Ephesians 4:16
New International Version
From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

New Living Translation
He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

English Standard Version
from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Berean Standard Bible
From Him the whole body, fitted and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love through the work of each individual part.

Berean Literal Bible
from whom the whole body, being joined together and being held together by every ligament of its supply, according to the working in the measure of each individual part, the increase of the body makes for itself, to the building up of itself in love.

King James Bible
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

New King James Version
from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

New American Standard Bible
from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

NASB 1995
from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

NASB 1977
from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by that which every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

Legacy Standard Bible
from whom the whole body, being joined and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the properly measured working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

Amplified Bible
From Him the whole body [the church, in all its various parts], joined and knitted firmly together by what every joint supplies, when each part is working properly, causes the body to grow and mature, building itself up in [unselfish] love.

Christian Standard Bible
From him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building itself up in love by the proper working of each individual part.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
From Him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building up itself in love by the proper working of each individual part.

American Standard Version
from whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplieth, according to the working in due measure of each several part, maketh the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And from him, the whole body constructed and joined in every joint, according to a gift given in measure to every member for his growth of the body, that his building may be completed in love.

Contemporary English Version
of the body. Christ holds it together and makes all of its parts work perfectly, as it grows and becomes strong because of love.

Douay-Rheims Bible
From whom the whole body, being compacted and fitly joined together, by what every joint supplieth, according to the operation in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body, unto the edifying of itself in charity.

English Revised Version
from whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplieth, according to the working in due measure of each several part, maketh the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He makes the whole body fit together and unites it through the support of every joint. As each and every part does its job, he makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Good News Translation
Under his control all the different parts of the body fit together, and the whole body is held together by every joint with which it is provided. So when each separate part works as it should, the whole body grows and builds itself up through love.

International Standard Version
in whom the whole body is united and held together by every ligament with which it is supplied. As each individual part does its job, the body builds itself up in love.

Literal Standard Version
from whom the whole body, being fitly joined together and united, through the supply of every joint, according to the working in the measure of each single part, the increase of the body makes for the building up of itself in love.

Majority Standard Bible
From Him the whole body, fitted and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love through the work of each individual part.

New American Bible
from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, with the proper functioning of each part, brings about the body’s growth and builds itself up in love.

NET Bible
From him the whole body grows, fitted and held together through every supporting ligament. As each one does its part, the body grows in love.

New Revised Standard Version
from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.

New Heart English Bible
from whom all the body, being fitted and knit together through that which every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, makes the body increase to the building up of itself in love.

Webster's Bible Translation
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body to the edifying of itself in love.

Weymouth New Testament
Dependent on Him, the whole body--its various parts closely fitting and firmly adhering to one another-- grows by the aid of every contributory link, with power proportioned to the need of each individual part, so as to build itself up in a spirit of love.

World English Bible
from whom all the body, being fitted and knit together through that which every joint supplies, according to the working in measure of each individual part, makes the body increase to the building up of itself in love.

Young's Literal Translation
from whom the whole body, being fitly joined together and united, through the supply of every joint, according to the working in the measure of each single part, the increase of the body doth make for the building up of itself in love.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Unity in the Body
15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head. 16From Him the whole body, fitted and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love through the work of each individual part. 17So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.…

Cross References
Romans 12:4
Just as each of us has one body with many members, and not all members have the same function,

1 Corinthians 10:17
Because there is one loaf, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf.

Ephesians 1:4
For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love

Colossians 2:19
He has lost connection to the head, from whom the whole body, supported and knit together by its joints and ligaments, grows as God causes it to grow.


Treasury of Scripture

From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, makes increase of the body to the edifying of itself in love.

whom.

Ephesians 4:12
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

John 15:5
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

fitly.

Job 10:10,11
Hast thou not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese? …

Psalm 139:15,16
My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth…

1 Corinthians 12:12-28
For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ…

the effectual.

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.

1 Thessalonians 2:13
For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

edifying.

Ephesians 4:15
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even 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:

Ephesians 3:17
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

Jump to Previous
Adhering Aid Body Build Building Closely Compacted Dependent Edifying Effectual Firmly Fitly Fitted Fitting Grows Increase Individual Itself Joined Joint Knit Love Makes Maketh Measure Need Part Parts Power Spirit Supplies Supplieth Together Various Whole Working
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Adhering Aid Body Build Building Closely Compacted Dependent Edifying Effectual Firmly Fitly Fitted Fitting Grows Increase Individual Itself Joined Joint Knit Love Makes Maketh Measure Need Part Parts Power Spirit Supplies Supplieth Together Various Whole Working
Ephesians 4
1. He exhorts to unity;
7. and declares that God therefore gives various gifts unto men;
11. that his church might be edified,
16. and grow up in Christ.
18. He calls them from the impurity of the Gentiles;
24. to put on the new man;
25. to cast off lying;
29. and corrupt communication.














(16) From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted.--The word rendered "fitly joined together" is the same used in Ephesians 2:21, with more technical accuracy, of a building--"clamped" or "bonded together." Here the two words are applied to the union of the limbs of the body, as being "jointed," and so "brought into close contact." The latter word is used in Colossians 2:19.

By that which every joint supplieth.--A paraphrastic and inaccurate rendering. It should be, by every contact with the supply (of nutriment) from the head. The word employed has commonly the meaning of "joint" (as in the parallel passage, Colossians 2:19), and is so used by Greek physiologists; but its original sense is abstract--the "joining" or "touching"--and this appears the simplest here. The supply (comp. Philippians 1:19, "the supply of the Spirit") is again almost a technical word for the abundant outflow of strength and nervous energy from the head. (The corresponding verb is used in 2Corinthians 9:10; Galatians 3:5; Colossians 2:19; 2Peter 1:5; 2Peter 1:11.) Hence the phrase seems to stand in closer connection with the "maketh increase "below than the "compacted together" above. The body grows, in every part of its complex unity, through contact with the divine supply of grace through the head. . . .

Verse 16. - From whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplieth. The relation of ἐκ in this verse to εἰς in ver. 15 is to be noted - growing up vitally into him, the body derives vital substance from him. Not, however, in a mere individual sense, but as an organization, the parts being adapted and articulated to one another (this process being continuous; see present participles, (συναρμολογούμενον and συνβιβαζόμενον). In the Church there are babes in Christ, also young men and old men; some are clear in intellect, some strong in faith, some warm in love, some excel in passive virtues, some in active; but in a well-ordered Church these should be getting jointed together, and learning to work with and for one another, no one despising gifts which he has not but another has; in tiffs sense, there ought to be a spiritual communism, for all are one spiritual body. But spiritual communism does not involve social communism or even social equality, nor will social distinctions be obliterated in a pure Church, except so far as they hinder spiritual communion. According to the energy in the measure (or, proportion) of each individual part. This clause seems to be most naturally connected with what follows. In the fit framing of the body, channels as it were are laid for the propagation and working of the vital force throughout the body; this force is not alike, but of various amount in the different parts; some members have much of it, some little, but the measure of this vital three regulates the growth. Carries on the growth of the body. The middle voice, ποιεῖται, indicates that it is a growth from within, while depending on the energy furnished by Christ. For building up of itself in love. This is the end, so far as the body itself is concerned, though, of course, the completed spiritual body, like the completed natural body, has work to do outside itself. In a healthy Church there is a continual work of building up: construction, not destruction, is its proper business - promoting peace, purity, prayerfulness, trust, activity in the work of the Lord, but all in love, the absence of which makes winter instead of summer, declension instead of progress, death instead of life. In illustration of the various measure of grace, and yet its real efficiency in all the members of the Church, Eadie says, "No member or ordinance is superfluous. The widow's mite was commended by him who sat over against the treasury. Solomon built a temple. Joseph provided a tomb. Mary the mother gave birth to the child, and the other Marys wrapped the corpse in spices. Lydia entertained the apostle, and Phoebe carried an Epistle of old, the princes and heroes went to the field, and wise-hearted women did spin. While Joshua fought, Moses prayed. The snuffers and trays were as necessary as the magnificent lampstand.... The result is that the Church is built up, for love is the element of spiritual progress. That love fills the renewed nature." The Church has been defined as an institution that has truth for its nourishment, love for its atmosphere, and Christ for its Head.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
From
ἐξ (ex)
Preposition
Strong's 1537: From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.

[Him]
οὗ (hou)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

the
τὸ (to)
Article - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

whole
πᾶν (pan)
Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

body
σῶμα (sōma)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4983: Body, flesh; the body of the Church. From sozo; the body, used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively.

[is] fitted
συναρμολογούμενον (synarmologoumenon)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4883: From sun and a derivative of a compound of harmos and lego; to render close-jointed together, i.e. Organize compactly.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

held together
συμβιβαζόμενον (symbibazomenon)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4822: From sun and bibazo (by reduplication) of the base of basis); to drive together, i.e. Unite, to infer, show, teach.

by
διὰ (dia)
Preposition
Strong's 1223: A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.

every
πάσης (pasēs)
Adjective - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

supporting
ἐπιχορηγίας (epichorēgias)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 2024: Supply, provision, equipment, support. From epichoregeo; contribution.

ligament.
ἁφῆς (haphēs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 860: A band, fastening (hence, possibly: a ligament), joint. From haptomai; probably a ligament.

[And as] each
ἑκάστου (hekastou)
Adjective - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 1538: Each (of more than two), every one. As if a superlative of hekas; each or every.

individual
ἑνὸς (henos)
Adjective - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 1520: One. (including the neuter Hen); a primary numeral; one.

part
μέρους (merous)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 3313: A part, portion, share. From an obsolete but more primary form of meiromai; a division or share.

does its work,
ἐνέργειαν (energeian)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1753: Working, action, productive work, activity; in the NT, confined to superhuman activity. From energes; efficiency.

the
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

body
σώματος (sōmatos)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 4983: Body, flesh; the body of the Church. From sozo; the body, used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively.

grows
αὔξησιν (auxēsin)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 838: Increasing, increase, growth. From auzano; growth.

[and] builds itself up
οἰκοδομὴν (oikodomēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3619: Feminine of a compound of oikos and the base of doma; architecture, i.e. a structure; figuratively, confirmation.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

love.
ἀγάπῃ (agapē)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 26: From agapao; love, i.e. Affection or benevolence; specially a love-feast.


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NT Letters: Ephesians 4:16 From whom all the body being fitted (Ephes. Eph. Ep)
Ephesians 4:15
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