Ephesians 4 · Verse 21

Ephesians 4:21

If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
Ephesians 4:21, King James Version

Ephesians 4:21 in other translations

BSBSurely you heard of Him and were taught in Him—in keeping with the truth that is in Jesus—
WEBif indeed you heard him and were taught in him, even as truth is in Jesus:
ASVif so be that ye heard him, and were taught in him, even as truth is in Jesus:
YLTif so be ye did hear him, and in him were taught, as truth is in Jesus;
DARBYif ye have heard him and been instructed in him according as the truth is in Jesus;
BBEIf in fact you gave ear to him, and were given teaching in him, even as what is true is made clear in Jesus:
WebsterIf indeed ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:

What does Ephesians 4:21 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
21. If so be that--not implying doubt; assuming what I have no reason to doubt, that heard him--The "Him" is emphatic: "heard Himself," not merely heard about Him. taught by him--Greek, "taught IN Him," that is, being in vital union with Him (Ro 16:7). as the truth is in Jesus--Translate in connection with "taught"; "And in Him have been taught, according as is truth in Jesus." There is no article in the Greek. "Truth" is therefore used in the most comprehensive sense, truth in its essence, and highest perfection, in Jesus; "if according as it is thus in Him, ye have been so taught in Him"; in contrast to "the vanity of mind of the Gentiles" (Ep 4:17; compare Joh 1:14, 17; 18:37). Contrast Joh 8:44.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 21. If so be that ye have heard him. If you have listened attentively to his instructions, and learned the true nature of his religion. There may be a slight and delicate doubt implied here whether they had attentively listened to his instructions. Doddridge, however, renders it, "Seeing ye have heard him." Eph 3:2.

And have been taught by him. By his Spirit, or by the ministers whom he had appointed.

As the truth is in Jesus. If you have learned the true nature of his religion as he himself taught it. What the truth was which the Lord Jesus thought, or what his principles implied, the apostle proceeds to state in the following verses.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 21 If so be that ye have heard him - Ειγε, Seeing that, since indeed, ye have heard us proclaim his eternal truth; we have delivered it to you as we received it from Jesus.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ephesians 4:17-24

The apostle charged the Ephesians in the name and by the authority of the Lord Jesus, that having professed the gospel, they should not be as the unconverted Gentiles, who walked in vain fancies and carnal affections. Do not men, on every side, walk in the vanity of their minds? Must not we then urge the distinction between real and nominal Christians? They were void of all saving knowledge; they sat in darkness…

Read the full comment on Ephesians 4:17-24 →

Ephesians 4:21 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.

εἴeiifG1487
γεgeindeedG1065
αὐτὸνautonHimG846
ἠκούσατεēkousateyou have heardG191
καὶkaiandG2532
ἐνeninG1722
αὐτῷautōHimG846
ἐδιδάχθητε,edidachthētewere taught,G1321
καθώςkathōseven asG2531
ἐστινestinisG1510
ἀλήθειαalētheia[the] truthG225
ἐνeninG1722
τῷtō<the>G3588
Ἰησοῦ,IēsouJesus,G2424

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

Cross references for Ephesians 4:21

  • 1 John 5:20

    And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

  • Ephesians 1:13

    In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

  • Hebrews 3:7-8

    Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:

  • 1 John 5:10-12

    He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

  • John 14:17

    Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

  • Colossians 2:7

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

  • John 10:27

    My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

  • Luke 10:16

    He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.

  • John 14:6

    Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

  • John 1:17

    For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

  • 2 Corinthians 11:10

    As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.

  • Psalms 85:10-11

    Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
heard.
Mt 17:5; Lu 10:16; Joh 10:27; Ac 3:22,23; Heb 3:7,8
as.
1:13; Ps 45:4; 85:10,11; Joh 1:17; 14:6,17; 2Co 1:20; 11:10
1Jo 5:10-12,20

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

Context

  • Ephesians 4:20

    But ye have not so learned Christ;

  • Ephesians 4:21

    If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:

  • Ephesians 4:22

    That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

Read all of Ephesians 4

Ephesians 4:21 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Si empero lo habéis oído, y habéis sido por él enseñados, como la verdad está en Jesús,
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		si du moins vous l’avez entendu et avez été instruits en lui selon que la vérité est en Jésus:
German
Elberfelder 1871		wenn ihr anders ihn gehört habt und in ihm gelehrt worden seid, wie die Wahrheit in dem Jesus ist:
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		si tamen illum audistis, et in ipso edocti estis, sicut est veritas in Jesu,