Devine Scripture

Ephesians 3:17

What does Ephesians 3:17 mean?

A plain-English look at Ephesians 3:17 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Ephesians 3:17 means

Paul prays that Christ may dwell in their hearts through faith, so that they are rooted and grounded in love. “Dwell” suggests a settled, welcome presence, not a brief visit. Faith is the means by which Christ’s lordship and nearness are embraced. The twin images—roots and foundation—picture stability and nourishment. Love is not optional sentiment but the soil and base of Christian life, especially in a multi-ethnic church. Christ’s indwelling and love’s depth belong together: where Christ is cherished, love takes firm hold. This prepares believers to grasp the vastness of what God is doing and to reflect Christ’s character in a community knit together by sacrificial affection.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

KJV

King James Version · 1611

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

So that Christ may have his place in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and based in love,

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

that the Christ may dwell through the faith in your hearts, in love having been rooted and founded,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

That Christ may dwell by faith in your hearts: that, being rooted and founded in charity,

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

that the Christ may dwell, through faith, in your hearts, being rooted and founded in love,

Context

Following the request for inner strengthening (verse 16), verse 17 names the goal: a heart where Christ truly resides and love is the fixed foundation. This sets up verses 18–19, which ask for capacity to comprehend the immeasurable dimensions of Christ’s love and to be filled with God’s fullness. The flow portrays an ordered progression: Spirit-given strength, Christ’s settled presence, love as the root, and then deeper understanding and fullness.

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;

v.17This passage

v.18may be strong to apprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,

Cross references

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

  • Matthew 13:6

    and when the sun was risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

  • Revelation 3:20

    Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

  • Galatians 5:6

    For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith working through love.

  • Colossians 1:23

    if so be that ye continue in the faith, grounded and stedfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye heard, which was preached in all creation under heaven; whereof I Paul was made a minister.

  • Matthew 7:24

    Every one therefore that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them, shall be likened unto a wise man, who built his house upon the rock:

  • Luke 6:48

    he is like a man building a house, who digged and went deep, and laid a foundation upon the rock: and when a flood arose, the stream brake against that house, and could not shake it: because it had been well builded.

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