Ephesians 5 · Verse 27

Ephesians 5:27

That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Ephesians 5:27, King James Version

Ephesians 5:27 in other translations

BSB	and to present her to Himself as a glorious church, without stain or wrinkle or any such blemish, but holy and blameless.
WEB	that he might present the assembly to himself gloriously, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without defect.
ASV	that he might present the church to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
YLT	that he might present it to himself the assembly in glory, not having spot or wrinkle, or any of such things, but that it may be holy and unblemished;
DARBY	that he might present the assembly to himself glorious, having no spot, or wrinkle, or any of such things; but that it might be holy and blameless.
BBE	And might take it for himself, a church full of glory, not having one mark or fold or any such thing; but that it might be holy and complete.
Webster	That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

What does Ephesians 5:27 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

27. he--The oldest manuscripts and authorities read, "That He might Himself present unto Himself the Church glorious," namely, as a bride (2Co 11:2). Holiness and glory are inseparable. "Cleansing" is the necessary preliminary to both. Holiness is glory internal; glory is holiness shining forth outwardly. The laver of baptism is the vehicle, but the word is the nobler and true instrument of the cleansing [Bengel]. It is Christ that prepares the Church with the necessary ornaments of grace, for presentation to Himself, as the Bridegroom at His coming again (Mt 25:1, &c.; Re 19:7; 21:2). not having spot--(So 4:7). The visible Church now contains clean and unclean together, like Noah's ark; like the wedding room which contained some that had, and others that had not, the wedding garment (Mt 22:10-14; compare 2Ti 2:20); or as the good and bad fish are taken in the same net because it cannot discern the bad from the good, the fishermen being unable to know what kind of fish the nets have taken under the waves. Still the Church is termed "holy" in the creed, in reference to her ideal and ultimate destination. When the Bridegroom comes, the bride shall be presented to Him wholly without spot, the evil being cut off from the body for ever (Mt 13:47-50). Not that there are two churches, one with bad and good intermingled, another in which there are good alone; but one and the same Church in relation to different times, now with good and evil together, hereafter with good alone [Pearson].

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

Barnes' Notes

Verse 27. That he might present it to himself. In the last day, when he shall receive the church as his spouse to heaven, Rev 21:9. Perhaps the word prepare would better express the sense here than present--that he may prepare it for himself as a holy church. Tindal renders it, "to make it unto himself."

A glorious Church. A church full of honour, splendour, beauty. The idea of shining, or of being bright, would convey the sense here. Probably there is still here an allusion to a bride "adorned for her husband," Rev 21:2, Ps 45:9-14; and the idea is, that the church will be worthy of the love of the Bridegroom, to whom it will then be presented.

Not having spot. Not having a stain, a defect, or any impurity--still retaining the allusion to a bride, and to the care taken to remove every blemish.

Or wrinkle. In the rigour and beauty of youth; like a bride in whom here is no wrinkle of age.

Or any such thing. Nothing to deform, disfigure, or offend. To this beautiful illustration of the final glory of the church, the apostle was led by the mention of the relation of the husband and the wife. It shows

(1.) the tendency of the thoughts of Paul. He delighted to allow the associations in his mind, no matter what the subject was, to draw him along to the Redeemer.

(2.) The passage here shows us what the church will yet be. There will be a period in its history when there shall not be any imperfection; when there shall be neither spot, nor wrinkle, nor any such thing. In heaven all will be pure. On earth we are preparing for that world of purity; and it cannot be denied that here there is much that is imperfect and impure. But in that future world, where the church shall be presented to Christ, clothed in the robes of salvation, there shall not be one unholy member, one deceiver or hypocrite, one covetous or avaricious man, one that shall pain the hearts of the friends of purity by an unholy life. And in all the millions that shall be gathered there out of every land, and people, and tongue, and age, there shall be no envy malice, backbiting, pride, vanity, worldliness; there shall be no annoying and vexing conflict in the heart with evil passions, "nor any such thing." How different from the church as it is now; and how we should pant for that blessed world!

(b) "it to himself" Jude 1:24 (c) "or wrinkles" Song 4:7

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 27 That he might present it to himself - It was usual to bring the royal bride to the king in the most sumptuous apparel; and is there not here an allusion to Psa 45:13, Psa 45:14 : The king's daughter (Pharaoh's) is all glorious within, her clothing is of wrought gold; she shall be brought unto the king (Solomon) in raiment of needlework? This presentation here spoken of by the apostle will take place on the last day. See the note on 2Cor 11:2. A glorious Church - Every way splendid and honorable, because pure and holy. Not having spot - Σπιλος· No blemish on the face; no spots upon the garment; the heart and life both holy. Wrinkle - Ῥυτιδα· No mark of superannuation or decay. The word is commonly applied to wrinkles on the face, indicative of sickness or decrepitude. Holy and without blemish - In every sense holy, pure, and perfect. Now it was for this purpose that Christ gave himself for the Church; and for this purpose he continues the different ordinances which he has appointed; and, particularly, the preaching of the word - the doctrine of reconciliation through faith in his blood. And it is in this life that all this purification is to take place; for none shall be presented at the day of judgment to him who has not here been sanctified, cleansed, washed, made glorious, having neither spot, wrinkle, blemish, nor any such thing. How vain is the pretension of multitudes to be members of the true Church while full of spots, wrinkles, blemishes, and Many such things; fondly supposing that their holiness is in their surety, because not in themselves! Reader, lay thy hand on thy conscience and say, Dost thou believe that this is St. Paul's meaning? See the notes on Eph 3:14, etc.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ephesians 5:22-33

The duty of wives is, submission to their husbands in the Lord, which includes honouring and obeying them, from a principle of love to them. The duty of husbands is to love their wives. The love of Christ to the church is an example, which is sincere, pure, and constant, notwithstanding her failures. Christ gave himself for the church, that he might sanctify it in this world, and glorify it in the next, that he…

Read the full comment on Ephesians 5:22-33 →

Ephesians 5:27 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.

ἵναinaso thatG2443

παραστήσῃparastēsēmay presentG3936

αὐτὸςautosHe himselfG846

ἑαυτῷhe'autōto HimselfG1438

ἔνδοξονendoxonin gloryG1741

τὴνtēntheG3588

ἐκκλησίανekklēsianchurchG1577

μὴmēnotG3361

ἔχουσανechousanhavingG2192

σπίλονspilonspotG4696

ἢēorG2228

ῥυτίδαrhutidawrinkleG4512

ἤēorG2228

τιtianyG5100

τῶνtōnof theG3588

τοιούτων,toioutōnsuch things,G5108

ἀλλ᾽all᾽butG235

ἵναinathatG2443

ᾖēit may beG1510

ἁγίαhagiaholyG40

καὶkaiandG2532

ἄμωμος.amōmosblameless.G299

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

Cross references for Ephesians 5:27

Colossians 1:22
In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
Hebrews 9:14
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
1 Peter 1:19
But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
2 Corinthians 11:2
For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
Ephesians 1:4
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
2 Corinthians 4:14
Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
Song of Solomon 4:7
Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.
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,
2 Peter 3:14
Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
Jude 1:21
Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Colossians 1:28
Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
1 Thessalonians 5:23
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

he.
2Co 4:14; 11:2; Col 1:22,28; Jude 1:24
glorious.
Ps 45:13; 87:3; Isa 60:15-20; 62:3; Jer 33:9; Heb 12:22-24
Re 7:9-17; 21:10-26
not.
So 4:7; Heb 9:14; 1Pe 1:19; 1:19; 2Pe 3:14
but.
1:4; 2Co 11:2; Col 1:22,28; 1Th 5:23; Jude 1:21; Re 21:27

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

Context

Ephesians 5:26
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Ephesians 5:27
That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Ephesians 5:28
So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

Read all of Ephesians 5

Ephesians 5:27 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Para presentársela gloriosa para sí, una iglesia que no tuviese mancha ni arruga, ni cosa semejante; sino que fuese santa y sin mancha.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	afin que lui se présente l’assemblée à lui-même, glorieuse, n’ayant ni tache, ni ride, ni rien de semblable, mais afin qu’elle soit sainte et irréprochable.
German Elberfelder 1871	auf daß er die Versammlung sich selbst verherrlicht darstellte, die nicht Flecken oder Runzel oder etwas dergleichen habe, sondern daß sie heilig und tadellos sei.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	ut exhiberet ipse sibi gloriosam Ecclesiam, non habentem maculam, aut rugam, aut aliquid hujusmodi, sed ut sit sancta et immaculata.