Bible Verses

Ephesians · Chapter 3 · Faith

Ephesians 3:20 — Bible Verse Meaning & Context

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Both translations, side by side

WEB · World English Bible

"Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,"

KJV · King James Version

"Now1161 unto him that is able1410 to do4160 exceeding5228 abundantly1537 4053 above5228 all3956 that3739 we ask154 or2228 think3539, according to2596 the power1411 that worketh1754 in1722 us2254,"

How the translations differ: The WEB is a modern public-domain revision of the 1901 ASV; the KJV dates to 1611. The KJV uses unto, exceeding, worketh, while the WEB renders these as who, exceedingly, works. Both translate the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text — the differences are stylistic, not theological.

In context

Ephesians 3:20 in Ephesians 3

A Bible verse rarely stands alone. Here is Ephesians 3:20 read with the verses immediately before and after — the surrounding flow of Ephesians 3. Read the full chapter →

  1. v.18 may be strengthened to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and height and depth,
  2. v.19 and to know Christ’s love which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
  3. v.20 Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
  4. v.21 to him be the glory in the assembly and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

Book background

About the Book of Ephesians

Testament
New Testament
Genre
Pauline epistle
Author
Paul
Date written
c. 60–62 AD
Audience
The church at Ephesus (and likely a circular letter)
Chapters
6

Ephesians is Paul's soaring meditation on the Christian's identity in Christ — chosen before creation, saved by grace through faith (2:8-9), united in one new humanity, called to walk in love, and equipped with the armour of God for spiritual warfare. Chapter 5 contains the classic teaching on marriage as a picture of Christ and the church.

Setting: Written from Roman imprisonment.

Key themes: unity · grace · church · spiritual warfare · identity

Read Ephesians from the beginning →

Memorisation aid

How to memorise Ephesians 3:20

Ephesians 3:20 contains 25 words in 2 clauses. Learn one clause at a time, then chain them. The first-letter mnemonic (FLM) under each clause is a memory hook — once you can speak the FLM from memory, the full clause follows.

  1. 1

    Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think

    NTHWIA

  2. 2

    according to the power that works in us,

    ATTPTW

Frequently asked

FAQ about Ephesians 3:20

What does Ephesians 3:20 say?

Ephesians 3:20 reads: "Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us," — from the New Testament, Ephesians (Pauline epistle). The full verse is shown above with both the World English Bible (WEB) and King James Version (KJV) translations side by side.

What book of the Bible is Ephesians 3:20 in?

Ephesians 3:20 is in the book of Ephesians, traditionally attributed to Paul and written around c. 60–62 AD. Ephesians is pauline epistle in the New Testament, originally addressed to The church at Ephesus (and likely a circular letter). Best known for "by grace you have been saved through faith" and the armour of God.

What is Ephesians 3:20 about?

Ephesians 3:20 is primarily a Bible verse about Faith. Within Ephesians, Ephesians is Paul's soaring meditation on the Christian's identity in Christ — chosen before creation, saved by grace through faith (2:8-9), united in one new humanity, called to walk in love, and equipped with the armour of God for spiritual warfare. Read the full passage above with surrounding context.

What is the difference between Ephesians 3:20 in WEB and KJV?

Ephesians 3:20 in the World English Bible (WEB) reads: "Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,". The King James Version (KJV) reads: "Now1161 unto him that is able1410 to do4160 exceeding5228 abundantly1537 4053 above5228 all3956 that3739 we ask154 or2228 think3539, according to2596 the power1411 that worketh1754 in1722 us2254,". The WEB is a modern public-domain translation that updates the KJV's 1611 English while keeping a similar formal-equivalence style. Both render the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text.

How long is Ephesians 3:20?

Ephesians 3:20 is 25 words in the WEB translation (124 characters), broken into 2 clauses. It is a longer verse, often broken into smaller phrases for memorisation. Estimated reading time is about 8 seconds.

How can I memorise Ephesians 3:20?

To memorise Ephesians 3:20, split it into its 2 natural clauses and learn one at a time. Repeat the full verse out loud five times, then write it from memory. Saving the verse as a photo wallpaper using our verse image studio helps daily review — the visual association with a memorable background dramatically improves recall.

Why does Ephesians 3:20 matter in Ephesians?

Ephesians is Paul's soaring meditation on the Christian's identity in Christ — chosen before creation, saved by grace through faith (2:8-9), united in one new humanity, called to walk in love, and equipped with the armour of God for spiritual warfare. Chapter 5 contains the classic teaching on marriage as a picture of Christ and the church. Ephesians 3:20 sits within this larger story — Ephesians as a whole emphasises unity, grace, church.

How can I apply Ephesians 3:20 today?

Many readers use Ephesians 3:20 as a daily reminder verse — saving it as a phone wallpaper, sharing it on Pinterest, or memorising it for prayer. The verse studio on this page lets you download Ephesians 3:20 on 52 different backgrounds for free. Pair the verse with the surrounding chapter context shown above to understand its full meaning before applying it.

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