Devine Scripture

Ephesians 3:15

What does Ephesians 3:15 mean?

A plain-English look at Ephesians 3:15 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Ephesians 3:15 means

Paul describes the Father as the One from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. God is the source and definer of all communities and orders, whether angelic or human. To be named by the Father is to have origin, identity, and rightful place under His authority. This magnifies His capacity to answer the prayer: the One Paul addresses is not a local deity but the universal Father. The church’s unity across ethnic and cosmic lines rests on this truth—one Father stands over all. Therefore, the petitions that follow draw from the Father’s comprehensive sovereignty and generosity toward His whole family.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

From whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

of whom the whole family in the heavens and on earth is named,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Of whom all paternity in heaven and earth is named:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

of whom every family in [the] heavens and on earth is named,

Context

This statement about God’s fatherhood grounds the petitions that follow. Coming right after Paul bows his knees (verse 14), verse 15 expands the vision of who God is—namer and author of every family. This supports the requests for inner strength and communal love in verses 16–17 and for vast comprehension in verses 18–19. The flow moves from worship of the Father’s greatness to asking for gifts that match His scope and care.

v.14For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father,

v.15This passage

v.16that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that ye may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man;

Cross references

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

  • Isaiah 65:15

    And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen; and the Lord Jehovah will slay thee; and he will call his servants by another name:

  • Philippians 2:9

    Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name;

  • Revelation 2:17

    He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will I give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and upon the stone a new name written, which no one knoweth but he that receiveth it.

  • Acts 11:26

    and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that even for a whole year they were gathered together with the church, and taught much people; and that the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

  • Ephesians 1:21

    far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

  • Ephesians 1:10

    unto 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,

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