον ἐν τῷ αἰῶνι τούτῳ ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐν τῷ μέλλοντι,Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Far aboveὑπεράνωhuperanō · aboveG5231
- allπᾶςpas · allG3956
- principalityἀρχήarchē · beginningG746
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- powerἐξουσίαexousia · authorityG1849
- mightδύναμιςdunamis · powerG1411
- dominionκυριότηςkuriotēs · lordshipG2963
- nameὄνομαonoma · nameG3686
- that is namedὀνομάζωonomazō · to nameG3687
- notοὐou · noG3756
- onlyμόνονmonon · onlyG3440
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- worldὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- worldαἰώνaiōn · an age: ageG165
- butἀλλάalla · butG235
- to comeμέλλωmellō · to ensueG3195
Cross-references for Ephesians 1:21
- Philippians 2:9This is why God has given him an exceptional honor— the name honored above all other names—
- Colossians 2:10and God has made you complete in Christ. Christ is in charge of every ruler and authority.
- Hebrews 1:4The Son has become greater than the angels since he has been given a name that is superior to theirs.
- Ephesians 3:10He did this so that now, through the church, he could let the rulers and authorities in heaven know his infinite wisdom.
- Ephesians 6:12This is not a wrestling match against a human opponent. We are wrestling with rulers, authorities, the powers who govern this world of darkness, and spiritual forces that control evil in the heavenly world.
- Daniel 7:27The kingdom, along with the power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven, will be given to the holy people of the Most High. Their kingdom is eternal. All other powers will serve and obey them.”
- Romans 8:38I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love which Christ Jesus our Lord shows us. We can’t be separated by death or life, by angels or rulers, by anything in the present or anything in the future, by forces
- Colossians 1:15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
- Colossians 2:15He stripped the rulers and authorities ⌞of their power⌟ and made a public spectacle of them as he celebrated his victory in Christ.
- Hebrews 4:14We need to hold on to our declaration of faith: We have a superior chief priest who has gone through the heavens. That person is Jesus, the Son of God.
- 1 Peter 3:22Now Christ has gone to heaven where he holds the honored position—the one next to God the Father on the throne. Angels, rulers, and powers have been placed under his authority.
- Matthew 28:19So wherever you go, make disciples of all nations: Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
- Acts 4:12No one else can save us. Indeed, we can be saved only by the power of the one named Jesus and not by any other person.”
- Revelation 19:12His eyes are flames of fire. On his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him, but only he knows what it is.
- Matthew 25:31“When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all his angels are with him, he will sit on his glorious throne.
- Matthew 28:18When Jesus came near, he spoke to them. He said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Commentaries on Ephesians 1:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21Far above all principality - The difficulty in this verse does not arise from the words themselves, the meaning of each being easily understood, but from the sense in which the apostle uses them. Some think he has reference here to the different orders among good and evil angels; he is superior to all the former, and rules all the latter. Others think he refers to earthly governments; and as , principality, the first word, signifies the most sovereign and…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21Far above all principality - The general sense in this verse is, that the Lord Jesus was exalted to the highest conceivable dignity and honor; compare Philemon 2:9; Colossians 2:10. In this beautiful and most important passage, the apostle labors for words to convey the greatness of his conceptions, and uses those which denote the highest conceivable dignity and glory. The “main” idea is, that God had manifested great “power” in thus exalting the Lord…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-23Verses 15-23 God has laid up spiritual blessings for us in his Son the Lord Jesus; but requires us to draw them out and fetch them in by prayer. Even the best Christians need to be prayed for: and while we hear of the welfare of Christian friends, we should pray for them. Even true believers greatly want heavenly wisdom. Are not the best of us unwilling to come under God's yoke, though there is no other way to find rest for the soul? Do we not for a…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21far above: Jesus has power and authority that is greater than all other powers, whether human or spiritual beings. This includes powers in the present age and in the age to come (see 3:10; 6:12; John 12:31; Romans 8:38–39; 1 Corinthians 15:24; Colossians 1:13; 2:10, 15; 1 Peter 3:22; Revelation 12:7–9).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. Greek, "Far (or high) above all (Ep 4:10) principality (or rule, 1Co 15:24), and authority, and power (Mt 28:18), and dominion (or lordship)." Compare Php 2:9; Col 1:16; He 7:26; 1Pe 3:22. Evil spirits (who are similarly divided into various ranks, Ep 6:12), as well as angels of light, and earthly potentates, are included (compare Ro 8:38). Jesus is "King of kings, and Lord of lords" (Re 19:16). The higher is His honor, the greater is that of His…Read the comment
Topics related to Ephesians 1:21
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ephesians 1
- 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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