Ephesians 1:17
in Ephesians 1that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in your knowledge of Him.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him;
KJV
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
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This verse in Ephesians 1
Commentary
16 notes on this verseIt is this God of the incarnate man who is the Father of glory, wisdom and truth, who gives the Spirit of wisdom and revelation to those who believe in his Son so that they may become wise and contemplate the glory of the Lord with unveiled face. When this wisdom and revelation have made them wise and opened to them the mysteries that were hidden, it follows at once that they have "the eyes of their heart enlightened."
This site's exposition
a spirit of wisdom and revelation
on Ephesians 1:17-19
The prayer asks that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened. The three things they are to see echo the doxology just sung, so enlightened eyes perceive what grace has already given.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
The hope of their faith lies in a heavenly reward. When they truly know what the fruit of believing is, they will become more eager in acts of worship.
All this the Apostle confirms in one short and decisive sentence, Making mention of you in my prayers that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you a spirit of wisdom and revelation. When he speaks of Him as Jesus Christ, he mentions His God: when his theme is the glory of Christ, he calls God His Father. To Christ, as having glory, God is Father: to Christ, as being Jesus, God is God. ... Where the glory of Christ is concerned, God is His Father; where Christ is Jesus, there the Father is His God. In the Dispensation by which He is a servant, He has as God Him Whom, in the glory by which He is God, He has as Father.
From Him also is besought "the spirit of wisdom," at whose disposal is enumerated that sevenfold distribution of the spirit of grace by Isaiah.
Moreover, when the apostle in his epistle prays, "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and of knowledge," He must be other (than Christ), who is the God of Jesus Christ, the bestower of spiritual gifts.
What is thy prayer, and what thy entreaty? It is "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you a spirit of wisdom and revelation." Two things he requires them to understand, as it is their duty to understand them; to what blessings they are called, and how they have been released from their former state. He says, however, himself, that these points are three. How then are they three? In order that we may understand touching the things to come; for from the good things laid up for us, we shall know His ineffable and surpassing riches, and from understanding who we were, and how we believed, we shall know His power and sovereignty, in turning again to Himself those who had been so long time estranged from Him, "For the weakness of God is stronger than men." Inasmuch as it is by the self-same power by which He raised Christ from the dead, that He hath also drawn us to Himself. Nor is that power limited to the resurrection, but far exceeds it. Vast indeed are the mysteries and secrets of which He hath made us partakers. And these it is not possible for us to understand otherwise than by being partakers of the Holy Ghost, and by receiving abundant grace. And it is for this reason that Paul prays. "The Father of glory," that is, He that hath given us vast blessings, for he constantly addresses Him according to the subject he is upon, as, for instance, when he says, "The Father of mercies and God of all comfort." And, again, the Prophet says, "The Lord is my strength and my might." "The Father of glory." He has no name by which he may represent these things, and on all occasions calls them "glory," which is in fact, with us, the name and appellation of every kind of magnificence. Mark, he says, the Father of glory; but of Christ the God. What then? Is the Son inferior to the glory? […]
9 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church2 voices
What do you pray and ask for on our behalf? That God may give you wisdom — "the God" of "our Lord Jesus," that is, of the Man like us according to the flesh. "The Father of glory," that is, the One who has granted …
It must be acknowledged, at this point, that our Lord Jesus Christ is both God and man. Insofar as he is man, he is related to God, since he is composed of body and soul, both of which, being creatures, are necessarily related to God. …
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
), that he would give greater measures of the Spirit. Observe, Even the best of Christians need to be prayed for: and, while we hear well of our Christian friends, we should think ourselves obliged to intercede with God for them, that they may abound and increase yet more and more. Now what is it that Paul prays for in behalf of the Ephesians?
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
The Lord is a God of knowledge, and there is no sound saving knowledge but what comes from him; and therefore to him we must look for it, who is the God of our Lord Jesus Christ (see
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ,.... In what sense God the Father is the God of Christ; see Gill on Eph 1:
He calls them the faithful in Christ Jesus, believers in him, and firm and constant in their adherence to him and to his truths and ways. Those are not saints who are not faithful, believing in Christ, firmly adhering to him, and true to the profession they make of relation to their Lord.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ - The God who has sent the Lord Jesus into the world, and appointed him as the Mediator between himself and man. The particular reason why Paul here speaks of him as “the God of the Lord Jesus” is, that he prays that they might be further acquainted with the Redeemer, and be enlightened in regard to the great work which he came to do. The Father of glory - The glorious Father, that is, the Father who is worthy to be praised and honored.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
Jesus Himself called the Father "My God" (Mt 27:46). the Father of glory--(Compare Ac 7:2). The Father of that infinite glory which shines in the face of Christ, who is "the glory" (the true Shekinah); through whom also "the glory of the inheritance" (Eph 1:18) shall be ours (Joh 17:24;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
That the God of our Lord Jesus - Jesus Christ, as man and mediator, has the Father for his God and Father: and it is in reference to this that he himself says: I ascend unto my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God; Joh 20:17. The Father of glory - The author and giver of that glory which you expect at the end of your Christian race. This may be a Hebraism for glorious Father, but the former appears to be the best sense. The Spirit of wisdom and revelation - I pray that God may give you his Holy Spirit, by whom his will is revealed to men, that he may teach and make you wise unto salvation, that you may continue to acknowledge him, Christ Jesus, as your only Lord and Savior.
The words behind it
21 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἵνα | ina | that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| ὁ | ho | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεὸς | theos | God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| τοῦ | tou | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κυρίου | kuriou | Lord | G2962 → | 711 times |
| ἡμῶν | hemon | of us | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| Ἰησοῦ | iesou | Jesus | G2424 → | 908 times |
| Χριστοῦ, | christou | Christ, | G5547 → | 523 times |
| ὁ | ho | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πατὴρ | pater | Father | G3962 → | 410 times |
| τῆς | tes | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δόξης, | doxes | of glory, | G1391 → | 165 times |
| δώῃ | doe | may give | G1325 → | 412 times |
| ὑμῖν | humin | to you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| πνεῦμα | pneuma | [a] spirit | G4151 → | 378 times |
| σοφίας | sophias | of wisdom | G4678 → | 51 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἀποκαλύψεως | apokalupseos | revelation | G602 → | |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ἐπιγνώσει | epignosei | [the] knowledge | G1922 → | |
| αὐτοῦ, | autou | of Him, | G846 → | 5565 times |
ἵναthat
inaG2443 →668 times
ὁthe
hoG3588 →19766 times
θεὸςGod
theosG2316 →1312 times
τοῦof the
touG3588 →19766 times
κυρίουLord
kuriouG2962 →711 times
ἡμῶνof us
hemonG3165 →1936 times
ἸησοῦJesus
iesouG2424 →908 times
Χριστοῦ,Christ,
christouG5547 →523 times
ὁthe
hoG3588 →19766 times
πατὴρFather
paterG3962 →410 times
τῆς<the>
tesG3588 →19766 times
δόξης,of glory,
doxesG1391 →165 times
δώῃmay give
doeG1325 →412 times
ὑμῖνto you
huminG4771 →2973 times
πνεῦμα[a] spirit
pneumaG4151 →378 times
σοφίαςof wisdom
sophiasG4678 →51 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἀποκαλύψεωςrevelation
apokalupseosG602 →
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
ἐπιγνώσει[the] knowledge
epignoseiG1922 →
αὐτοῦ,of Him,
autouG846 →5565 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
2 Peter 1:3His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 5:10
And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish…
- 2 Timothy 1:9
He has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began.
- Romans 8:28–30
And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.
- 1 Corinthians 3:21–23
Therefore, stop boasting in men. All things are yours,
- Psalms 84:11
For the LORD God is a sun and a shield; the LORD gives grace and glory; He withholds no good thing from those who walk with integrity.
- 1 Peter 5:10
Through
Isaiah 11:2The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD.
it leads to
- Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty…
- John 16:13
However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to…
- Ephesians 1:17–18
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in your knowledge of Him.
- Isaiah 61:1
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies12
About Ephesians
This page draws on 15 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS 1.18.1; Hilary of Poitiers, ON THE TRINITY 11.17; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Ephesians 1:15-17; John Chrysostom, Homily on Ephesians 3; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Tertullian, Against Marcion Book V; Tertullian, Against Praxeas; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Ephesians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Ephesians.