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 immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 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. 17With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. 18Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him.

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 responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.
• John 15:5“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.
• Job 10:10You guided my conception and formed me in the womb.
• Psalms 139:15You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
• 1 Corinthians 12:12The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ.
• Colossians 2:19and they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it.
• Ephesians 3:7By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:13Therefore, we never stop thanking God that when you received his message from us, you didn’t think of our words as mere human ideas. You accepted what we said as the very word of God—which, of course, it is. And this word continues to work in you who believe.
• Ephesians 4:15Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.
• Ephesians 1:4Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.
• Ephesians 3:17Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.
• 1 Corinthians 8:1Now regarding your question about food that has been offered to idols. Yes, we know that “we all have knowledge” about this issue. But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church.
• 1 Corinthians 13:4Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud
• 1 Corinthians 14:1Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy.
• Galatians 5:6For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love.
• Philippians 1:9I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.

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