Ephesians 3 · Verse 14

Ephesians 3:14

For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Ephesians 3:14, King James Version

Ephesians 3:14 in other translations

BSB... for this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
WEBFor this cause, I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
ASVFor this cause I bow my knees unto the Father,
YLTFor this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
DARBYFor this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
BBEFor this cause I go down on my knees before the Father,
WebsterFor this cause I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

What does Ephesians 3:14 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
14. For this cause--Resuming the thread of Ep 3:1, "For this cause." Because ye have such a standing in God's Church [Alford]. bow my knees--the proper attitude in humble prayer. Posture affects the mind, and is not therefore unimportant. See Paul's practice (Ac 20:36); and that of the Lord Himself on earth (Lu 22:41). unto the Father--The oldest manuscripts omit "of our Lord Jesus Christ." But Vulgate and some very old authorities retain them: Ep 3:15, "From whom," in either case, refers to "the Father" (Patera), as "family" (patria, akin in sound and etymology) plainly refers to Him. Still the foundation of all sonship is in Jesus Christ.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 14. For this cause. Some suppose that this is a resumption of what he had commenced saying in Eph 3:1, but which had been interrupted by a long parenthesis. So Bloomfield explains it. But it seems to me more probable that he refers to what immediately precedes. "Wherefore, that the great work may be carried on and that the purposes of these my sufferings may be answered in your benefit and glory, I bow my knees to God, and pray to him:"

I bow my knees. I pray. The usual and the proper posture of prayer is to kneel. Comp. 2Chr 6:13, Dan 6:10, Lk 22:41, Acts 7:60, 9:40; Acts 20:36, 21:5. It is a posture which indicates reverence, and should, therefore, be assumed when we come before God. It has been an unhappy thing that the custom of kneeling in public worship has ever been departed from in the Christian churches.

Unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. To whom, undoubtedly, prayer should ordinarily be addressed. But this does not make it improper to address the Lord Jesus in prayer. Acts 1:24, 7:59,60.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 14 For this cause I bow my knees - That you may not faint, but persevere, I frequently pray to God, who is our God and the Father of our Lord Jesus. Some very ancient and excellent MSS. and versions omit the words του Κυριου ἡμων Ιησου Χριστου, of our Lord Jesus Christ. And in them the passage reads: I bow my knees unto the Father. The apostle prays to God the Father, that they may not faint; and he bows his knees in this praying. What can any man think of himself, who, in his addresses to God, can either sit on his seat or stand in the presence of the Maker and Judge of all men? Would they sit while addressing any person of ordinary respectability? If they did so they would be reckoned very rude indeed. Would they sit in the presence of the king of their own land? They would not be permitted so to do. Is God then to be treated with less respect than a fellow mortal? Paul kneeled in praying, Act 20:36; Act 21:5. Stephen kneeled when he was stoned, Act 7:60. And Peter kneeled when he raised Tabitha, Act 9:40. Many parts of this prayer bear a strict resemblance to that offered up by Solomon, 2Chr 6:1, etc., when dedicating the temple: He kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands towards heaven; 2Chr 6:13. The apostle was now dedicating the Christian Church, that then was and that ever should be, to God; and praying for those blessings which should ever rest on and distinguish it; and he kneels down after the example of Solomon, and invokes him to whom the first temple was dedicated, and who had made it a type of the Gospel Church.

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…

Read the full comment on Ephesians 3:13-19 →

Ephesians 3:14 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.

ΤούτουToutouof thisG3778
χάρινcharinBecauseG5484
κάμπτωkamptōI bowG2578
τὰtatheG3588
γόνατάgonatakneesG1119
μουmouof mineG3165
πρὸςprostoG4314
τὸνtontheG3588
πατέραpateraFatherG3962
τοῦtouof theG3588
κυρίουkuriouLordG2962
ἡμῶνhēmōnof usG3165
ἸησοῦIēsouJesusG2424
Χριστοῦ,ChristouChristG5547

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

Cross references for Ephesians 3:14

  • Ephesians 1:16-19

    Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

  • Psalms 95:6

    O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker.

  • Philippians 2:10

    That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

  • Acts 21:5

    And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed.

  • Ephesians 1:3

    Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

  • Isaiah 45:23

    I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.

  • Ezra 9:5

    And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the Lord my God,

  • Daniel 6:10

    Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

  • 1 Kings 19:18

    Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

  • Acts 20:36

    And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.

  • Luke 22:41

    And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,

  • 1 Kings 8:54

    And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the Lord, he arose from before the altar of the Lord, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
I.
1:16-19; 1Ki 8:54; 19:18; 2Ch 6:13; Ezr 9:5; Ps 95:6; Isa 45:23
Da 6:10; Lu 22:41; Ac 7:60; 9:40; 20:36; 21:5
the Father.
1:3

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

Context

  • 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,

  • Ephesians 3:15

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

Read all of Ephesians 3

Ephesians 3:14 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Por esta causa doblo mis rodillas al Padre de nuestro Señor Jesucristo,
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
– C’est pour cela que je fléchis mes genoux devant le Père de notre seigneur Jésus Christ,
German
Elberfelder 1871
Dieserhalb beuge ich meine Knie vor dem Vater unseres Herrn Jesu Christi,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Hujus rei gratia flecto genua mea ad Patrem Domini nostri Jesu Christi,