Ephesians 3:18
in Ephesians 3will have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
may be strong to apprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
KJV
May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
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This verse in Ephesians 3
Commentary
5 notes on this verseLet us think first about physical "breadth and length, depth and height" in order that we may be able to pass through these physical dimensions to their spiritual dimensions. For the sake of argument, let the physical length be that of heaven and earth, that is, of the whole world, from east to west. Let the breadth be from south to north. Let the depth be from the abyss and the infernal regions. Let the height be to all that is elevated above the heavens. But they say that the earth is round and rotates as a sphere.
This site's exposition
comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height
on Ephesians 3:18-19
Breadth, and length, and depth, and height names four dimensions without stating what they measure, and the object supplied by most readers is the love of Christ named in the next verse, though some read it of the whole scope of God's plan just described. With all saints makes comprehension a corporate exercise, a grasp no single believer reaches alone. To know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge holds a deliberate paradox, knowing what exceeds knowing, and the prayer's final ask, filled with all the fulness of God, reaches for a capacity no creature owns on its own strength.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
That being rooted and grounded - That is, deeply fixed and firmly established, in love. Ye may comprehend - So far as an human mind is capable. What is the breadth of the love of Christ - Embracing all mankind.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
May be able to comprehend with all saints - Ἱνα εξισχυσητε καταλαβεσθαι. These words are so exceedingly nervous and full of meaning, that it is almost impossible to translate them. The first word, εξισχυσητε , from εξ, intensive, and ισχυω, to be strong, signifies that they might be thoroughly able, by having been strengthened with might, by God’s power. The second word καταλαβεσθαι, from κατα, intensive, and λαμβανω , to take, catch, or seize on, may be translated, that ye may fully catch, take in, and comprehend this wonderful mystery of God.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
I prefer to understand "the breadth," &c., to refer to the whole of the vast mystery of free salvation in Christ for all, Gentile and Jew alike, of which Paul had been speaking (Eph 3:3-9), and of which he now prays they may have a fuller comprehension. As subsidiary to this, and the most essential part of it, he adds, "and to know the love of Christ" (Eph 3:19).
The words behind it
16 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 | so that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| ἐξισχύσητε | exischusete | you may be fully able | G1840 → | |
| καταλαβέσθαι | katalabesthai | to grasp | G2638 → | |
| σὺν | sun | with | G4862 → | |
| πᾶσιν | pasin | all | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| τοῖς | tois | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἁγίοις | hagiois | saints | G40 → | 220 times |
| τί | ti | what [is] | G5101 → | 563 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πλάτος | platos | breadth | G4114 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| μῆκος | mekos | length | G3372 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ὕψος | hupsos | height | G5311 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| βάθος, | bathos | depth | G899 → |
ἵναso that
inaG2443 →668 times
ἐξισχύσητεyou may be fully able
exischuseteG1840 →
καταλαβέσθαιto grasp
katalabesthaiG2638 →
σὺνwith
sunG4862 →
πᾶσινall
pasinG3956 →1235 times
τοῖςthe
toisG3588 →19766 times
ἁγίοιςsaints
hagioisG40 →220 times
τίwhat [is]
tiG5101 →563 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
πλάτοςbreadth
platosG4114 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
μῆκοςlength
mekosG3372 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ὕψοςheight
hupsosG5311 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
βάθος,depth
bathosG899 →
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
John 15:13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
it leads to
- John 10:11
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.
- Ephesians 5:2
and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.
- Romans 5:6–8
For at just the right time, while we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
- John 10:15
just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father. And I lay down My life for the sheep.
- 1 John 4:7–11
Beloved, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
- John 10:11
Through
Ephesians 3:19of the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
it leads to
- Ephesians 1:23
which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
- Colossians 2:9–10
For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form.
- Colossians 1:10
so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
- Ephesians 1:23
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies2
On this verse
On this chapter
About Ephesians
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Ephesians 3:16; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.