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Ephesians 2:14

in Ephesians 2

For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

For he is our peace, who made both one, and brake down the middle wall of partition,

KJV

For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

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This verse in Ephesians 2

Commentary

5 notes on this verse

A commentator

Tertullian

Against Marcion Book V · Written before 220.

" For the Creator's righteousness no less than His peace was announced in Christ, as we have often shown already. Therefore he says: "He is our peace, who hath made both one" -that is, the Jewish nation and the Gentile world.

This site's exposition

the middle wall of partition

on Ephesians 2:14-15

The figure had stone under it: the soreg, the low barrier ringing the temple's inner courts, carried inscriptions warning any foreigner that passing meant death, and two of those very stones have been recovered. Edersheim describes the barrier as the visible statute of separation, and Paul, once accused of taking Trophimus the Ephesian past it (Acts 21:29), writes to Ephesians that Christ has broken it down. What is abolished is read two ways, the ceremonial ordinances that fenced Israel from the nations, or the law as a covenant of works; the readings are old and both have their holders. The purpose is one new man made of the two, so making peace.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

For he is our peace - Not only as he purchased it, but as he is the very bond and center of union. He who hath made both - Jews and gentiles, one church.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

For he is our peace - Jesus Christ has died for both Jews and Gentiles, and has become a peace-offering, שלום shalom, to reconcile both to God and to each other. Who hath made both one - Formed one Church out of the believers of both people. The middle wall of partition - By abolishing the law of Jewish ordinances, he has removed that which kept the two parties, not only in a state of separation, but also at variance.

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

Thus this twofold wall represented the Sinaitic law, which both severed all men, even the Jews, from access to God (through sin, which is the violation of the law), and also separated the Gentiles from the Jews. As the term "wall" implies the strength of the partition, so "fence" implies that it was easily removed by God when the due time came.

The words behind it

17 Greek words

Every 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.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Galatians 3:28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.34 worksColossians 3:15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, for to this you were called as members of one body. And be thankful.23 worksColossians 3:11Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all and is in all.23 worksEphesians 2:15by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments and decrees. He did this to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace15 works1 Corinthians 12:12–13The body is a unit, though it is composed of many parts. And although its parts are many, they all form one body. So it is with Christ.13 worksColossians 1:20and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross.9 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
Isaiah 9:6–7For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.8 worksColossians 2:10–14And you have been made complete in Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.8 worksRomans 5:1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,8 worksActs 10:36He has sent this message to the people of Israel, proclaiming the gospel of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.6 worksLuke 2:14“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests!”6 worksColossians 2:20If you have died with Christ to the spiritual forces of the world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its regulations:6 worksJohn 20:19It was the first day of the week, and that very evening, while the disciples were together with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them. “Peace be with you!” He said to them.6 worksActs 10:28He said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with a foreigner or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.5 worksHebrews 13:20Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,5 worksEzekiel 34:24–25I, the LORD, will be their God, and My servant David will be a prince among them. I, the LORD, have spoken.4 worksJohn 10:16I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them in as well, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock and one shepherd.4 worksMicah 5:5And He will be our peace when Assyria invades our land and tramples our citadels. We will raise against it seven shepherds, even eight leaders of men.4 works

The walk

8 stops

Each 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

    Galatians 3:28

    There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

    it leads to

    • 1 Corinthians 12:12–13

      The body is a unit, though it is composed of many parts. And although its parts are many, they all form one body. So it is with Christ.

    • Colossians 3:11

      Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all and is in all.

    • Romans 3:29–30

      Is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too,

    • Galatians 5:6

      For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. All that matters is faith, expressed through love.

  • Through

    Colossians 3:15

    Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, for to this you were called as members of one body. And be thankful.

    it leads to

    • Philippians 4:6–7

      Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

    • John 14:27

      Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid.

    • Isaiah 26:3

      You will keep in perfect peace the steadfast of mind, because he trusts in You.

    • Romans 15:13

      Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Where this verse is studied

About Ephesians

The Ascension — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)
The Ascension — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)
Ephesians: the study guide →Read Ephesians 2 →

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Alfred Edersheim, The Temple: Its Ministry and Services; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Tertullian, Against Marcion Book V.

Read on in Ephesians 2 →