Devine Scripture

Ephesians 3:14

What does Ephesians 3:14 mean?

A plain-English look at Ephesians 3:14 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Ephesians 3:14 means

Resuming his earlier intent, Paul bows his knees before the Father. His posture expresses reverence and earnestness. The prayer that follows is grounded in the truths just rehearsed: God’s eternal purpose in Christ, the church’s role in that plan, and believers’ access to God. Paul is not praying vague hopes; he is asking the Father to apply gospel realities to the Ephesians’ inner lives. Kneeling signals dependence and worship, and calling God “the Father” emphasizes His care and authority. The prayer seeks inner strengthening, Christ’s indwelling presence, love as the community’s foundation, and deepened grasp of Christ’s love—requests that flow from and serve God’s revealed design.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father,

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father,

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

For this cause I go down on my knees before the Father,

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

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

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

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

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

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

Context

With the digression concluded (verse 13), Paul begins his intercession. Verse 14 echoes the phrase from verse 1, marking the return to his original purpose. Verses 15–19 outline the content of the prayer, moving from God’s identity to specific petitions. The doxology in verses 20–21 will close the chapter. Seeing verse 14 as the hinge helps readers connect the prayer to the theology that precedes it.

v.13Wherefore I ask that ye may not faint at my tribulations for you, which are your glory.

v.14This passage

v.15from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,

Cross references

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

  • Ephesians 1:3

    Blessedbethe God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ:

  • Isaiah 45:23

    By myself have I sworn, the word is gone forth from my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, that unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.

  • Acts 7:60

    And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

  • Ezra 9:5

    And at the evening oblation I arose up from my humiliation, even with my garment and my robe rent; and I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto Jehovah my God;

  • Psalms 95:6

    Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before Jehovah our Maker:

  • 1 Kings 8:54

    And it was so, that, when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto Jehovah, he arose from before the altar of Jehovah, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread forth toward heaven.

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