Ephesians 6:22
in Ephesians 6I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about us, and that he may encourage your hearts.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
whom I have sent unto you for this very purpose, that ye may know our state, and that he may comfort your hearts.
KJV
Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.
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This verse in Ephesians 6
Commentary
12 notes on this verseWhom I have sent - for the same purpose - Namely, that the Ephesians might know his affairs, and those of the Church at Rome: messengers of this kind frequently passed between the Churches in those ancient times. Comfort your hearts - By showing you how powerfully he was upheld in all his tribulations, and how God turned his bonds to the furtherance of the Gospel. This must have been great consolation to all the followers of God; and particularly to those in Ephesus or Laodicea, or to whomsoever the epistle was directed.
This site's exposition
Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant
on Ephesians 6:21-24
Tychicus of Asia (Acts 20:4), the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, carries the letter and the news Paul leaves off the page. Colossians names the same courier in nearly the same words, one of the links binding the prison letters together.
This site's exposition
that he may encourage your hearts
Barnes explains the errand. Paul's trial at Rome was uncertain, and the churches needed news, a request for their prayers and comfort in their own trials. Clarke adds that the comfort lay in hearing how God used Paul's chains to advance the gospel, and that such messengers passed between churches.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"Whom I have sent unto you," saith he, "for this very purpose, that ye may know our state, and that he may comfort your hearts." This language he employs, not without a purpose, but in consequence of what he had been saying previously; "having girded your loins, having on the breastplate," &c., which are a token of a constant and unceasing advance; for hear what the Prophet saith, "Let it be unto him as the raiment wherewith he covereth himself, and for the girdle wherewith he is girded continually" (Ps. cix. 19); and the Prophet Isaiah again saith, that God hath "put on righteousness as a breastplate" (Isa. lix. 17); by these expressions instructing us that these are things which we must have, not for a short time only, but continually, inasmuch as there is continual need of warfare. "For it is said the righteous are bold as a lion." (Prov. xxviii. 1.) For he that is armed with such a breastplate, it cannot be that he should fear the array that is against him, but he will leap into the midst of the enemy. And again Isaiah saith, "How beautiful are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings." (Isa. lii. 7.) Who would not run, who would not serve in such a cause; to publish the good tidings of peace, peace between God and man, peace, where men have toiled not, but where God hath wrought all? If "faithful," he will tell no falsehood, he will in everything speak the truth:-"whom I have sent unto you for this very purpose, that ye might know our state, and that he may comfort your hearts." Amazing, transcendent affection! "that it may not be in the power," he means, "of them that would, to affright you." For it is probable that they were in tribulation; for the expression, "may comfort your hearts," intimates as much; that is, "may not suffer you to sink under it."
Tychicus is sent to give the Ephesians instructions not on his own accord. Rather he was sent by Paul for this purpose. Such was Paul's concern for them and his desire that they should be well informed.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Since I am not able to leave, chained as I am, to tell you, Tychicus, my dearest brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make known to you all things. Thus you can safely believe him about all these matters. "Who do you think …
Saint John Chrysostom says the following: "that you may know about us," that is, that he may inform you of what is happening with me and not allow you to be disheartened on my account, since I am in afflictions and wear chains. And this …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
He was a sincere Christian, and so a brother in Christ: he was a faithful minister in the work of Christ, and he was very dear to Paul, which makes Paul's love to these Christian Ephesians the more observable, in that he should now part with so good and dear a friend for their sakes, when his company and conversation must have been peculiarly delightful and serviceable to himself.
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. 5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; 6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
for the same purpose--Greek, "for this very purpose." Col 4:8 is almost word for word the same as this verse. our affairs--Greek, "the things concerning us," namely, concerning myself.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Whom I have sent unto you - The churches where Paul had preached, would feel a great interest in his welfare. He was a prisoner at Rome, and it was doubtful what the result would be. In this situation, he felt it proper to despatch a special messenger to give information about his condition; to state what was doing in Rome; to ask the prayers of the churches; and to administer consolation to them in their various trials. The same sentiment in regard to the embassy of Tychicus, is expressed in the Epistle to the Colossians, Col 4:7-8. No small part of the consolation which he would impart to them would be found in these invaluable letters which he bore to them from the apostle.
The words behind it
17 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ὃν | hon | whom | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| ἔπεμψα | epempsa | I have sent | G3992 → | |
| πρὸς | pros | to | G4314 → | 700 times |
| ὑμᾶς | humas | you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| εἰς | eis | for | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| αὐτὸ | auto | this very | G846 → | 5565 times |
| τοῦτο | touto | purpose | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| ἵνα | ina | that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| γνῶτε | gnote | you may know | G1097 → | 221 times |
| τὰ | ta | the [things] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| περὶ | peri | concerning | G4012 → | |
| ἡμῶν, | hemon | us, | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| παρακαλέσῃ | parakalese | he may encourage | G3870 → | |
| τὰς | tas | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| καρδίας | kardias | hearts | G2588 → | 156 times |
| ὑμῶν. | humon | of you. | G4771 → | 2973 times |
ὃνwhom
honG3739 →1405 times
ἔπεμψαI have sent
epempsaG3992 →
πρὸςto
prosG4314 →700 times
ὑμᾶςyou
humasG4771 →2973 times
εἰςfor
eisG1519 →1755 times
αὐτὸthis very
autoG846 →5565 times
τοῦτοpurpose
toutoG3778 →1381 times
ἵναthat
inaG2443 →668 times
γνῶτεyou may know
gnoteG1097 →221 times
τὰthe [things]
taG3588 →19766 times
περὶconcerning
periG4012 →
ἡμῶν,us,
hemonG3165 →1936 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
παρακαλέσῃhe may encourage
parakaleseG3870 →
τὰςthe
tasG3588 →19766 times
καρδίαςhearts
kardiasG2588 →156 times
ὑμῶν.of you.
humonG4771 →2973 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
Philippians 2:25But I thought it necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my needs.
it leads to
- Philippians 4:18
I have all I need and more, now that I have received your gifts from Epaphroditus. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.
- Philippians 4:18
Through
Colossians 2:2that they may be encouraged in heart, knit together in love, and filled with the full riches of complete understanding, so that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ,
it leads to
- Colossians 1:27
To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
- Colossians 4:8
I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about us, and that he may encourage your hearts.
- Romans 16:25
Now to Him who is able to strengthen you by my gospel and by the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery concealed for ages past
- Colossians 3:14
And over all these virtues put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity.
- Colossians 1:27
Through
Philippians 2:19Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I learn how you are doing.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 4:17
That is why I have sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which is exactly what I teach…
- 1 Thessalonians 3:6–8
But just now, Timothy has returned from his visit with the good news about your faith, your love, and the fond memories you have preserved, longing to see us just as we long to…
- 1 Corinthians 4:17
Through
1 Thessalonians 3:2We sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,
it leads to
- Acts 14:22–23
strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. “We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.
- Acts 14:22–23
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Ephesians

This page draws on 11 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); Gaius Marius Victorinus, EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS 2.6.22; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Ephesians 24; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Ephesians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Ephesians.
