What Does Ephesians 5:20 Mean in the King James?

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Ephesians 5:20 · KJV
The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

The Greek word for giving thanks grows from the root of ⁨χάρις⁩ (charis, favor), so gratitude names the favor already received.

Your gratitude reaches into every circumstance and is directed to God as Father. It takes its shape from the nature of Jesus, so thanksgiving is more than a phrase spoken at the end of a prayer.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The belief that gratitude belongs only to favorable circumstances is undone by “always” and “for all things.”

εὐχαριστοῦντες

eucharistountes

GROWS FROM

χαρ

Favor, the stem shared by Greek words for favor, joy, and freely granting.

The word for giving thanks is built on the ⁨χαρ-⁩ stem carried by ⁨χάρις⁩ (charis, favor). English separates gratitude from favor and joy, while this Greek word-family holds them close: thanksgiving recognizes favor received and gives it voice.

ALSO GROWS

charis: favor; in some contexts, thanks

χάρις

The shared ⁨χαρ-⁩ stem links the verse’s thanksgiving with favor received.

chara: joy

χαρά

Its ⁨χαρ-⁩ consonants connect joy with thanksgiving in the same word-family.

charizomai: grant freely; show favor

χαρίζομαι

This related verb expresses favor as something granted, illuminating the received favor named in thanksgiving.

ὀνόματι

onomati

GROWS FROM

ὀνομ

Name or naming; the identifying designation of someone.

“In the name” places this thanksgiving within the nature of Jesus. The phrase points to the character represented by the name, not a formula added to the words of thanks.

ALSO GROWS

onoma: name

ὄνομα

This is the noun appearing in the verse’s phrase “in the name.”

onomazō: name; call by name

ὀνομάζω

The related verb shows the root at work in the act of naming.

onomastos: named; renowned

ὀνομαστός

This related form connects naming with the recognized character of the one named.

Thanksgiving extends through every circumstance as a continual orientation toward God.

A Psalm of David, when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed. I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Psalm 34:1 · KJVPraise remains present at all times, expressing the same continual orientation found in thanksgiving.
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 · KJVThe verse directly joins thanksgiving with every circumstance.
And what soever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Colossians 3:17 · KJVThanksgiving accompanies every word and deed lived in the name of Jesus.
And what soever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Colossians 3:17 · KJV

Both verses use ⁨εὐχαριστοῦντες⁩ (eucharistountes, giving thanks), from ⁨χαρ⁩ (char, favor), and connect thanksgiving with the name of Jesus. Colossians extends the phrase across every word and deed, showing how gratitude takes shape within his nature.

Read the SDV Bible.

Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.

Get Selah Verse

The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.

Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us

Ephesians 5:20 KJV Meaning