Devine Scripture

Ephesians 2:14

What does Ephesians 2:14 mean?

A plain-English look at Ephesians 2:14 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Ephesians 2:14 means

Christ himself is our peace, not merely the giver of it. He has made Jew and Gentile “both one” and has broken down the dividing wall that kept them apart. The language evokes the barrier in the Jerusalem temple that separated Gentiles, but the deeper issue is hostility. In Christ, the wall is demolished, not by ignoring differences but by creating a new basis of fellowship. Peace here is more than a feeling; it is an achieved reality grounded in Christ’s person and work. Unity is not a human project but a gift secured by the One who embodies peace.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

For he is our peace, who made both one, and brake down the middle wall of partition,

KJV

King James Version · 1611

For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

For he is our peace, who made both one, and brake down the middle wall of partition,

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

For he is our peace, who has made the two into one, and by whom the middle wall of division has been broken down,

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

for he is our peace, who did make both one, and the middle wall of the enclosure did break down,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and breaking down the middle wall of partition, the enmities in his flesh:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

For he is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of enclosure,

Context

Verse 14 begins to explain how the nearness of verse 13 works out between peoples. The stress is on Christ as peace and on the demolition of division. Verse 15 will probe the means—his flesh and the law of commandments in ordinances—and the goal—one new man. Verse 16 then brings in reconciliation to God through the cross. The argument shows that the gospel addresses both vertical and horizontal estrangement.

v.13But now in Christ Jesus ye that once were far off are made nigh in the blood of Christ.

v.14This passage

v.15having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; that he might create in himself of the two one new man, so making peace;

Cross references

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

  • Isaiah 19:24

    In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth;

  • Hebrews 7:2

    to whom also Abraham divided a tenth part of all (being first, by interpretation, King of righteousness, and then also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;

  • 1 Corinthians 12:12

    For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ.

  • Acts 10:28

    and he said unto them, Ye yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to join himself or come unto one of another nation; and yet unto me hath God showed that I should not call any man common or unclean:

  • Micah 5:5

    And this man shall be our peace. When the Assyrian shall come into our land, and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men.

  • Colossians 2:20

    If ye died with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, do ye subject yourselves to ordinances,

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