Ephesians 3 · Verse 20

Ephesians 3:20

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

Ephesians 3:20, King James Version

Ephesians 3:20 in other translations

BSB	Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us,
WEB	Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
ASV	Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
YLT	and to Him who is able above all things to do exceeding abundantly what we ask or think, according to the power that is working in us,
DARBY	But to him that is able to do far exceedingly above all which we ask or think, according to the power which works in us,
BBE	Now to him who is able to do in full measure more than all our desires or thoughts, through the power which is working in us,
Webster	Now to him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.

What does Ephesians 3:20 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

20. unto him--contrasted with ourselves and our needs. Translate, "that is able above all things (what is above all things) to do exceeding abundantly above what we ask or (even) think": thought takes a wider range than prayers. The word, above, occurs thrice as often in Paul's writings, as in all the rest of the New Testament, showing the warm exuberance of Paul's spirit. according to the power--the indwelling Spirit (Ro 8:26). He appeals to their and his experience. 21. Translate, "Unto Him be the glory (that is, the whole glory of the gracious dispensation of salvation just spoken of) in the Church (as the theater for the manifestation of the glory, Ep 3:10) in Christ Jesus (as in Him all the glory centers, Zec 6:13) to all the generations of eternal ages," literally, "of the age of the ages." Eternity is conceived as consisting of "ages" (these again consisting of "generations") endlessly succeeding one another.

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

Barnes' Notes

Verse 20. Now unto him. It is not uncommon for Paul to utter an ascription of praise in the midst of an argument. See Rom 9:5; Rom 11:36, Gal 1:5. Here his mind is full of the subject; and in view of the fact that God communicates to his people such blessings, that they may become filled with all his fairness, he desires that praise should be given to him.

That is able to do. Rom 16:25.

Exceeding abundantly. The compound word here used occurs only in this place, and in 1Thes 3:10, 5:13. It means, to an extent which we cannot express.

Above all that we ask or think. More than all that we can desire in our prayers; more than all that we can conceive. 1Cor 2:9.

According to the power that worketh in us. The exertion of that same power can accomplish for us more than we can now conceive.

(b) "unto him" Rom 16:25, Heb 13:20,21, Jude 1:24

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 20 Now unto him - Having finished his short, but most wonderfully comprehensive and energetic prayer, the apostle brings in his doxology, giving praise to Him from whom all blessings come, and to whom all thanks are due. That is able to do exceeding abundantly - It is impossible to express the full meaning of these words, God is omnipotent, therefore he is able to do all things, and able to do ὑπερ εκ περισσου, superabundantly above the greatest abundance. And who can doubt this, who has any rational or Scriptural views of his power or his love? All that we ask or think - We can ask every good of which we have heard, every good which God has promised in his word; and we can think of, or imagine, goods and blessings beyond all that we have either read of or seen: yea, we can imagine good things to which it is impossible for us to give a name; we can go beyond the limits of all human descriptions; we can imagine more than even God has specified in his word; and can feel no bounds to our imagination of good, but impossibility and eternity: and after all, God is able to do more for us than we can ask or think; and his ability here is so necessarily connected with his willingness, that the one indisputably implies the other; for, of what consequence would it be to tell the Church of God that he had power to do so and so, if there were not implied an assurance that he will do what his power can, and what the soul of man needs to have done? According to the power that worketh in us - All that he can do, and all that he has promised to do, will be done according to what he has done, by that power of the holy Ghost την ενεργουμενην, which worketh strongly in us - acts with energy in our hearts, expelling evil, purifying and refining the affections and desires, and implanting good.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ephesians 3:20-21

It is proper always to end prayers with praises. Let us expect more, and ask for more, encouraged by what Christ has already done for our souls, being assured that the conversion of sinners, and the comfort of believers, will be to his glory, for ever and ever.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Ephesians 3:20 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.

ΤῷTōTo the [One]G3588

δὲdenowG1161

δυναμένῳdunamenōbeing ableG1410

ὑπὲρhuperaboveG5228

πάνταpantaall thingsG3956

ποιῆσαιpoiēsaito doG4160

ὑπερεκπερισσοῦhuperekperissousuper overexcessivelyG5228

ὧνhōnthatG3739

αἰτούμεθαaitoumethawe askG154

ἢēorG2228

νοοῦμενnooumenwe thinkG3539

κατὰkataaccording toG2596

τὴνtēntheG3588

δύναμινdunaminpowerG1411

τὴνtēnwhichG3588

ἐνεργουμένηνenergoumenēnis workingG1754

ἐνeninG1722

ἡμῖν,hēminus,G3165

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

Cross references for Ephesians 3:20

2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
Romans 4:21
And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
Jeremiah 32:27
Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?
1 Corinthians 2:9
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
Jude 1:24
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
Ephesians 1:19
And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
Jeremiah 32:17
Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:
Hebrews 7:25
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Psalms 36:8-9
They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.
Ephesians 3:7
Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
Romans 16:25
Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
Hebrews 13:20-21
Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

able.
Ge 17:1; 18:4; 2Ch 25:9; Jer 32:17,27; Da 3:17; 6:20; Mt 3:9
Joh 10:29,30; Ro 4:21; 16:25; Heb 7:25; 11:19; 13:20,21; Jas 4:12
Jude 1:24
exceeding.
Ex 34:6; 2Sa 7:19; 1Ki 3:13; Ps 36:8,9; So 5:1; Isa 35:2; 55:7
Joh 10:10; 1Co 2:9; 1Ti 1:14; 2Pe 1:11
according.
7; 1:19; Col 1:29

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

Context

Ephesians 3:19
And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Ephesians 3:20
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Ephesians 3:21
Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Read all of Ephesians 3

Ephesians 3:20 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Y á Aquel que es poderoso para hacer todas las cosas mucho más abundantemente de lo que pedimos ó entendemos, por la potencia que obra en nosotros,
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Or, à celui qui peut faire infiniment plus que tout ce que nous demandons ou pensons, selon la puissance qui opère en nous,
German Elberfelder 1871	Dem aber, der über alles hinaus zu tun vermag, über die Maßen mehr, als was wir erbitten oder erdenken, nach der Kraft, die in uns wirkt,
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Ei autem, qui potens est omnia facere superabundanter quam petimus aut intelligimus, secundum virtutem, quæ operatur in nobis: