The Meaning of Ephesians 3:14 Explained

Ephesians 3:14

KJV: For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

YLT: For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Darby: For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

ASV: For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For this  cause  I bow  my  knees  unto  the Father  of our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 

What does Ephesians 3:14 Mean?

Verse Meaning

"For this reason" goes back to Ephesians 3:1, from which Paul departed in Ephesians 3:2-13 to give more information about the mystery. Bowing the knees and kneeling in prayer were postures that reflected an attitude of submission to God. Kneeling was not the most common posture for prayer in Paul"s culture. Usually people stood when they prayed (cf. Mark 11:25; Luke 18:11; Luke 18:13). Praying on one"s knees signified especially fervent praying (cf. Luke 22:41; Acts 7:40; Acts 7:60; Acts 20:36; Acts 21:5). [1] "Before" suggests intimate face-to-face contact with the heavenly Father (cf. Matthew 6:9).

Context Summary

Ephesians 3:14-21 - The Greatest Of All Desires
The kernel of this prayer is in the clause that Christ may make His home in the believer's heart through faith. The previous petitions lead up to this. Note the Apostle's attitude-with bended knee; his plea with God-that He is the Father from whom all family love emanates; his measure-the wealth of God's glorious perfection; the necessary preliminary to Christ's indwelling-the penetration of our inmost being with the strength of the Holy Spirit. And then note the outcome: The indwelling Christ means that we shall be rooted and grounded in love. When this is the case we shall understand His love; and when we experience and know Christ's love, we shall be as completely filled in our little measure as God is in His great measure.
A dying veteran in Napoleon's army, when the surgeon was probing for the fatal bullet, said, "A little deeper and you will find the Emperor." Faith opens the door to the Spirit; the Spirit reveals Christ; Christ fills the heart; the heart begins to understand love; and love is the medium through which we become infilled with God, for God is love. It is staggering to ask all this; but the God who works in us with such power is able to do more than we ask, more than we think-abundantly more, exceeding abundantly more. [source]

Chapter Summary: Ephesians 3

1  The hidden mystery that the Gentiles should be saved was made known to Paul by revelation;
8  and to him was that grace given, that he should preach it
13  He desires them not to be discouraged over his tribulation;
14  and prays that they may perceive the great love of Christ toward them

Greek Commentary for Ephesians 3:14

I bow my knees [καμπτω τα γονατα μου]
He now prays whether he had at first intended to do so at Ephesians 3:1 or not. Calvin supposes that Paul knelt as he dictated this prayer, but this is not necessary. This was a common attitude in prayer (Luke 22:41; Acts 7:40; Acts 20:36; Acts 21:5), though standing is also frequent (Mark 11:25; Luke 18:11, Luke 18:13). [source]
For this cause []
Resuming the interrupted clause in Ephesians 3:1, and having still in mind the closing thought of ch. 2. Seeing ye are so built together in Christ, for this cause, etc. [source]
Father []
Omit of our Lord Jesus Christ. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Ephesians 3:14

Ephesians 3:2 If ye have heard [εἴγε ἠκούσατε]
Here begins a long digression extending to Ephesians 3:14. If, Rev., if so be, means upon the supposition that; not implying the certainty of the assumption, though this shade of meaning is given by the context. The words are a reminder of his preaching among them. [source]
Ephesians 3:1 For this cause [τουτου χαριν]
Use of χαριν — charin (accusative of χαρις — charis) as a preposition with the genitive and referring to the preceding argument about God‘s elective grace. It is possible that Paul started to make the prayer that comes in Ephesians 3:14-21 when he repeats τουτου χαριν — toutou charin If so, he is diverted by his own words “the prisoner of Christ Jesus in behalf of you Gentiles” (ο δεσμιος του Χριστου Ιησου υπερ υμων των ετνων — ho desmios tou Christou Iēsou huper humōn tōn ethnōn) to set forth in a rich paragraph (Ephesians 3:1) God‘s use of him for the Gentiles. [source]
Titus 1:5 For this cause [τουτου χαριν]
In N.T. only here and Ephesians 3:1, Ephesians 3:14. Paul may be supplementing oral instruction as in Timothy‘s case and may even be replying to a letter from Titus (Zahn). [source]
1 John 3:12 Wherefore [χάριν τίνος]
Lit., on account of what. Χάριν forthe sake of, on account of, is elsewhere placed after the genitive. See Ephesians 3:1, Ephesians 3:14; 1 Timothy 5:14; Galatians 3:19. [source]
1 John 3:12 Slew [εσπαχεν]
First aorist active indicative of σπαζω — sphazō old verb, to slay, to butcher, to cut the throat (Latin jugulare) like an ox in the shambles, in N.T. only here and Rev (Revelation 5:6, Revelation 5:9, Revelation 5:12, etc.).Wherefore? (χαριν τινοσ — charin tinos̱). “For the sake of what?” Post-positive preposition (Ephesians 3:1, Ephesians 3:14) except here. The interpretation of the act of Cain (Genesis 4:8.) is an addition to the narrative, but in accord with Hebrews 11:4. Jealousy led to murder. [source]
1 John 3:12 Wherefore? [χαριν τινοσ]
“For the sake of what?” Post-positive preposition (Ephesians 3:1, Ephesians 3:14) except here. The interpretation of the act of Cain (Genesis 4:8.) is an addition to the narrative, but in accord with Hebrews 11:4. Jealousy led to murder. [source]
Jude 1:16 Complainers [μεμπσιμοιροι]
Rare word (Isocrates, Aristotle, Plutarch) from μεμπομαι — memphomai to complain and μοιρα — moira lot or fate. Here alone in N.T.Lusts (επιτυμιας — epithumias). As in 2 Peter 3:3.Swelling So in 2 Peter 2:18 (big words).Showing respect of persons (ταυμαζοντες προσωπα — thaumazontes prosōpa). Present active participle of ταυμαζω — thaumazō to admire, to wonder at. Nowhere else in N.T. with προσωπα — prosōpa but a Hebraism (in Leviticus 19:15; Job 13:10) like λαμβανειν προσωπον — lambanein prosōpon (Luke 20:21) and βλεπειν προσωπον — blepein prosōpon (Matthew 22:16) and προσοπωλεμπτεω — prosopōlempteō (James 2:9). Cf. James 2:1.For the sake of advantage To themselves. See also Judges 1:11. The covetousness of these Gnostic leaders is plainly shown in 2 Peter 2:3, 2 Peter 2:14. For χαριν — charin as preposition with genitive see Ephesians 3:1, Ephesians 3:14. [source]
Jude 1:16 Swelling [υπερογκα]
So in 2 Peter 2:18 (big words).Showing respect of persons (ταυμαζοντες προσωπα — thaumazontes prosōpa). Present active participle of ταυμαζω — thaumazō to admire, to wonder at. Nowhere else in N.T. with προσωπα — prosōpa but a Hebraism (in Leviticus 19:15; Job 13:10) like λαμβανειν προσωπον — lambanein prosōpon (Luke 20:21) and βλεπειν προσωπον — blepein prosōpon (Matthew 22:16) and προσοπωλεμπτεω — prosopōlempteō (James 2:9). Cf. James 2:1.For the sake of advantage To themselves. See also Judges 1:11. The covetousness of these Gnostic leaders is plainly shown in 2 Peter 2:3, 2 Peter 2:14. For χαριν — charin as preposition with genitive see Ephesians 3:1, Ephesians 3:14. [source]
Jude 1:16 For the sake of advantage [ωπελειας χαριν]
To themselves. See also Judges 1:11. The covetousness of these Gnostic leaders is plainly shown in 2 Peter 2:3, 2 Peter 2:14. For χαριν — charin as preposition with genitive see Ephesians 3:1, Ephesians 3:14. [source]

What do the individual words in Ephesians 3:14 mean?

... of this for reason I bow the knees of me to the Father - Lord of our Jesus Christ
Τούτου χάριν κάμπτω τὰ γόνατά μου πρὸς τὸν Πατέρα ⧼τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ χριστοῦ⧽

Τούτου  ...  of  this 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Genitive Neuter Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
χάριν  for  reason 
Parse: Preposition
Root: χάριν  
Sense: in favour of, for the pleasure of.
κάμπτω  I  bow 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: κάμπτω  
Sense: to bend, bow, the knee (the knees).
γόνατά  knees 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: γόνυ  
Sense: the knee, to kneel down.
μου  of  me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
Πατέρα  Father 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: προπάτωρ 
Sense: generator or male ancestor.
⧼τοῦ  - 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
κυρίου  Lord 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: κύριος  
Sense: he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord.
ἡμῶν  of  our 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Plural
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
Ἰησοῦ  Jesus 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰησοῦς  
Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor.
χριστοῦ⧽  Christ 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: Χριστός  
Sense: Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God.