Ephesians 2:4

Ephesians 2:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
• New International Version (NIV)But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
• English Standard Version (ESV)But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,
• New King James Version (NKJV)But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,

Context of Ephesians 2:4

2You followed the ways of this present world and its spiritual ruler. This ruler continues to work in people who refuse to obey God. 3All of us once lived among these people, and followed the desires of our corrupt nature. We did what our corrupt desires and thoughts wanted us to do. So, because of our nature, we deserved God’s anger just like everyone else. But God is rich in mercy because of his great love for us. 5We were dead because of our failures, but he made us alive together with Christ. (It is God’s kindness that saved you.) 6God has brought us back to life together with Christ Jesus and has given us a position in heaven with him.

Ephesians 2:4 word by word

Ὁ δὲ θεὸς πλούσιος ὢν ἐν ἐλέει διὰ τὴν πολλὴν ἀγάπην αὐτοῦ ἣν ἠγάπησεν ἡμᾶς,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Butδέde · thenG1161
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• who isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• richπλούσιοςplousios · richG4145
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• mercyἔλεοςeleos · mercyG1656
• forδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• greatπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
• loveἀγάπηagapē · loveG26
• wherewithὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• he lovedἀγαπάωagapaō · to loveG25
• usἐγώegō · I/weG1473

Cross-references for Ephesians 2:4

• Ephesians 2:7He did this through Christ Jesus out of his generosity to us in order to show his extremely rich kindness in the world to come.
• Ephesians 1:7Through the blood of his Son, we are set free from our sins. God forgives our failures because of his overflowing kindness.
• Ephesians 3:8I am the least of all God’s people. Yet, God showed me his kindness by allowing me to spread the Good News of the immeasurable wealth of Christ to people who are not Jewish.
• Exodus 33:19The Lord said, “I will let all my goodness pass in front of you, and there I will call out my name ‘the Lord.’ I will be kind to anyone I want to. I will be merciful to anyone I want to.
• Exodus 34:6Then he passed in front of Moses, calling out, “The Lord, the Lord, a compassionate and merciful God, patient, always faithful and ready to forgive.
• Nehemiah 9:17They refused to listen. They forgot the miracles you performed for them. They became stubborn and appointed a leader to take them back to slavery ⌞in Egypt⌟. But you are a forgiving God, one who is compassionate, merciful, patient, and always ready to forgive. You never abandoned them,
• Psalms 51:1Have pity on me, O God, in keeping with your mercy. In keeping with your unlimited compassion, wipe out my rebellious acts.
• Psalms 86:5You, O Lord, are good and forgiving, full of mercy toward everyone who calls out to you.
• Psalms 103:8The Lord is compassionate, merciful, patient, and always ready to forgive.
• Psalms 145:8The Lord is merciful, compassionate, patient, and always ready to forgive.
• Isaiah 55:6Seek the Lord while he may be found. Call on him while he is near.
• Daniel 9:9“But you, Lord our God, are compassionate and forgiving, although we have rebelled against you.
• Jonah 4:2So he prayed to the Lord, “Lord, isn’t this what I said would happen when I was still in my own country? That’s why I tried to run to Tarshish in the first place. I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, patient, and always ready to forgive and to reconsider your threats of destruction.
• Micah 7:18Who is a God like you? You forgive sin and overlook the rebellion of your faithful people. You will not be angry forever, because you would rather show mercy.
• Luke 1:78A new day will dawn on us from above because our God is loving and merciful.
• Romans 2:4Do you have contempt for God, who is very kind to you, puts up with you, and deals patiently with you? Don’t you realize that it is God’s kindness that is trying to lead you to him and change the way you think and act?

Commentaries on Ephesians 2:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4But God, who is rich in mercy - As they were corrupt in their nature, and sinful in their practice, they could possess no merit, nor have any claim upon God; and it required much mercy to remove so much misery, and to pardon such transgressions. His great love - God's infinite love is the groundwork of our salvation; in reference to us that love assumes the form of mercy, and that mercy provides the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. And therefore the apostle…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4But God, who is rich in mercy - On the use of the word “rich” by Paul, see the notes at Ephesians 1:7. It is a beautiful expression. “God is rich‘ in mercy;” overflowing, abundant. Mercy is the riches or the wealth of God. People are often rich in gold, and silver, and diamonds, and they pride themselves in these possessions; but God is “rich in mercy.” In that he abounds and he is so rich in it that he is wilting to impart it to others; so rich that he…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-10By God's mercy, kindness, and love, those united with Jesus Christ are saved from the terrible consequences of their sin and enjoy the benefits of Christ's resurrection.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. God, who is rich--Greek "(as) being rich in mercy." for--that is, "because of His great love." This was the special ground of God's saving us; as "rich in mercy" (compare Ep 2:7; Ep 1:7; Ro 2:4; 10:12) was the general ground. "Mercy takes away misery; love confers salvation" [Bengel].Read the comment

Topics related to Ephesians 2:4

• Atonement
• God Continued...
• Righteous
• Salvation

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Afar
• Alien
• Create
• Cross
• Desire
• Ephesians, Epistle to
• Nigh
• Prince

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