Ephesians 2 · Verse 19

Ephesians 2:19

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
Ephesians 2:19, King James Version

Ephesians 2:19 in other translations

BSBTherefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household,
WEBSo then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God,
ASVSo then ye are no more strangers and sojourners, but ye are fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God,
YLTThen, therefore, ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens of the saints, and of the household of God,
DARBYSo then ye are no longer strangers and foreigners, but ye are fellow-citizens of the saints, and of the household of God,
BBESo then you are no longer as those who have no part or place in the kingdom of God, but you are numbered among the saints, and of the family of God,
WebsterNow therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

What does Ephesians 2:19 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
19. Now, therefore--rather, "So then" [Alford]. foreigners--rather, "sojourners"; opposed to "members of the household," as "strangers" is to "fellow citizens." Php 3:19, 20, "conversation," Greek, "citizenship." but--The oldest manuscripts add, "are." with the saints--"the commonwealth of (spiritual) Israel" (Ep 2:12). of God--THE Father; as Jesus Christ appears in Ep 2:20, and THE Spirit in Ep 2:22.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 19. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners. You are reckoned with the people of God. You are entitled to their privileges, and are not to be regarded as outcasts and aliens. The meaning is, that they belonged to the same community--the same family, as the people of God. The word rendered strangers--ξενοι --means, foreigners in a state, as opposed to citizens. The word rendered foreigners--παροικοι--means, guests in a private family, as opposed to the members of the family. Rosenmuller. Strangers, and such as proposed to reside for a short time in Athens, were permitted to reside in the city, and to pursue their business undisturbed, but they could perform no public duty; they had no voice in the public deliberations, and they had no part in the management of the state. They could only look on as spectators, without mingling in the scenes of state, or interfering in any way in the affairs of the government. They were bound humbly to submit to all the enactments of the citizens, and observe all the laws and usages of the republic. It was not even allowed them to transact any business in their own name, but they were bound to choose from among the citizens one to whose care they committed themselves as a patron, and whose duty it was to guard them against all injustice and wrong. Potter's Gr. Ant. 1, 55. Proselytes, who united themselves to the Jews, were also called, in the Jewish writings, strangers. All foreigners were regarded as "strangers," and Jews only were supposed to have near access to God. But now, says the apostle, this distinction is taken away, and the believing heathen, as well as the Jew, has the right of citizenship in the New Jerusalem, and one, as well as another, is a member of the family of God. Burder, Ros. Alt. u. neu. Morgenland, in loc. The meaning here is, that they had not come to sojourn merely as guests or foreigners, but were a part of the family itself, and entitled to all the privileges and hopes which others had.

But fellow-citizens with the saints. Belonging to the same community with the people of God.

And of the household of God. Of the same family. Entitled to the same privileges, and regarded by him as his children. Eph 3:15.

(c) "fellow citizens with the saints" Heb 12:22,23 (d) "household of God" Eph 3:15

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 19 Ye are no more strangers - In this chapter the Church of God is compared to a city, which, has a variety of privileges, rights, etc., founded on regular charters and grants. The Gentiles, having believed in Christ, are all incorporated with the believing Jews in this holy city. Formerly, when any of them came to Jerusalem, being ξενοι, strangers, they had no kind of rights whatever; nor could they, as mere heathens, settle among them. Again, if any of them, convinced of the errors of the Gentiles, acknowledged the God of Israel, but did not receive circumcision, he might dwell in the land, but he had no right to the blessings of the covenant; such might be called παροικοι, sojourners - persons who have no property in the land, and may only rent a house for the time being. Fellow citizens with the saints - Called to the enjoyment of equal privileges with the Jews themselves, who, by profession, were a holy people; who were bound to be holy, and therefore are often called saints, or holy persons, when both their hearts and conduct were far from being right in the sight of God. But the saints spoken of here are the converted or Christianized Jews. Of the household of God - The house of God is the temple; the temple was a type of the Christian Church; this is now become God's house; all genuine believers are considered as being οικειοι, domestics, of this house, the children and servants of God Almighty, having all equal rights, privileges, and advantages; as all, through one Spirit, by the sacred head of the family, had equal access to God, and each might receive as much grace and as much glory as his soul could possibly contain.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ephesians 2:19-22
The church is compared to a city, and every converted sinner is free of it. It is also compared to a house, and every converted sinner is one of the family; a servant, and a child in God's house. The church is also compared to a building, founded on the doctrine of Christ; delivered by the prophets of the Old Testament, and the apostles of the New. God dwells in all believers now; they become the temple of God through the working of the blessed Spirit. Let us then ask if our hopes are fixed on Christ, according to the doctrine of his word? Have we devoted ourselves as holy temples to God through him? Are we habitations of God by the Spirit, are we spiritually-minded, and do we bring forth the fruits of the Spirit? Let us take heed not to grieve the holy Comforter. Let us desire his gracious presence, and his influences upon our hearts. Let us seek to discharge the duties allotted to us, to the glory of God.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Ephesians 2:19 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.

ἌραAraSoG686
οὖνounthenG3767
οὐκέτιouketino longerG3756
ἐστὲesteare youG1510
ξένοιxenoistrangersG3581
καὶkaiandG2532
πάροικοι,paroikoialiens,G3941
ἀλλ᾽all᾽butG235
συμπολῖταιsumpolitaifellow citizensG4847
τῶνtōnof theG3588
ἁγίωνhagiōnsaintsG40
καὶkaiandG2532
οἰκεῖοιoikeioiof the householdG3609
τοῦtou<the>G3588
θεοῦtheouof GodG2316

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

Cross references for Ephesians 2:19

  • Philippians 3:20

    For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

  • 1 John 3:1

    Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

  • Galatians 6:10

    As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

  • Galatians 3:26-28

    For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 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.

  • 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:

  • Hebrews 11:13

    These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

  • Ephesians 3:6

    That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

  • Hebrews 12:22-24

    But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

  • Revelation 21:12-26

    And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. …

  • Galatians 4:26-31

    But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. …

  • Ephesians 3:15

    Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

  • Matthew 10:25

    It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
strangers.
12
but.
3:6; Ga 3:26-28; 4:26-31; Php 3:20; *Gr:
Heb 12:22-24; Re 21:12-26
household.
3:15; Mt 10:25; Ga 6:10; 1Jo 3:1

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

Context

  • Ephesians 2:18

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

  • Ephesians 2:19

    Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

  • Ephesians 2:20

    And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

Read all of Ephesians 2

Ephesians 2:19 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Así que ya no sois extranjeros ni advenedizos, sino juntamente ciudadanos con los santos, y domésticos de Dios;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Ainsi donc vous n’êtes plus étrangers ni forains, mais vous êtes concitoyens des saints et gens de la maison de Dieu,
German
Elberfelder 1871		Also seid ihr denn nicht mehr Fremdlinge und ohne Bürgerrecht, sondern ihr seid Mitbürger der Heiligen und Hausgenossen Gottes,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ergo jam non estis hospites, et advenæ: sed estis cives sanctorum, et domestici Dei,