Devine Scripture

Ephesians 1:9

What does Ephesians 1:9 mean?

A plain-English look at Ephesians 1:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Ephesians 1:9 means

God has disclosed “the mystery of his will,” a plan once hidden but now revealed in Christ. This revelation arises from “his good pleasure,” showing God delights to make himself known and to include us in his purposes. The mystery is not a puzzle for the clever but a disclosed purpose for the humble—grasped only because God unveils it. The content will be stated fully next: God’s intention to bring everything together in Christ. Knowing this, believers read history not as random events, but as the unfolding of a Christ-centered design that magnifies God’s wisdom and goodness.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

making known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

making known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Having made clear to us the secret of his purpose, in agreement with the design which he had in mind, to put into his hands

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

having made known to us the secret of His will, according to His good pleasure, that He purposed in Himself,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

That he might make known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure, which he hath purposed in him,

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

having made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in himself

Context

Verse 9 builds directly on the wisdom and prudence given in verse 8 by identifying their source—God’s disclosure of his will’s mystery. It serves as a hinge to verse 10, where the revealed plan’s goal is described as the summing up of all things in Christ. The flow moves from gift (grace), to understanding (wisdom), to revelation (mystery made known), to consummation (all things united in Christ). This helps readers see their salvation within God’s larger redemptive storyline.

v.8which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,

v.9This passage

v.10unto a dispensation of the fulness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens, and the things upon the earth; in him, I say,

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Ephesians 3:3

    how that by revelation was made known unto me the mystery, as I wrote before in few words,

  • Job 23:13

    But he is in onemind, and who can turn him? And what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.

  • Ephesians 1:17

    that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him;

  • 2 Timothy 1:9

    who saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before times eternal,

  • Psalms 33:11

    The counsel of Jehovah standeth fast for ever, The thoughts of his heart to all generations.

  • Colossians 1:26

    even the mystery which hath been hid for ages and generations: but now hath it been manifested to his saints,

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