Ephesians 3 · Verse 13

Ephesians 3:13

Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
Ephesians 3:13, King James Version

Ephesians 3:13 in other translations

BSBSo I ask you not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
WEBTherefore I ask that you may not lose heart at my troubles for you, which are your glory.
ASVWherefore I ask that ye may not faint at my tribulations for you, which are your glory.
YLTwherefore, I ask you not to faint in my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
DARBYWherefore I beseech you not to faint through my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
BBEFor this reason it is my prayer that you may not become feeble because of my troubles for you, which are your glory.
WebsterWherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

What does Ephesians 3:13 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
13. "I entreat you not to be dispirited." for you--in your behalf. which is--rather, "which are your glory," namely, inasmuch as showing that God loved you so much, as both to give His Son for you, and to permit His apostles to suffer "tribulations" for you [Chrysostom] in preaching the Gospel to the Gentiles. See on Ep 3:1, "prisoner for you Gentiles." My tribulations are your spiritual "glory," as your faith is furthered thereby (1Co 4:10).

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 13. Wherefore I desire that ye faint not. The connexion here is this. Paul was then a prisoner at Rome. He had been made such in consequence of his efforts to diffuse the Christian religion among the Gentiles. Eph 3:1. His zeal in this cause, and the opinions which he held on this subject, had roused the wrath of the Jews, and led to all the calamities which he was now suffering. Of that the Ephesians, he supposes, were aware. It was natural that they should be distressed at his sufferings, for all his privations were endured on their account. But here he tells them not to be troubled and disheartened. He was indeed suffering; but he was reconciled to it, and they should be also, since it was promoting their welfare. The word rendered "faint"- εκκακεω--means, literally, to turn out a coward, or to lose one's courage; then to be faint-hearted, etc. 2Cor 4:1. It is rendered faint in Lk 18:1, 2Cor 4:1,16, Eph 3:13 and weary in Gal 6:9, 2Thes 3:13. It does not elsewhere occur. It is rendered here by Locke, dismayed. Koppe supposes it means that they should not suppose that the Christian religion was vain and false because he was suffering so much from his countrymen on account of it. But it rather means that they might be in danger of being discouraged by the fact that he was enduring so much. They might become disheartened in their attachment to a system of religion which exposed its friends to such calamities. Paul tells them that this ought not to follow. They were to be profited by all his sufferings, and they should, therefore, hold fast to a religion which was attended with so many benefits to them--though he should suffer.

Which is your glory. Which tends to your honour and welfare. You have occasion to rejoice that you have a friend who is willing thus to suffer for you; you have occasion to rejoice in all the benefits which will result to you from his trials in your behalf.

(e) "where is your glory" 2Cor 1:6

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 13 I desire that ye faint not - In those primitive times, when there was much persecution, people were in continual danger of falling away from the faith who were not well grounded in it. This the apostle deprecates, and advances a strong reason why they should be firm: "I suffer my present imprisonment on account of demonstrating your privileges, of which the Jews are envious: I bear my afflictions patiently, knowing that what I have advanced is of God, and thus I give ample proof of the sincerity of my own conviction. The sufferings, therefore, of your apostles are honorable to you and to your cause; and far from being any cause why you should faint, or draw back like cowards, in the day of distress, they should be an additional argument to induce you to persevere."

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ephesians 3:13-19
The apostle seems to be more anxious lest the believers should be discouraged and faint upon his tribulations, than for what he himself had to bear. He asks for spiritual blessings, which are the best blessings. Strength from the Spirit of God in the inner man; strength in the soul; the strength of faith, to serve God, and to do our duty. If the law of Christ is written in our hearts, and the love of Christ is shed abroad there, then Christ dwells there. Where his Spirit dwells, there he dwells. We should desire that good affections may be fixed in us. And how desirable to have a fixed sense of the love of God in Christ to our souls! How powerfully the apostle speaks of the love of Christ! The breadth shows its extent to all nations and ranks; the length, that it continues from everlasting to everlasting; the depth, its saving those who are sunk into the depths of sin and misery; the height, its raising them up to heavenly happiness and glory. Those who receive grace for grace from Christ's fulness, may be said to be filled with the fulness of God. Should not this satisfy man? Must he needs fill himself with a thousand trifles, fancying thereby to complete his happiness?

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Ephesians 3:13 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
αἰτοῦμαιaitoumaiI implore [you]G154
μὴmēnotG3361
ἐγκακεῖνegkakeinto lose heartG1573
ἐνenatG1722
ταῖςtaistheG3588
θλίψεσίνthlipsesintribulationsG2347
μουmouof mineG3165
ὑπὲρhuperforG5228
ὑμῶν,humōnyou,G4771
ἥτιςhētiswhichG3748
ἐστὶνestinisG1510
δόξαdoxagloryG1391
ὑμῶν.¶humōnof you.G4771

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

Cross references for Ephesians 3:13

  • 2 Thessalonians 3:13

    But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.

  • Colossians 1:24

    Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

  • Isaiah 40:30-31

    Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

  • 2 Corinthians 1:6

    And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

  • Philippians 1:12-14

    But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

  • Ephesians 3:1

    For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

  • Galatians 6:9

    And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

  • Deuteronomy 20:3

    And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them;

  • Acts 14:22

    Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

  • Zephaniah 3:16

    In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack.

  • Hebrews 12:3-5

    For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

  • 1 Thessalonians 3:2-4

    And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith: That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
ye.
De 20:3; Isa 40:30,31; Zep 3:16; Ac 14:22; Ga 6:9; 2Th 3:13
Heb 12:3-5
at.
1; 2Co 1:6; Php 1:12-14; Col 1:24; 1Th 3:2-4

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

Context

  • Ephesians 3:12

    In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

  • Ephesians 3:13

    Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

  • Ephesians 3:14

    For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Read all of Ephesians 3

Ephesians 3:13 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Por tanto, pido que no desmayéis á causa de mis tribulaciones por vosotros, las cuales son vuestra gloria.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		C’est pourquoi je vous prie de ne pas perdre courage à cause de mes afflictions pour vous, ce qui est votre gloire.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Deshalb bitte ich, nicht mutlos zu werden durch meine Drangsale für euch, welche eure Ehre sind.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Propter quod peto ne deficiatis in tribulationibus meis pro vobis: quæ est gloria vestra.