Ephesians 2 · Verse 17

Ephesians 2:17

And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
Ephesians 2:17, King James Version

Ephesians 2:17 in other translations

BSBHe came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.
WEBHe came and preached peace to you who were far off and to those who were near.
ASVand he came and preached peace to you that were far off, and peace to them that were nigh:
YLTand having come, he did proclaim good news--peace to you--the far-off and the nigh,
DARBYand, coming, he has preached the glad tidings of peace to you who were afar off, and the glad tidings of peace to those who were nigh.
BBEAnd he came preaching peace to you who were far off, and to those who were near;
WebsterAnd came and preached peace to you who were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

What does Ephesians 2:17 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
17. Translate, "He came and announced glad tidings of peace." "He came" of His own free love, and "announced peace" with His own mouth to the apostles (Lu 24:36; Joh 20:19, 21, 26); and by them to others, through His Spirit present in His Church (Joh 14:18). Ac 26:23 is strictly parallel; after His resurrection "He showed light to the people ('them that were nigh') and to the Gentiles ('you that were afar off')," by His Spirit in His ministers (compare 1Pe 3:19). and to them--The oldest manuscripts insert "peace" again: "And peace to them." The repetition implies the joy with which both alike would dwell again and again upon the welcome word "peace." So Is 57:19.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 17. And came and preached peace. That is, the system of religion which he proclaimed was adapted to produce peace with God. This he preached personally to those who "were nigh," that is, the Jews; to those who were "afar off"--the Gentiles--he preached it by his apostles. He was the Author of the system which proclaimed salvation to both. The word peace here refers to reconciliation with God.

To you which were afar off, etc. Eph 2:13.

(*) "preached" "proclaimed" (a) "which were afar off" Acts 2:39

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 17 And came and preached peace - Proclaimed the readiness of God to forgive and save both Jews and Gentiles. See the note on Eph 2:13.

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…

Read the full comment on Ephesians 2:14-18 →

Ephesians 2:17 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.

καὶkaiAndG2532
ἐλθὼνelthōnhaving comeG2064
εὐηγγελίσατοeuēngelisatoHe evangelisedG2097
εἰρήνηνeirēnēnpeaceG1515
ὑμῖνhuminto youG4771
τοῖςtoisthe [ones]G3588
μακρὰνmakranfar offG3112
καὶkaiandG2532
τοῖςtoisto thoseG3588
ἐγγύς,engus[who are] near,G1451

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

Cross references for Ephesians 2:17

  • Isaiah 57:19-21

    I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord; and I will heal him. But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.

  • Acts 10:36

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

  • Romans 5:1

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

  • Acts 2:39

    For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

  • Ephesians 2:13-14

    But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

  • Deuteronomy 4:7

    For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for?

  • Psalms 148:14

    He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the Lord.

  • Zechariah 9:10

    And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.

  • Isaiah 52:7

    How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

  • Psalms 147:19-20

    He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the Lord.

  • 2 Corinthians 5:20

    Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

  • Psalms 76:1-2

    To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm or Song of Asaph. In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel. In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
and preached.
Ps 85:10; Isa 27:5; 52:7; 57:19-21; Zec 9:10; Mt 10:13; Lu 2:14
Lu 15:5,6; Ac 2:39; 10:36; Ro 5:1; 2Co 5:20
that.
13,14; De 4:7; Ps 75:1; 76:1,2; 147:19,20; 148:14; Lu 10:9-11

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

Context

  • Ephesians 2:16

    And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

  • Ephesians 2:17

    And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

  • Ephesians 2:18

    For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

Read all of Ephesians 2

Ephesians 2:17 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y vino, y anunció la paz á vosotros que estabais lejos, y á los que estaban cerca:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et il est venu, et a annoncé la bonne nouvelle de la paix à vous qui étiez loin, et la bonne nouvelle de la paix à ceux qui étaient près;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und er kam und verkündigte Frieden, euch, den Fernen, und Frieden den Nahen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et veniens evangelizavit pacem vobis, qui longe fuistis, et pacem iis, qui prope.