What Does Ephesians 3:20 Mean?
Now to him who is strong enough to do beyond all that we ask or perceive, overflowing past measure, according to the strength that works in us.
Key words are shown with the Hebrew or Greek and what each word meant.
Selah Decoded Version The Selah Decoded Version renders what the Hebrew and Greek words meant to the people who first heard them.
King James wording
King James Version
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,THE KEY
The Greek ties “able” and “power” to one word family: the capacity that exceeds what you can imagine is already at work within you.
THE MEANING
God’s capacity reaches beyond everything you can ask or hold in thought. That power is already at work within you now, in the same life where your asking and imagining arise.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The false belief is that what can happen is bounded by what you can currently ask for or imagine. This verse locates the power at work in you beyond that limit.
THE ROOT
δυναμένῳ
dynamenō
GROWS FROM
δύναμαι
dynamai
To be able; to have capacity.
“is strong enough to do” in this verse is dynamenō. The Greek ties “able” and “power” to one word family: capacity names both what God can do and the power already at work in us. The sentence holds immeasurable reach together with present activity.
ALSO GROWS
dynamis: Power, capacity
δύναμις
This is the word translated “power” in the verse, sharing its family with “able.”
dynatos: Able, capable, powerful
δυνατός
This related form keeps capacity at the center of the verse’s claim.
dynamoō: To strengthen, make powerful
δυναμόω
This branch shows the same capacity as something that can take effect and strengthen.
ἐνεργουμένην
energoumenēn
GROWS FROM
ἔργον (ergon), in the word family of ἐνεργέω (energeō)
Work or deed; ἐνεργέω means to work, be active, or take effect.
“works” in this verse is energoumenēn. “Worketh” describes power active within us, not a reserve waiting elsewhere. Its Greek word family connects activity to work itself, so power appears as something taking effect in present life.
ALSO GROWS
ergon: Work, deed
ἔργον
This is the work at the heart of the word family behind “worketh.”
energeia: Activity, operation
ἐνέργεια
This related noun makes the verse’s active, ongoing sense visible.
energeō: To work, be active
ἐνεργέω
This is the verb family used for the power working within us.
THE PATTERN
Divine capacity exceeds human limits and becomes active within human life.
Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great strength and outstretched arm, and nothing is too hard for you.And God is able to make all favor overflow toward you, so that you, always holding all you need in everything, may overflow into every good work.There are portions of workings, but it is the same God who works all in all.THE THREAD
For it is God who works in you, both to will and to do, for the sake of his good pleasure.The Greek ἐνεργέω (energeō, “to work, be active”) appears in both passages. Ephesians names power working in us; Philippians names God working in you, joining divine activity to the life within.
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