Ephesians 2 · Verse 14

Ephesians 2:14

For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
Ephesians 2:14, King James Version

Ephesians 2:14 in other translations

BSBFor He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility
WEBFor he is our peace, who made both one, and broke down the middle wall of separation,
ASVFor he is our peace, who made both one, and brake down the middle wall of partition,
YLTfor he is our peace, who did make both one, and the middle wall of the enclosure did break down,
DARBYFor he is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of enclosure,
BBEFor he is our peace, who has made the two into one, and by whom the middle wall of division has been broken down,
WebsterFor he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

What does Ephesians 2:14 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
14. he--Greek, "Himself" alone, pre-eminently, and none else. Emphatical. our peace--not merely "Peacemaker," but "Himself" the price of our (Jews' and Gentiles' alike) peace with God, and so the bond of union between "both" in God. He took both into Himself, and reconciled them, united, to God, by His assuming our nature and our penal and legal liabilities (Ep 2:15; Is 9:5, 6; 53:5; Mi 5:5; Col 1:20). His title, "Shiloh," means the same (Ge 49:10). the middle wall of partition--Greek, "... of the partition" or "fence"; the middle wall which parted Jew and Gentile. There was a balustrade of stone which separated the court of the Gentiles from the holy place, which it was death for a Gentile to pass. But this, though incidentally alluded to, was but a symbol of the partition itself, namely, "the enmity" between "both" and God (Ep 2:15), the real cause of separation from God, and so the mediate cause of their separation from one another. Hence there was a twofold wall of partition, one the inner wall, severing the Jewish people from entrance to the holy part of the temple where the priests officiated, the other the outer wall, separating the Gentile proselytes from access to the court of the Jews (compare Eze 44:7; Ac 21:28). Thus this twofold wall represented the Sinaitic law, which both severed all men, even the Jews, from access to God (through sin, which is the violation of the law), and also separated the Gentiles from the Jews. As the term "wall" implies the strength of the partition, so "fence" implies that it was easily removed by God when the due time came.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 14. For he is our peace. There is evident allusion here to Isa 57:19. Isa 57:19. The peace here referred to is that by which a union in worship and in feeling has been produced between the Jews and the Gentiles. Formerly they were alienated and separate. They had different objects of worship; different religious rites; different views and feelings. The Jews regarded the Gentiles with hatred, and the Gentiles the Jews with scorn. Now, says the apostle, they are at peace. They worship the same God. They have the same Saviour. They depend on the same atonement. They have the same hope. They look forward to the same heaven. They belong to the same redeemed family. Reconciliation has not only taken place with God, but with each other. The best way to produce peace between alienated minds is to bring them to the same Saviour. That will do more to silence contentions, and to heal alienations, than any or all other means. Bring men around the same cross; fill them with love to the same Redeemer, and give them the same hope of heaven, and you put a period to alienation and strife. The love of Christ is so absorbing, and the dependence in his blood so entire, that they will lay aside these alienations, and cease their contentions. The work of the atonement is thus designed not only to produce peace with God, but peace between alienated and contending minds. The feeling that we are redeemed by the same blood, and that we have the same Saviour, will unite the rich and the poor, the bond and the free, the high and the low, in the ties of brotherhood, and make them feel that they are one. This great work of the atonement is thus designed to produce peace in alienated minds everywhere, and to diffuse abroad the feeling of universal brotherhood.

Who hath made both one. Both Gentiles and Jews. He has united them in one society.

Having broken down the middle wall. There is an allusion here undoubtedly to the wall of partition in the temple, by which the court of the Gentiles was separated from that of the Jews. Mt 21:12. The idea here is, that that was now broken down, and that the Gentiles had the same access to the temple as the Jews. The sense is, that in virtue of the sacrifice of the Redeemer they were admitted to the same privileges and hopes.

(b) "is our peace" Mic 5:5 (c) "one" Jn 10:16, Gall 3:28

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 14 For he is our peace - Jesus Christ has died for both Jews and Gentiles, and has become a peace-offering, שלום shalom, to reconcile both to God and to each other. Who hath made both one - Formed one Church out of the believers of both people. The middle wall of partition - By abolishing the law of Jewish ordinances, he has removed that which kept the two parties, not only in a state of separation, but also at variance. This expression, the middle wall, can refer only to that most marked distinction which the Jewish laws and customs made between them and all other nations whatsoever. Some think it refers to their ancient manner of living among the Gentiles, as they always endeavored to live in some place by themselves, and to have a river or a wall between them and their heathen neighbors. Indeed, wherever they went, their own rites, ordinances, and customs were a sufficient separation between them and others; and as Jesus Christ abolished those customs, admitting all into his Church, both Jews and Gentiles, by repentance and faith, he may be said to have broken down the middle wall of partition. When, at the death of Christ, the veil of the temple was rent from the top to the bottom, it was an emblem that the way to the holiest was laid open, and that the people at large, both Jews and Gentiles, were to have access to the holiest by the blood of Jesus. Some think there is an allusion here to the wall called chel, which separated the court of Israel from the court of the Gentiles; but this was not broken down till the temple itself was destroyed: and to this transaction the apostle cannot be supposed to allude, as it did not take place till long after the writing of this epistle.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ephesians 2:14-18
Jesus Christ made peace by the sacrifice of himself; in every sense Christ was their Peace, the author, centre, and substance of their being at peace with God, and of their union with the Jewish believers in one church. Through the person, sacrifice, and mediation of Christ, sinners are allowed to draw near to God as a Father, and are brought with acceptance into his presence, with their worship and services, under the teaching of the Holy Spirit, as one with the Father and the Son. Christ purchased leave for us to come to God; and the Spirit gives a heart to come, and strength to come, and then grace to serve God acceptably.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Ephesians 2:14 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.

αὐτὸςautoshe himselfG846
γάρgarforG1063
ἐστινestinisG1510
ἡhētheG3588
εἰρήνηeirēnēpeaceG1515
ἡμῶν,hēmōnof us,G3165
ὁhowhichG3588
ποιήσαςpoiēsashaving madeG4160
τὰta<the>G3588
ἀμφότεραamphoterabothG297
ἓνhenoneG1520
καὶkaiandG2532
τὸtotheG3588
μεσότοιχονmesotoichonbarrierG3320
τοῦtouof theG3588
φραγμοῦphragmoufenceG5418
λύσας,lusashaving broken down,G3089

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

Cross references for Ephesians 2:14

  • Galatians 3:28

    There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

  • Colossians 3:15

    And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

  • 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.

  • Ephesians 2:15

    Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

  • 1 Corinthians 12:12-13

    For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

  • Colossians 1:20

    And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

  • Isaiah 9:6-7

    For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

  • Colossians 2:10-14

    And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: 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: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; …

  • Romans 5:1

    Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

  • Acts 10:36

    The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)

  • Luke 2:14

    Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

  • Colossians 2:20

    Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
our.
Isa 9:6,7; Eze 34:24,25; Mic 5:5; Zec 6:13; Lu 1:79; 2:14; Joh 16:33
Ac 10:36; Ro 5:1; Col 1:20; Heb 7:2; 13:20
both.
15; 3:15; 4:16; Isa 19:24,25; Eze 37:19,20; Joh 10:16; 11:52
1Co 12:12; Ga 3:28; Col 3:11
the middle.
Es 3:8; Ac 10:28; Col 2:10-14,20

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

Context

  • Ephesians 2:13

    But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

  • Ephesians 2:14

    For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

  • Ephesians 2:15

    Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

Read all of Ephesians 2

Ephesians 2:14 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque él es nuestra paz, que de ambos hizo uno, derribando la pared intermedia de separación;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Car c’est lui qui est notre paix, qui des deux en a fait un et a détruit le mur mitoyen de clôture,
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn er ist unser Friede, der aus beiden eines gemacht und abgebrochen hat die Zwischenwand der Umzäunung,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ipse enim est pax nostra, qui fecit utraque unum, et medium parietem maceriæ solvens, inimicitias in carne sua,