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 little children, tossed and carried about by all kinds of teachings that change like the wind. We will no longer be influenced by people who use cunning and clever strategies to lead us astray. 15Instead, as we lovingly speak the truth, we will grow up completely in our relationship to Christ, who is the head. He makes the whole body fit together and unites it through the support of every joint. As each and every part does its job, he makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. 17So I tell you and encourage you in the Lord’s name not to live any longer like other people in the world. Their minds are set on worthless things. 18They can’t understand because they are in the dark. They are excluded from the life that God approves of because of their ignorance and stubbornness.

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 4:12Their purpose is to prepare God’s people to serve and to build up the body of Christ.
• John 15:5“I am the vine. You are the branches. Those who live in me while I live in them will produce a lot of fruit. But you can’t produce anything without me.
• Job 10:10Didn’t you pour me out like milk and curdle me like cheese?
• Psalms 139:15My bones were not hidden from you when I was being made in secret, when I was being skillfully woven in an underground workshop.
• 1 Corinthians 12:12For example, the body is one unit and yet has many parts. As all the parts form one body, so it is with Christ.
• Colossians 2:19He doesn’t hold on to ⌞Christ,⌟ the head. Christ makes the whole body grow as God wants it to, through support and unity given by the joints and ligaments.
• Ephesians 3:7I became a servant of this Good News through God’s kindness freely given to me when his power worked ⌞in me⌟.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:13Here is another reason why we never stop thanking God: When you received God’s word from us, you realized it wasn’t human words. Instead, you accepted it for what it really is—God’s word. This word is at work in you believers.
• Ephesians 4:15Instead, as we lovingly speak the truth, we will grow up completely in our relationship to Christ, who is the head.
• Ephesians 1:4Before the creation of the world, he chose us through Christ to be holy and perfect in his presence.
• Ephesians 3:17Then Christ will live in you through faith. I also pray that love may be the ground into which you sink your roots and on which you have your foundation.
• 1 Corinthians 8:1Now, concerning food offered to false gods: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes people arrogant, but love builds them up.
• 1 Corinthians 13:4Love is patient. Love is kind. Love isn’t jealous. It doesn’t sing its own praises. It isn’t arrogant.
• 1 Corinthians 14:1Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially the gift of speaking what God has revealed.
• Galatians 5:6As far as our relationship to Christ Jesus is concerned, it doesn’t matter whether we are circumcised or not. But what matters is a faith that expresses itself through love.
• Philippians 1:9I pray that your love will keep on growing because of your knowledge and 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