Ephesians 2 · Verse 11

Ephesians 2:11

Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

Ephesians 2:11, King James Version

Ephesians 2:11 in other translations

BSB	Therefore remember that formerly you who are Gentiles in the flesh and called uncircumcised by the so-called circumcision (that done in the body by human hands)—
WEB	Therefore remember that once you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “uncircumcision” by that which is called “circumcision” (in the flesh, made by hands),
ASV	Wherefore remember, that once ye, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called Circumcision, in the flesh, made by hands;
YLT	Wherefore, remember, that ye were once the nations in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that called Circumcision in the flesh made by hands,
DARBY	Wherefore remember that ye, once nations in the flesh, who are called uncircumcision by that called circumcision in the flesh done with the hand;
BBE	For this reason keep it in mind that in the past you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are looked on as being outside the circumcision by those who have circumcision, in the flesh, made by hands;
Webster	Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

What does Ephesians 2:11 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

11. The Greek order in the oldest manuscripts is, "That in time past (literally, once) ye," &c. Such remembrance sharpens gratitude and strengthens faith (Ep 2:19) [Bengel]. Gentiles in the flesh--that is, Gentiles in respect to circumcision. called Uncircumcision--The Gentiles were called (in contempt), and were, the Uncircumcision; the Jews were called, but were not truly, the Circumcision [Ellicott]. in the flesh made by hands--as opposed to the true "circumcision of the heart in the Spirit, and not the letter" (Ro 2:29), "made without the hands in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ" (Col 2:11).

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

Barnes' Notes

Verse 11. Wherefore remember. The design of this evidently is to excite a sense of gratitude in their bosoms for that mercy which had called them from the errors and sins of their former lives to the privileges of Christians. It is a good thing for Christians to "remember" what they were. No faculty of the mind can be better employed to produce humility, penitence, gratitude, and love, than the memory. It is well to recall the recollection of our former sins; to dwell upon our hardness of heart, our alienation, and our unbelief; and to remember our wanderings and our guilt, until the heart be affected, and we are made to feel. The converted Ephesians had much guilt to recollect and to mourn over in their former life; and so have all who are converted to the Christian faith.

That ye being in time past. Formerly--ποτε.

Gentiles in the flesh. You were Gentiles in the flesh, i.e., under the dominion of the flesh, subject to the control of carnal appetites and pleasures.

Who are called uncircumcision. That is, who are called "the uncircumcised." This was a term similar to that which we use when we speak of "the unbaptized." It meant that they were without the pale of the people of God; that they enjoyed none of the ordinances and privileges of the true religion; and was commonly a term of reproach. Comp. Jud 14:3, 15:18, 1Sam 14:6, 17:26; 1Sam 31:4, Eze 31:18.

By that which is called the Circumcision. By those who are circumcised, i.e., by the Jews.

In the flesh made by hands. In contradistinction from the circumcision of the heart. Rom 2:28, Rom 2:29. They had externally adopted the rites of the true religion, though it did not follow that they had the circumcision of the heart, or that they were the true children of God.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 11 Wherefore remember - That ye may ever see and feel your obligations to live a pure and holy life, and be unfeignedly thankful to God for your salvation, remember that ye were once heathens in the flesh - without the pure doctrine, and under the influence of your corrupt nature; such as by the Jew's (who gloried, in consequence of their circumcision, to be in covenant with God) were called uncircumcision; i.e. persons out of the Divine covenant, and having no right or title to any blessing of God.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ephesians 2:11-13

Christ and his covenant are the foundation of all the Christian's hopes. A sad and terrible description is here; but who is able to remove himself out of it? Would that this were not a true description of many baptized in the name of Christ. Who can, without trembling, reflect upon the misery of a person, separated for ever from the people of God, cut off from the body of Christ, fallen from the covenant of promise, having no hope, no Saviour, and without any God but a God of vengeance, to all eternity? To have no part in Christ! What true Christian can hear this without horror? Salvation is far from the wicked; but God is a help at hand to his people; and this is by the sufferings and death of Christ.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Ephesians 2:11 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.

ΔιὸDioThereforeG1352

μνημονεύετεmnēmoneuetedo rememberG3421

ὅτιhotithatG3754

ποτὲpoteformerlyG4218

ὑμεῖςhumeisyou yourselvesG4771

τὰtatheG3588

ἔθνηethnēGentilesG1484

ἐνeninG1722

σαρκί,sarki[the] flesh,G4561

οἱhoithe onesG3588

λεγόμενοιlegomenoibeing namedG3004

ἀκροβυστίαakrobustia[the] uncircumcisionG203

ὑπὸhupobyG5259

τῆςtēswhichG3588

λεγομένηςlegomenēsis being namedG3004

περιτομῆςperitomēs[the] circumcisionG4061

ἐνeninG1722

σαρκὶsarki[the] fleshG4561

χειροποιήτου,cheiropoiētoumade by hands —G5499

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

Cross references for Ephesians 2:11

Colossians 2:11
In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
Colossians 2:13
And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Colossians 3:11
Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
Romans 2:28-29
For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Galatians 6:12
As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.
Philippians 3:3
For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
1 Corinthians 12:2
Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
Jeremiah 9:25-26
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will punish all them which are circumcised with the uncircumcised; Egypt, and Judah, and Edom, and the children of Ammon, and Moab, and all that are in the utmost corners, that dwell in the wilderness: for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart.
1 Corinthians 6:11
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Colossians 1:21
And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
Deuteronomy 15:15
And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee: therefore I command thee this thing to day.
Deuteronomy 16:12
And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt: and thou shalt observe and do these statutes.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

remember.
5:8; De 5:15; 8:2; 9:7; 15:15; 16:12; Isa 51:1,2; Eze 16:61-63; 20:43
Eze 36:31; 1Co 6:11; 12:2; Ga 4:8,9
Gentiles.
Ro 2:29; Ga 2:15; 6:12; Col 1:21; 2:13
Uncircumcision.
1Sa 17:26,36; Jer 9:25,26; Php 3:3; Col 3:11
made.
Col 2:11

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

Context

Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:11
Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
Ephesians 2:12
That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

Read all of Ephesians 2

Ephesians 2:11 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Por tanto, acordaos que en otro tiempo vosotros los Gentiles en la carne, que erais llamados incircuncisión por la que se llama circuncisión, hecha con mano en la carne;
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	C’est pourquoi souvenez-vous que vous, autrefois les nations dans la chair, qui étiez appelés incirconcision par ce qui est appelé la circoncision, faite de main dans la chair,
German Elberfelder 1871	Deshalb seid eingedenk, daß ihr, einst die Nationen im Fleische, welche Vorhaut genannt werden von der sogenannten Beschneidung, die im Fleische mit Händen geschieht,
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Propter quod memores estote quod aliquando vos gentes in carne, qui dicimini præputium ab ea quæ dicitur circumcisio in carne, manu facta: