And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
Parallel translations
- WEB and what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might
- BSB and the surpassing greatness of His power to us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength,
- NKJV and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power
- NASB and what is the boundless greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might
- NLT I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul prays they would grasp the immense power God exerts toward believers. It assures Christians of the mighty divine power at work in their salvation.
Overview
The third object of Paul's prayer is that they would know 'the exceeding greatness of his power' toward believers. Paul piles up words for might to convey its magnitude. The verse leads directly into the supreme demonstration of that power — the resurrection and exaltation of Christ — described in the next verses.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Phil 2:13For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
- Eph 3:20Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
- Col 2:12Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
- Col 1:29Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
- 2 Cor 4:7But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
- Eph 6:10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
- Eph 3:7Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
- Eph 2:10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
- Rom 1:16For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
- 2 Th 1:11Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:
- 1 Th 1:5For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
- Ps 110:2–3The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
- Isa 53:1Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
- Jas 1:18Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
- Acts 26:18To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
- 2 Cor 5:17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
- John 3:6That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Every spiritual blessing is 'in Christ,' the head over all things for the church, in whom Jew and Gentile are made one new man by his blood.
How Ephesians 1:19 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.