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Ephesians 3:16

in Ephesians 3

I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being,

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that ye may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man;

KJV

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

This verse in Ephesians 3

Commentary

14 notes on this verse
That he would grant you according to the riches of his glory,.... Or according to, and out of that rich, plenteous, and glorious fulness of grace and strength in Christ Jesus. To be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; this is the petition which the apostle puts up on his bended knees to the Father of Christ, that he would strengthen these saints, that so they might not faint at the tribulations which either he or they endured.

This site's exposition

strengthen you with power through His Spirit

on Ephesians 3:16-17

Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith uses katoikeo. The verb means to settle down and make a permanent home.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers2 voices

A commentator

Gaius Marius Victorinus

EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS 1.3.16-17 · Written before 370.

proposed

What are these "riches of the glory of God?" They are "being strengthened with might through his Spirit," so that they may be strong against the sinful nature, the desires of the flesh and the dreadful powers of this world. This strengthening happens through the …

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Ephesians 7 · Written before 407.

proposed

"That He would grant you according to the riches of His glory that ye may be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inward man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith." Mark with what insatiable earnestness he invokes these blessings upon them, that they may not be tossed about. But how shall this be effected? By the "Holy Spirit in your inward man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith." How again shall this be? However, he does not ask the whole of God, but demands of them also faith and love, and not simply love, but love "rooted and grounded," so that neither any blasts can shake it, nor any thing else overturn it. He had said, that "tribulations" are "glory," and if mine are so to you, he would say, much more will your own be: so that to be afflicted is no token of men being forsaken, for He who hath wrought so great things for us, never would do this. But how doth Christ dwell in the hearts? Hear what Christ Himself saith, "I and my Father will come unto him, and make our abode with him." He dwelleth in those hearts that are faithful, in those that are "rooted" in His love, those that remain firm and unshaken. "That ye may be" thoroughly "strong," saith he; so that there is great strength needed.

The Medieval Church2 voices

A commentator

Thomas Aquinas

Commentary on Ephesians · Written before 1274.

proposed

Next (v. 16), he discloses what he prays for: First, he does this. Secondly, he shows through whom he can ask for what he desires (3:16b). Thus he says: I ask that you do not give up, but be steadfast like men. Yet I know …

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on Ephesians · Written before 1107.

proposed

What then do I pray for you? That God, who is rich and desires the glorification of His name, would grant you to be strengthened in the struggle against temptations, so as not only not to be troubled by them, but also to endure them. …

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

And the apostle prays that this may be according to the riches of his glory, or according to his glorious riches--answerable to that great abundance of grace, mercy, and power, which resides in God, and is his glory: and this by his Spirit, who is the immediate worker of grace in the souls of God's people.
7 more voices on this verse

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: 7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

proposed

The riches of his glory - The immense fulness of his glorious wisdom, power, and mercy.

The Nineteenth Century5 voices

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

according to--that is in abundance consonant to the riches of His glory; not "according to" the narrowness of our hearts. Col 1:11, "Strengthened with all might according to His glorious power." by--Greek, "through"; "by means of His Spirit." in--The Greek implies, "infused into." the inner man-- (Eph 4:22, 24;

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase+unbalanced-parens

THIS Divine measurement is an art of the most desirable kind, as appears from its being the object of most earnest Apostolic prayers. Paul was not content to travail in birth for souls and to become their spiritual parent—but he afterwards exercised the functions of a nursing father, tenderly caring for the souls to whom he had been blessed—and desiring to see them growing up in the faith to the ripeness of spiritual maturity. He was parent, nurse, and tutor—in fact he became all things, as far as lay within his power—to his spiritual children.
THIS Divine measurement is an art of the most desirable kind, as appears from its being the object of most earnest Apostolic prayers. Paul was not content to travail in birth for souls and to become their spiritual parent—but he afterwards exercised the functions of a nursing father, tenderly caring for the souls to whom he had been blessed—and desiring to see them growing up in the faith to the ripeness of spiritual maturity. He was parent, nurse, and tutor—in fact he became all things, as far as lay within his power—to his spiritual children. Paul's wise tenderness leads us to an assured confidence that the blessing to pray for, which he suspended his writing of so important an Epistle, must have been of the very highest value. "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." He felt that it was desirable to the very last degree that the saints should not only know themselves to be the objects of Divine favor, but should be well acquainted with its sublime qualities and perfections which he here compares to a fourfold measurement. In this measurement may you and I be skilled. If we know nothing of mathematics, may we be well-tutored scholars in this spiritual geometry and be able to comprehend the breadths and lengths of Jesus' precious love. It may be well at the outset to call your attention to the previous education which the Apostle desires for the saints as a preliminary to their measurement of Divine love. Then the measurement itself which he desires them to practice. And lastly, the practical results which would be sure to follow from their being able to comprehend the love of Christ Jesus our Lord. I. Like a wise and enlightened teacher, Paul desires for the saints that they should receive THAT PREVIOUS EDUCATION WHICH IS NECESSARY BEFORE THEY WILL BE ABLE TO ENTER UPON SUCH A SCIENCE AS THE MEASUREMENT OF CHRIST'S LOVE.

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

That he would grant you - This prayer of the apostle is one of the most grand and sublime in the whole oracles of God. The riches of the grace of the Gospel, and the extent to which the soul of man may be saved here below, are most emphatically pointed out here. Every word seems to have come immediately from heaven; laboring to convey ideas of infinite importance to mankind. No paraphrase can do it justice, and few commentators seem to have entered into its spirit; perhaps deterred by its unparalleled sublimity.
According to the riches of his glory - According to the glorious abundance of his mercy; see Php 4:19. Out of those stores of rich grace which can never be exhausted. The word “riches,” so often used by Paul, denotes “abundance,” and the idea here is, that his grace was inexhaustible and ample for all their needs. To be strengthened with might - To be powerfully strengthened. That is, to give you abundant strength to bear trials; to perform your duties; to glorify his name. In the inner man - In the heart, the mind, the soul; see the notes on Rom 7:22. The “body” needs to be strengthened every day. In like manner the soul needs constant supplies of grace. Piety needs to be constantly invigorated, or it withers and decays. Every Christian needs grace given each day to enable him to bear trials, to resist temptation, to discharge his duty, to live a life of faith.

The words behind it

19 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.

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

    Philippians 4:13

    I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

    it leads to

    • Ephesians 6:10

      Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • Isaiah 41:10

      Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand…

    • 2 Corinthians 12:9–10

      But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of…

    • Colossians 1:11

      being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have full endurance and patience, and joyfully

    • Isaiah 40:29–31

      He gives power to the faint and increases the strength of the weak.

  • Through

    Isaiah 41:10

    Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand…

    it leads to

    • Philippians 4:13

      I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • Joshua 1:9

      Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

    • Isaiah 43:1–2

      Now this is what the LORD says— He who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your…

Where this verse is studied

About Ephesians

The Apostle Paul in Contemplation, Rembrandt, 1630, Germanisches Nationalmuseum. Public domain.
The Apostle Paul in Contemplation, Rembrandt, 1630, Germanisches Nationalmuseum. Public domain.
This page draws on 12 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); Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 707: “Heavenly Geometry” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Gaius Marius Victorinus, EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS 1.3.16-17; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Ephesians 7; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Ephesians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Ephesians.