EPH 2:21 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT in whom the whole building, being fit together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,

UST Jesus determines where each person belongs, just as the cornerstone determines where each stone fits in the building. Just as a builder joins stones together to make a holy temple, Jesus is assembling his family of believers to be one holy group which serves the Lord.

BSB In Him the whole building is fitted together [and] grows into a holy temple in [the] Lord.

BLB in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is increasing into a holy temple in the Lord,

AICNT in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.

OEB United in him, every part of the building, closely joined together, will grow into a temple, consecrated by its union with the Lord.

WEBBE in whom the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord;

WMBB (Same as above)

NET In him the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,

LSV in whom all the building fitly framed together increases to a holy temple in the LORD,

FBV In him the whole building is joined together, growing to form a holy temple for the Lord.

TCNT In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.

T4T just like a builder might join together all the parts of a building to make it a temple that people will dedicate to the Lord [MET], Christ is continually causing all of you who have a relationship with him to be united, in order that you will become one holy group.

LEB in whom the whole building, joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,

BBE In whom all the building, rightly joined together, comes to be a holy house of God in the Lord;

Moff in him the whole structure is welded together and rises into a sacred temple in the Lord,

Wymth in union with whom the whole fabric, fitted and closely joined together, is growing so as to form a holy sanctuary in the Lord;

ASV in whom each several building, fitly framed together, groweth into a holy temple in the Lord;

DRA In whom all the building, being framed together, groweth up into an holy temple in the Lord.

YLT in whom all the building fitly framed together doth increase to an holy sanctuary in the Lord,

Drby in whom all [the] building fitted together increases to a holy temple in the Lord;

RV in whom each several building, fitly framed together, groweth into a holy temple in the Lord;

SLT In whom all the building fitted together increases into a holy temple in the Lord:

Wbstr In whom all the building fitly framed together, groweth to a holy temple in the Lord:

KJB-1769 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

KJB-1611 In whom all the building fitly framed together, groweth vnto an holy Temple in the Lord:
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation)

Bshps In whom all the buyldyng coupled together, groweth vnto an holy temple in the Lorde.
(In whom all the buylding coupled together, groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord.)

Gnva In whom all the building coupled together, groweth vnto an holy Temple in the Lord.
(In whom all the building coupled together, groweth unto an holy Temple in the Lord. )

Cvdl in whom euery buyldinge coupled together, groweth to an holy temple in the LODRE,
(in whom every building coupled together, groweth to an holy temple in the LODRE,)

TNT in whom every bildynge coupled togedder groweth vnto an holy temple in the lorde
(in whom every buildinge coupled together groweth unto an holy temple in the lord )

Wycl in whom ech bildyng maad waxith in to an hooli temple in the Lord.
(in whom each building made waxeth/waxes/grows in to an holy temple in the Lord.)

Luth auf welchem der ganze Bau, ineinandergefüget, wächset zu, einem heiligen Tempel in dem HErr’s,
(on/in/to which_one the/of_the whole/all building(n), interlocked, grows to/for, on holy temple in to_him LORD’s,)

ClVg in quo omnis ædificatio constructa crescit in templum sanctum in Domino,[fn]
(in/into/on where everyone buildsio built grows in/into/on the_temple/sanctuary holy in/into/on Master, )

2.21 Crescit in templum sanctum in Domino. Nemo tam perfectus qui non possit crescere.

2.21 Crescit in/into/on the_temple/sanctuary holy in/into/on Master. Nobody tam perfect who/which not/no can to_grow.

UGNT ἐν ᾧ πᾶσα οἰκοδομὴ συναρμολογουμένη, αὔξει εἰς ναὸν ἅγιον ἐν Κυρίῳ,
(en hō pasa oikodomaʸ sunarmologoumenaʸ, auxei eis naon hagion en Kuriōi,)

SBL-GNT ἐν ᾧ ⸀πᾶσα οἰκοδομὴ συναρμολογουμένη αὔξει εἰς ναὸν ἅγιον ἐν κυρίῳ,
(en hō ⸀pasa oikodomaʸ sunarmologoumenaʸ auxei eis naon hagion en kuriōi,)

RP-GNT ἐν ᾧ πᾶσα οἰκοδομὴ συναρμολογουμένη αὔξει εἰς ναὸν ἅγιον ἐν κυρίῳ,
(en hō pasa oikodomaʸ sunarmologoumenaʸ auxei eis naon hagion en kuriōi,)

TC-GNT ἐν ᾧ πᾶσα [fn]οἰκοδομὴ συναρμολογουμένη αὔξει εἰς ναὸν ἅγιον ἐν Κυρίῳ,
(en hō pasa oikodomaʸ sunarmologoumenaʸ auxei eis naon hagion en Kuriōi, )

2:21 οικοδομη ¦ η οικοδομη TR

Key for above GNTs: red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 2:11–22: God has united Jews and non-Jews through Christ

In 2:11–22, Paul described another aspect of God’s salvation. Previously Jews and Gentiles were enemies. But Christ, by his death on the cross, has made peace between both groups of people and God. Because of this, there is peace between the two groups also. So the Gentile Christians now belong to the family of God just like Jewish Christians do.

Here are some other examples for a heading for this section:

Christ has united all people

All people are one in Christ

Paragraph 2:19–22

In this next paragraph, Paul used three comparisons to describe the unity of Jewish and Gentile believers in Christ. He said that they are like:

citizens of the same country (19a–b)
members of the same family (19c)
bricks of one building (20–21)

2:21a

In Him the whole building is fitted together

Because of him, all the stones of the house fit/hold together;
He is the one who holds the whole building together; (GNT)

In Him: Here the phrase In Him means “because of Christ.” It has the same meaning as “through him” in 2:18. It first occurred in 1:7a. It means that Christ is doing the work of joining and building the building.

whole building: The phrase whole building is part of the apostle Paul’s metaphor comparing the church to a building or house. See the above note on 2:20–22 for more information.

fitted together: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as fitted together is a technical building term. It refers to cutting or shaping stones so that they fit exactly together in the building, then fastening together the cut stones with metal pegs. (This verb occurs only here and in 4:16.) This metaphor refers to the Jews and Gentiles being joined or united together in the church.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

He is the one who holds the whole building together (GNT)

In him all the parts of the building fit together (GW)

2:21b

and grows into a holy temple in the Lord.

and because of him, the house becomes bigger, so that it becomes a holy temple for the Lord.
and he causes/makes the house to become larger, so in that way it becomes a house dedicated to the Lord.

grows into a holy temple in the Lord: The Greek word that the BSB literally translates as grows means “to get larger.” In some languages the word “grow” may not be appropriate to describe a building becoming larger. Use a natural way to describe this in your language.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

becoming a holy temple (NLT)

He builds a holy temple

In some languages it may be necessary to indicate what causes the building to become larger. If this is true in your language you may indicate that Christ is the one who causes the temple to get larger.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

makes it grow into a holy temple for the Lord (CEV)

Christ builds it into a holy temple for the Lord

holy temple: The Greek word that the BSB here translates as temple specifically refers to the Holy of Holies. It was the room in the temple where God’s presence lived. The word holy means that this temple is dedicated/set apart for God. In some languages, there is no special word for temple or sanctuary. Instead a phrase like “worship place” or “God’s house” is used. See holy, Meaning 1 in the Glossary for more information.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

a place set apart for God where God resides

like a temple, wholly dedicated to God and filled with his presence

God’s big holy house

in the Lord: By using the word Lord, Paul probably meant the Lord Jesus, but some commentators think Paul means Lord God. If possible, leave this ambiguous in your translation. If this is impossible then choose “the Lord Jesus” as the majority of the commentaries consulted favor this view.

The phrase in the Lord means that the temple is “for the Lord” (see the NLT) or “dedicated to the Lord” (see GNT).

Parallel EPH 2:21

Section 2:11–22: God has united Jews and non-Jews through Christ

Paragraph 2:19–22

2:21a

2:21b