Devine Scripture

Ephesians 5:27

What does Ephesians 5:27 mean?

A plain-English look at Ephesians 5:27 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Ephesians 5:27 means

Christ’s end goal is to “present the church to himself a glorious church,” free from “spot or wrinkle or any such thing,” holy and without blemish. The imagery is bridal and eschatological, looking to the day when Christ’s sanctifying work is complete. His love moves from sacrifice to splendor, from cleansing to consummation. This shapes a husband’s goal: to love in ways that contribute to his wife’s flourishing, dignity, and holiness, not to diminish her. Christ’s love beautifies His bride; so should a husband’s love honor and elevate his wife, anticipating the day when the whole church stands radiant before her Lord.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

that he might present the church to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

that he might present the church to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And might take it for himself, a church full of glory, not having one mark or fold or any such thing; but that it might be holy and complete.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

that he might present it to himself the assembly in glory, not having spot or wrinkle, or any of such things, but that it may be holy and unblemished;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

That he might present it to himself, a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

that he might present the assembly to himself glorious, having no spot, or wrinkle, or any of such things; but that it might be holy and blameless.

Context

Continuing the purpose of Christ’s love begun in verse 26, Paul now looks to the final presentation of the church in glory. This grand vision provides the backdrop for the practical application in verses 28–30, where husbands are to love their wives as their own bodies, mirroring Christ’s nourishing and cherishing of the church. Then verses 31–32 will connect marriage back to the creation ordinance and unveil its deeper mystery in relation to Christ and the church.

v.26that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word,

v.27This passage

v.28Even so ought husbands also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his own wife loveth himself:

Cross references

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

  • Isaiah 60:15

    Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man passed through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations.

  • Jeremiah 33:9

    And this city shall be to me for a name of joy, for a praise and for a glory, before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them, and shall fear and tremble for all the good and for all the peace that I procure unto it.

  • Isaiah 62:3

    Thou shalt also be a crown of beauty in the hand of Jehovah, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.

  • Hebrews 12:22

    but ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable hosts of angels,

  • Psalms 45:13

    The king’s daughter within the palace is all glorious: Her clothing is inwrought with gold.

  • Ephesians 1:4

    even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before him in love:

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