Ephesians 3 · Verse 17

Ephesians 3:17

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
Ephesians 3:17, King James Version

Ephesians 3:17 in other translations

BSBso that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted and grounded in love,
WEBthat Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, to the end that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
ASVthat Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
YLTthat the Christ may dwell through the faith in your hearts, in love having been rooted and founded,
DARBYthat the Christ may dwell, through faith, in your hearts, being rooted and founded in love,
BBESo that Christ may have his place in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and based in love,
WebsterThat Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

What does Ephesians 3:17 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
17. That--So that. dwell--abidingly make His abode (Joh 14:23). Where the Spirit is there Christ is (Joh 14:16, 18). by faith--Greek, "through faith," which opens the door of the heart to Jesus (Joh 3:20). It is not enough that He be on the tongue, or flit through the brain: the heart is His proper seat [Calvin]. "You being rooted and grounded in love" (compare Ep 3:19), is in the Greek connected with this clause, not with the clause, "that ye may be able to comprehend." "Rooted" is an image from a tree; "grounded" (Greek, "founder," "having your foundations resting on"), from a building (compare Notes,, see on Ep 2:20,21; Col 1:23; 2:7). Contrast Mt 13:6, 21. "Love," the first-fruit of the Spirit, flowing from Christ's love realized in the soul, was to be the basis on which should rest their further comprehension of all the vastness of Christ's love.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 17. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith. Eph 2:22. Expressions like this often occur in the Scriptures, where God is said to dwell in us, and we are said to be the temples of the Holy Ghost. Jn 14:23; 1Cor 6:19.

That ye being rooted. Firmly established--as a tree is whose roots strike deep, and extend afar. The meaning is, that his love should be as firm in our hearts as a tree is in the soil, whose roots strike deep into the earth.

And grounded. τεθεμελιωμενοι--founded--as a building is on a foundation. The word is taken from architecture where a firm foundation is laid; and the meaning is, that he wished them to be as firm in the love of Christ, as a building is that rests on a solid basis.

In love. In love to the Redeemer--perhaps also in love to each other-- and to all. Love was the great principle of the true religion, and the apostle wished that they might be fully settled in that.

(d) "dwell in your hearts" Jn 14:23, Eph 2:2 (e) "rooted" Col 2:7

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith - In this as well as in many other passages, and particularly that in Eph 2:21 (note), the apostle compares the body or Church of true believers to a temple, which, like that of Solomon, is built up to be a habitation of God through the Spirit. Here, as Solomon did at the dedication of the temple at Jerusalem, 2Chr 6:1, etc., Paul, having considered the Church at Ephesus completely formed, as to every external thing, prays that God may come down and dwell in it. And as there could be no indwelling of God but by Christ, and no indwelling of Christ but by faith, he prays that they may have such faith in Christ, as shall keep them in constant possession of his love and presence. God, at the beginning, formed man to be his temple, and while in a state of purity he inhabited this temple; when the temple became defiled, God left it. In the order of his eternal mercy, Christ, the repairer of the breach, comes to purify the temple, that it may again become a fit habitation for the blessed God. This is what the apostle points out to the believing Ephesians, in praying that Christ κατοικησαι, might intensely and constantly dwell in their hearts by faith: for the man's heart, which is not God's house, must be a hold of every foul and unclean spirit; as Satan and his angels will endeavor to fill what God does not. That ye, being rooted and grounded in love - Here is a double metaphor; one taken from agriculture, the other, from architecture. As trees, they are to be rooted in love - this is the soil in which their souls are to grow; into the infinite love of God their souls by faith are to strike their roots, and from this love derive all that nourishment which is essential for their full growth, till they have the mind in them that was in Jesus, or, as it is afterwards said, till they are filled with all the fullness of God. As a building, their foundation is to be laid in this love. God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, etc. Here is the ground on which alone the soul, and all its hopes and expectations, can be safely founded. This is a foundation that cannot be shaken; and it is from this alone that the doctrine of redemption flows to man, and from this alone has the soul its form and comeliness. In this, as its proper soil, it grows. On this, as its only foundation, it rests.

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 3:17 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.

κατοικῆσαιkatoikēsai[for] to dwellG2730
τὸνton<the>G3588
ΧριστὸνChristonChristG5547
διὰdiathroughG1223
τῆςtēs<the>G3588
πίστεωςpisteōsfaithG4102
ἐνeninG1722
ταῖςtaistheG3588
καρδίαιςkardiaisheartsG2588
ὑμῶνhumōnof youG4771
ἐνeninG1722
ἀγάπῃagapēloveG26
ἐρριζωμένοιerrizōmenoirootedG4492
καὶkaiandG2532
τεθεμελιωμένοι,tethemeliōmenoifounded,G2311

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

Cross references for Ephesians 3:17

  • Colossians 2:7

    Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

  • John 14:23

    Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

  • 1 John 4:16

    And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

  • Galatians 2:20

    I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

  • Romans 5:5

    And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

  • Ephesians 2:21-22

    In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

  • Revelation 3:20

    Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

  • 1 John 4:4

    Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

  • 2 Corinthians 6:16

    And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

  • Isaiah 57:15

    For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

  • Colossians 1:27

    To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

  • Colossians 1:23

    If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Christ.
2:21; Isa 57:15; Joh 6:56; 14:17,23; 17:23; Ro 8:9-11; 2Co 6:16
Ga 2:20; Col 1:27; 1Jo 4:4,16; Re 3:20
being.
Mt 13:6; Ro 5:5; 1Co 8:1; 2Co 5:14,15; Ga 5:6; Col 1:23; 2:7
grounded.
Mt 7:24,25; Lu 6:48; *Gr:

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

Context

  • Ephesians 3:16

    That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

  • Ephesians 3:17

    That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

  • Ephesians 3:18

    May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

Read all of Ephesians 3

Ephesians 3:17 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Que habite Cristo por la fe en vuestros corazones; para que, arraigados y fundados en amor,
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		de sorte que le Christ habite, par la foi, dans vos cœurs, et que vous soyez enracinés et fondés dans l’amour;
German
Elberfelder 1871		daß der Christus durch den Glauben in euren Herzen wohne, indem ihr in Liebe gewurzelt und gegründet seid,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Christum habitare per fidem in cordibus vestris: in caritate radicati, et fundati,