Ephesians 1 · Verse 20

Ephesians 1:20

Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
Ephesians 1:20, King James Version

Ephesians 1:20 in other translations

BSBwhich He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms,
WEBwhich he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places,
ASVwhich he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places,
YLTwhich He wrought in the Christ, having raised him out of the dead, and did set him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
DARBYin which he wrought in the Christ in raising him from among the dead, and he set him down at his right hand in the heavenlies,
BBEBy which he made Christ come back from the dead, and gave him a place at his right hand in heaven,
WebsterWhich he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

What does Ephesians 1:20 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
20. in Christ--as our "first-fruits" of the resurrection, and Head, in virtue of God's mighty working in whom His power to us-ward is made possible and actual [Alford]. when he raised him--"in that He raised Him." The raising of Christ is not only an earnest of our bodies being hereafter raised, but has a spiritual power in it involving (by virtue of our living union with Him, as members with the Head) the resurrection, spiritually of the believer's soul now, and, consequently, of his body hereafter (Ro 6:8-11; 8:11). The Son, too, as God (though not as man), had a share in raising His own human body (Joh 2:19; 10:17, 18). Also the Holy Spirit (Ro 1:4; 1Pe 3:18). set him--Greek, "made Him sit." The glorious spirits stand about the throne of God, but they do not sit at God's right hand (He 1:13). at his own right hand--(Psa 110:1). Where He remains till all His enemies have been put under His feet (1Co 15:24). Being appointed to "rule in the midst of His enemies" during their rebellion (Psa 110:2), He shall resign His commission after their subjection [Pearson] (Mr 16:19; He 1:3; 10:12). in the heavenly places--(Ep 1:3). As Christ has a literal body, heaven is not merely a state, but a place; and where He is, there His people shall be (Joh 14:3).

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 20. Which he wrought in Christ. Which he exerted in relation to the Lord Jesus when he was dead. The power which was then exerted was as great as that of creation. It was imparting life to a cold and "mangled" frame. It was to open again the arteries and veins, and teach the heart to beat and the lungs to heave. It was to diffuse vital warmth through the rigid muscles, and to communicate to the body the active functions of life. It is impossible to conceive of a more direct exertion of power than in raising up the dead; and there is no more striking illustration of the nature of conversion than such a resurrection.

And set him at his own right hand. The idea is, that great power was displayed by this, and that a similar exhibition is made when man is renewed and exalted to the high honour of being made an heir of God. On the fact that Jesus was received to the right hand of God, Mk 16:19 Acts 2:33.

In the heavenly places. Eph 1:3. The phrase here evidently means in heaven itself.

(a) "raised him from the dead" Acts 2:24,32

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 20 Set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places - Gave him, as mediator between God and man, the highest honors and dignities, Phi 2:9; in which state of exaltation he transacts all the affairs of his Church, and rules the universe. The right hand is the place of friendship, honor, confidence, and authority.

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 1:20 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.

ἣνhēnwhichG3739
ἐνήργησενenērgēsenHe workedG1754
ἐνeninG1722
τῷtō<the>G3588
ΧριστῷChristōChristG5547
ἐγείραςegeirashaving raisedG1453
αὐτὸνautonHimG846
ἐκekout fromG1537
νεκρῶνnekrōndeadG3498
καὶkaiandG2532
καθίσαςkathisashaving satG2523
ἐνenatG1722
δεξιᾷdexia[the] right handG1188
αὐτοῦautouof HimG846
ἐνeninG1722
τοῖςtoistheG3588
ἐπουρανίοιςepouranioisheavenly realmsG2032

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

Cross references for Ephesians 1:20

  • Hebrews 10:12

    But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

  • Mark 16:19

    So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

  • Psalms 110:1

    A Psalm of David. The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

  • Hebrews 1:3

    Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

  • Matthew 28:18

    And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

  • Acts 2:24-36

    Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. …

  • Matthew 22:43-45

    He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?

  • Philippians 3:10

    That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

  • Colossians 3:1

    If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

  • Ephesians 2:5-6

    Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

  • Revelation 5:11-14

    And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

  • Romans 8:34

    Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
he wrought.
2:5,6; Ro 6:5-11; Php 3:10; 1Pe 1:3
when.
Ps 16:9-11; Joh 10:18,30; Ac 2:24-33; 4:10; 10:40; 26:8; Ro 1:4
Heb 13:20
and set.
4:8-10; Ps 110:1; Mt 22:43-45; 26:64; 28:18; Mr 14:62; 16:19
Joh 17:1-5; Ac 2:34-36; 5:31; 7:55,56; Ro 8:34; Col 3:1; Heb 1:3; 2:9
Heb 10:12; Re 1:17; 5:11-14
heavenly.
3

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

Context

  • Ephesians 1:19

    And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

  • Ephesians 1:20

    Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

  • Ephesians 1:21

    Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

Read all of Ephesians 1

Ephesians 1:20 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		La cual obró en Cristo, resucitándole de los muertos, y colocándole á su diestra en los cielos,
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		qu’il a opérée dans le Christ, en le ressuscitant d’entre les morts; – (et il l’a fait asseoir à sa droite dans les lieux célestes,
German
Elberfelder 1871		in welcher er gewirkt hat in dem Christus, indem er ihn aus den Toten auferweckte; und er setzte ihn zu seiner Rechten in den himmlischen Örtern,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		quam operatus est in Christo, suscitans illum a mortuis, et constituens ad dexteram suam in cælestibus: