Ephesians 1 · Verse 16

Ephesians 1:16

Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
Ephesians 1:16, King James Version

Ephesians 1:16 in other translations

BSBI have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,
WEBdon’t cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers,
ASVcease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
YLTdo not cease giving thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers,
DARBYdo not cease giving thanks for you, making mention of you at my prayers,
BBEGive praise without end for you, keeping you in mind in my prayers;
WebsterCease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

What does Ephesians 1:16 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
16. (Col 1:9). of you--omitted in the oldest manuscripts. Then the translation may be as English Version still, or as Alford, "making mention of them" (your "faith and love").

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 16. Cease not to give thanks for you. In the prosperity of the church at Ephesus he could not but feel the deepest interest, and their welfare he never forgot.

Making mention of you in my prayers. Paul was far distant from them, and expected to see them no more. But he had faith in prayer, and he sought that they might advance in knowledge and in grace. What was the particular subject of his prayers he mentions in the following verses.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 16 Cease not to give thanks - The apostle intimates, so fully satisfied was he of the genuineness of their conversion, and of their steadiness since their conversion, that it was to him a continual cause of thanksgiving to God, who had brought them into that state of salvation; and of prayer, that they might be preserved blameless to the end. Making mention of you - While praying for the prosperity of the Christian cause generally, he was led, from his particular affection for them, to mention them by name before God.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ephesians 1:15-23

God has laid up spiritual blessings for us in his Son the Lord Jesus; but requires us to draw them out and fetch them in by prayer. Even the best Christians need to be prayed for: and while we hear of the welfare of Christian friends, we should pray for them. Even true believers greatly want heavenly wisdom. Are not the best of us unwilling to come under God's yoke, though there is no other way to find rest for the…

Read the full comment on Ephesians 1:15-23 →

Ephesians 1:16 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.

οὐounotG3756
παύομαιpauomaido ceaseG3973
εὐχαριστῶνeucharistōngiving thanksG2168
ὑπὲρhuperforG5228
ὑμῶνhumōnyouG4771
μνείανmneianmentionG3417
ποιούμενοςpoioumenosmakingG4160
ἐπὶepiinG1909
τῶνtōntheG3588
προσευχῶνproseuchōnprayersG4335
μουmouof mineG3165

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

Cross references for Ephesians 1:16

  • Romans 1:8-9

    First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;

  • Colossians 1:9

    For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

  • 2 Thessalonians 1:3

    We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;

  • Colossians 1:3

    We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

  • 1 Samuel 12:23

    Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:

  • Philippians 1:3-4

    I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:17

    Pray without ceasing.

  • 1 Samuel 7:8

    And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the Lord our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.

  • Isaiah 62:6

    I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence,

  • 1 Thessalonians 1:2

    We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;

  • Genesis 40:14

    But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house:

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Cease.
Ro 1:8,9; 1Sa 7:8; 12:23; Php 1:3,4; Col 1:3; 1Th 5:17; 2Th 1:3
making.
Ge 40:14; Isa 62:6; 1Th 1:2

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

Context

  • Ephesians 1:15

    Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,

  • Ephesians 1:16

    Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

  • Ephesians 1:17

    That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

Read all of Ephesians 1

Ephesians 1:16 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		No ceso de dar gracias por vosotros, haciendo memoria de vosotros en mis oraciones;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		je ne cesse de rendre grâces pour vous, faisant mention de vous dans mes prières,
German
Elberfelder 1871		nicht aufhöre, für euch zu danken, euer erwähnend in meinen Gebeten,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		non cesso gratias agens pro vobis, memoriam vestri faciens in orationibus meis: