Devine Scripture

Ephesians 2:1

What does Ephesians 2:1 mean?

A plain-English look at Ephesians 2:1 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Ephesians 2:1 means

Paul begins by describing the Ephesians’ former spiritual condition. They were not merely weak or sick; they were dead in trespasses and sins. This means they were separated from the life of God and unable to revive themselves. Their offenses against God’s will had brought a kind of moral and spiritual death. Yet the opening clause looks ahead to God’s action: he made them alive. The emphasis is on God’s initiative—life comes from outside the sinner. The verse sets the tone of sheer dependence on divine mercy: if life has come, it is because God intervened to raise those who could not move toward him on their own.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And youdid he make alive, when ye were dead through your trespasses and sins,

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And youdid he make alive, when ye were dead through your trespasses and sins,

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And to you did he give life, when you were dead through your wrongdoing and sins,

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

Also you--being dead in the trespasses and the sins,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And you, when you were dead in your offences and sins,

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and you, being dead in your offences and sins —

Context

Verse 1 opens the chapter with a stark diagnosis that prepares for the contrast in verses 4–7. After Paul has praised God’s power in chapter 1, he now shows why such power is needed: people were dead in sin. Verses 2–3 will expand this death by describing how they once lived and who influenced them. This dark background is necessary to feel the full weight of the “But God” in verse 4, where grace overturns the hopelessness of spiritual death.

v.1This passage

v.2wherein ye once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the powers of the air, of the spirit that now worketh in the sons of disobedience;

Cross references

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

  • 1 Corinthians 15:45

    So also it is written, The first man Adam became a living soul. The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

  • Ephesians 5:14

    Wherefore he saith, Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine upon thee.

  • John 10:10

    The thief cometh not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy: I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.

  • Ephesians 4:18

    being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their heart;

  • Colossians 3:1

    If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God.

  • John 5:25

    Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour cometh, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear shall live.

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