Ephesians 1 · Verse 12

Ephesians 1:12

That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Ephesians 1:12, King James Version

Ephesians 1:12 in other translations

BSBin order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, would be for the praise of His glory.
WEBto the end that we should be to the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ.
ASVto the end that we should be unto the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ:
YLTfor our being to the praise of His glory, even those who did first hope in the Christ,
DARBYthat we should be to the praise of his glory who have pre-trusted in the Christ:
BBESo that his glory might have praise through us who first had hope in Christ:
WebsterThat we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

What does Ephesians 1:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
12. (Ep 1:6, 14). who first trusted in Christ--rather (we Jewish Christians), "who have before hoped in the Christ": who before the Christ came, looked forward to His coming, waiting for the consolation of Israel. Compare Ac 26:6, 7, "I am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: unto which our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come." Ac 28:20, "the hope of Israel" [Alford]. Compare Ep 1:18; 2:12; 4:4.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 That we - Jews, now apostles and messengers of God, to whom the first offers of salvation were made, and who were the first that believed in Christ. Should be to the praise of his glory - By being the means of preaching Christ crucified to the Gentiles, and spreading the Gospel throughout the world.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ephesians 1:9-14

Blessings were made known to believers, by the Lord's showing to them the mystery of his sovereign will, and the method of redemption and salvation. But these must have been for ever hidden from us, if God had not made them known by his written word, preached gospel, and Spirit of truth. Christ united the two differing parties, God and man, in his own person, and satisfied for that wrong which caused the separation…

Read the full comment on Ephesians 1:9-14 →

Ephesians 1:12 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

εἰςeisforG1519
τὸto<the>G3588
εἶναιeinaito beG1511
ἡμᾶςhēmasusG3165
εἰςeistoG1519
ἔπαινονepainon[the] praiseG1868
δόξηςdoxēsgloryG1391
αὐτοῦ,autouof Him,G846
τοὺςtousthe [ones]G3588
προηλπικόταςproēlpikotashaving first trustedG4276
ἐνeninG1722
τῷtō<the>G3588
Χριστῷ·ChristōChrist;G5547

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Ephesians 1:12

  • Ephesians 1:6

    To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

  • Jeremiah 17:5-7

    Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.

  • Ephesians 1:13-14

    In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

  • Isaiah 42:1-4

    Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.

  • Ephesians 3:21

    Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

  • Jeremiah 23:6

    In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

  • Isaiah 12:2

    Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.

  • Isaiah 45:23

    I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.

  • Psalms 2:12

    Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

  • Isaiah 11:10

    And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.

  • Psalms 146:3-5

    Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish. Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God:

  • James 1:18

    Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
be.
6,14; 2:7; 3:21; 2Th 2:13
who.
13; Ps 2:12; 146:3-5; Isa 11:10; 12:2; 32:1,2; 42:1-4; 45:23,25
Jer 17:5-7; 23:6; Mt 12:18-21; Joh 14:1; Ro 15:12,13; 2Ti 1:12
Jas 1:18; 1Pe 1:21
trusted. or, hoped.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Ephesians 1:11

    In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

  • Ephesians 1:12

    That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

  • Ephesians 1:13

    In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Read all of Ephesians 1

Ephesians 1:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Para que seamos para alabanza de su gloria, nosotros que antes esperamos en Cristo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		afin que nous soyons à la louange de sa gloire, nous qui avons espéré à l’avance dans le Christ:
German
Elberfelder 1871		damit wir zum Preise seiner Herrlichkeit seien, die wir zuvor auf den Christus gehofft haben;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		ut simus in laudem gloriæ ejus nos, qui ante speravimus in Christo;