Ephesians Chapter 3 verse 15 Holy Bible
from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
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From whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
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of whom every family in [the] heavens and on earth is named,
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Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
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read chapter 3 in WBT
from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
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of whom the whole family in the heavens and on earth is named,
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Ephesians 3 : 15 Bible Verse Songs
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 15. - From whom the whole family in heaven and on earth is named. So A.V., but R.V. has "every family," holding, doubtless, that the want of the article - πᾶσα πατριὰ not πᾶσαἡπατριὰ - requires this sense. But as in Matthew 2:3; Luke 4:13; Acts 2.36; 7:22, and Ephesians 2:21; so here, πᾶσα without the article may denote the totality of the thing; πᾶσα πατριὰ corresponding to πᾶσα οἰκοδομὴ. And this seems more in accord with the scope of the passage, for here the apostle is not distributing into groups, but gathering into one. But what is the precise import of the statement, and for what reason is it introduced? The apostle recognizes all saints, whether in heaven or on earth, as forming one family, and as the whole family derives its name from God, so God may ha expected and appealed to to make full and corresponding provision for the wants of its various sections. The implied appeal is not to the fact that the family is God's family, but to the fact, less important in itself but really including the other, that it is named after him. Among men, one would be held emphatically bound to take an interest in those who are not only his relations but bear his very name. Now, that part of the family which is housed in heaven is gloriously provided for; the apostle proceeds to intercede for the portion still on earth. As the whole family is named after the same Father, is conspicuous before the eyes of all as God's, so it may well be expected that the more needy, feeble, exposed, and tempted part of the family will be treated in every way worthy of its Father. "Let saints on earth unite to singWith those to glory gone;For all the servants of our King,In earth and heaven, are one."One family we dwell in him,One Church above, beneath;Though now divided by the stream,The narrow stream, of death."
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(15) Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.--The original word (patria) here rendered "family" is literally derived from the word "father" (pater). It has been proposed to render it fatherhood, and translate, from whom all fatherhood whatever derives its name--all lower fatherhood being, in fact, a shadow and derivative from the Fatherhood of God. The translation is tempting, yielding a grand sense, and one thoroughly accordant with the treatment of the earthly relationship below (Ephesians 6:1-4). But the usage of the word is clearly against it; and we must render it every family--that is, every body of rational beings in earth or heaven united under one common fatherhood, and bearing the name (as in a family or clan) of the common ancestor. Such bodies are certainly the first germs or units of human society; what their heavenly counterparts may be, who can tell? The Apostle looks upon the fathers whose names they delight to bear as the imperfect representatives of God, and upon the family itself, with its head, as the type in miniature of the whole society of spiritual beings united in sonship to the Father in heaven. Hence he declares that it is ultimately from Him that every family derives the name of patria, and by that very name bears witness to the Divine Fatherhood, on which he desires here to lay especial stress.
