Bible Strands
Ephesians 3:14
... for this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The apostle Paul writes to the Ephesian believers, shifting from his exhortation about his sufferings directly into a prayer. He addresses the Father immediately after explaining the purpose of his imprisonment.
The words — The phrase χάριν τοὺτου (charin toutou) literally means "for this reason," establishing a causal link to the preceding context. The verb κάμπτω (kamptō) denotes "I bow," describing the physical lowering of his knees toward God.
The thread — Kneeling in reverence appears in Psalms 95:6 as a call to worship the Creator, while Philippians 2:10 projects the same posture forward to every knee bowing at Jesus' name. Paul's habit of intercessory prayer is recorded in Ephesians 1:16, which notes his remembrance of the church in prayer without describing a physical posture.
Why it lands — The verse records a deliberate physical act of submission that precedes direct address to God. It requires the reader to approach divine authority with conscious humility rather than assuming casual familiarity.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Cross-references
- Psalms 95:6 O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.
- Ephesians 1:16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,
- Philippians 2:10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
- Acts 21:5 But when our time there had ended, we set out on our journey. All the disciples, with their wives and children, accompanied us out of the city and knelt down on the beach to pray with us.
- Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms.
- Ezra 9:5 At the evening offering, I got up from my humiliation with my tunic and cloak torn, and I fell on my knees, spread out my hands to the LORD my God,
- Isaiah 45:23 By Myself I have sworn; truth has gone out from My mouth, a word that will not be revoked: Every knee will bow before Me, every tongue will swear allegiance.
- Daniel 6:10 Now when Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house, where the windows of his upper room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before.
- 1 Kings 19:18 Nevertheless, I have reserved seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”
- Luke 22:41 And He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, where He knelt down and prayed,