Ephesians 4 · Verse 7

Ephesians 4:7

But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Ephesians 4:7, King James Version

Ephesians 4:7 in other translations

BSBNow to each one of us grace has been given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
WEBBut to each one of us, the grace was given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
ASVBut unto each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
YLTand to each one of you was given the grace, according to the measure of the gift of Christ,
DARBYBut to each one of us has been given grace according to the measure of the gift of the Christ.
BBEBut to every one of us has grace been given in the measure of the giving of Christ.
WebsterBut to every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

What does Ephesians 4:7 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
7. But--Though "one" in our common connection with "one Lord, one faith, &c., one God," yet "each one of us" has assigned to him his own particular gift, to be used for the good of the whole: none is overlooked; none therefore can be dispensed with for the edifying of the Church (Ep 4:12). A motive to unity (Ep 4:3). Translate, "Unto each one of us was the grace (which was bestowed by Christ at His ascension, Ep 4:8) given according to," &c. the measure--the amount "of the gift of Christ" (Ro 12:3, 6).

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 7. But unto every one of us. Every Christian.

Is given grace. The favour of God; meaning here, that God had bestowed upon each sincere Christian the means of living as he ought to do, and had in his gospel made ample provision that they might walk worthy of their vocation. What are the endowments thus given the apostle states in the following verses. The grace referred to here, most probably, means the gracious influences of the Holy Spirit, or his operations on the heart in connexion with the use of the means which God has appointed.

According to the measure of the gift of Christ. Grace is bestowed upon all true Christians, and all have enough to enable them to live a life of holiness. Yet we are taught here,

(1.) that it is a gift. It is bestowed on us. It is not what is originated by ourselves.

(2.) It is by a certain measure. It is not unlisted, and without rule. There is a wise adaptation; an imparting it by a certain rule. The same grace is not given to all, but to all is given enough to enable them to live as they ought to live.

(3.) That measure is the gift of Christ, or what is given in Christ. It comes through him. It is what he has purchased; what he has obtained by his merits. All have enough for the purposes for which God has called them into his kingdom; but there are not the same endowments conferred on all. Some have grace given them to qualify them for the ministry; some to be apostles; some to be martyrs; some to make them eminent as public benefactors. All this has been obtained by Christ; and one should not complain that another has more distinguished endowments than he has. Rom 12:3; Jn 1:16.

(a) "of the gift" Rom 12:3

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 7 Unto every one of us is given grace - Grace may here signify a particular office; as if the apostle had said: Though we are all equal in the respects already mentioned, yet we have all different offices and situations to fill up in the Church and in the world; and we receive a free gift from Christ, according to the nature of the office, that we may be able to discharge it according to his own mind. So the free gift, which we receive from Christ, is according to the office or function which he has given us to fulfill; and the office is according to that free gift, each suited to the other.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ephesians 4:7-16
Unto every believer is given some gift of grace, for their mutual help. All is given as seems best to Christ to bestow upon every one. He received for them, that he might give to them, a large measure of gifts and graces; particularly the gift of the Holy Ghost. Not a mere head knowledge, or bare acknowledging Christ to be the Son of God, but such as brings trust and obedience. There is a fulness in Christ, and a measure of that fulness given in the counsel of God to every believer; but we never come to the perfect measure till we come to heaven. God's children are growing, as long as they are in this world; and the Christian's growth tends to the glory of Christ. The more a man finds himself drawn out to improve in his station, and according to his measure, all that he has received, to the spiritual good of others, he may the more certainly believe that he has the grace of sincere love and charity rooted in his heart. (Ep 4:17-24)

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Ephesians 4:7 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.

ἑνὶheniOneG1520
δὲdenowG1161
ἑκάστῳhekastōto eachG1538
ἡμῶνhēmōnof usG3165
ἐδόθηedothēhas been givenG1325
ἡhē<the>G3588
χάριςcharisgraceG5485
κατὰkataaccording toG2596
τὸtotheG3588
μέτρονmetronmeasureG3358
τῆςtēsof theG3588
δωρεᾶςdōreasgiftG1431
τοῦtou<the>G3588
Χριστοῦ.Christouof Christ.G5547

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

Cross references for Ephesians 4:7

  • Romans 12:3

    For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

  • 1 Peter 4:10

    As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

  • 1 Corinthians 12:7-11

    But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: …

  • Ephesians 3:2

    If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

  • Romans 12:6-8

    Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

  • 1 Corinthians 12:28-30

    And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

  • John 3:34

    For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.

  • Ephesians 3:8

    Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

  • Matthew 25:15

    And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

  • Ephesians 4:8-14

    Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; …

  • 2 Corinthians 10:13-15

    But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you. For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ: Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men’s labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,

  • 2 Corinthians 6:1

    We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
unto.
8-14; Mt 25:15; Ro 12:6-8; 1Co 12:8-11,28-30
grace.
3:8; 2Co 6:1; 1Pe 4:10
the measure.
3:2; Joh 3:34; Ro 12:3; 2Co 10:13-15

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

Context

  • Ephesians 4:6

    One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

  • Ephesians 4:7

    But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

  • Ephesians 4:8

    Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

Read all of Ephesians 4

Ephesians 4:7 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Empero á cada uno de nosotros es dada la gracia conforme á la medida del don de Cristo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mais à chacun de nous la grâce a été donnée selon la mesure du don de Christ.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Jedem einzelnen aber von uns ist die Gnade gegeben worden nach dem Maße der Gabe des Christus.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Unicuique autem nostrum data est gratia secundum mensuram donationis Christi.