Bible Strands
Ephesians 3:15
from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul addresses the Ephesian church from captivity, pausing his prayer to the Father to ground his petition in divine authority. He speaks at the precise moment of intercession, immediately before requesting spiritual strengthening for the believers.
The words — The Greek πατριὰ (patria, "family" or "clan") and οὐρανοῖς (ouranois, "heavens") define the scope of the statement. The text explicitly says that every such family in heaven and on earth derives its name from the Father.
The thread — This naming language runs parallel to Ephesians 1:10, which describes bringing all things in heaven and earth together in Christ, and Ephesians 1:21, which places Christ above every name named in these realms.
Why it lands — The verse requires the reader to acknowledge that all human and spiritual identity ultimately traces to God alone. It demands a posture of dependence rather than self-derivation when approaching prayer.
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
Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
Cross-references
- Ephesians 1:10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to bring all things in heaven and on earth together in Christ.
- Revelation 5:8 When He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
- Ephesians 1:21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
- Jeremiah 33:16 In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely, and this is the name by which it will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.
- Revelation 2:17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will give the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone inscribed with a new name, known only to the one who receives it.
- Revelation 3:12 The one who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will never again leave it. Upon him I will write the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God (the new Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven from My God), and My new name.
- Isaiah 65:15 You will leave behind your name as a curse for My chosen ones, and the Lord GOD will slay you; but to His servants He will give another name.
- Acts 11:26 and when he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. So for a full year they met together with the church and taught large numbers of people. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.
- Philippians 2:9 Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names,
- Colossians 1:20 and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross.