Ephesians 5:30

For we are members of His body.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Paul writes to the Ephesian church, concluding his instruction on marital unity by drawing a direct analogy between a husband's care for his wife and Christ's care for the church. He speaks as an apostle explaining the spiritual reality that grounds earthly marriage.

The words — The Greek μέλη (melē) translates literally to "members" or "limbs," while σώματος (sōmatos) means "body," forming the phrase "members of His body." The conjunction ὅτι (hoti) functions as "for," establishing this statement as the direct reason for the preceding command.

The thread — This bodily union motif appears in 1 Corinthians 6:15 regarding believers as members of Christ, 1 Corinthians 12:12 on many parts forming one body, and Romans 12:5 where many believers function as one body in Christ.

Why it lands — The text states that believers share an organic, inseparable connection to Christ, which demands the same practical care and respect one gives to one's own physical body. Readers must recognize this union as a factual reality that dictates daily conduct rather than a metaphorical ideal.

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

ὅτιhotifor μέληmelēmembers ἐσμὲνesmenwe are τοῦtouof the σώματοςsōmatosbody αὐτοῦautouof Him ἐκekfrom τῆςtēsthe σαρκόςsarkosflesh αὐτοῦautouof Him καίkaiand ἐκekfrom τῶνtōnthe ὀστέωνosteōnof bones αὐτοῦ.autouof Him.

King James Version

For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

Cross-references

1 Corinthians 6:15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never!
1 Corinthians 12:12 The body is a unit, though it is composed of many parts. And although its parts are many, they all form one body. So it is with Christ.
Romans 12:5 so in Christ we who are many are one body, and each member belongs to one another.
Genesis 2:23 And the man said: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for out of man she was taken.”
Ephesians 1:23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Colossians 2:19 He has lost connection to the head, from whom the whole body, supported and knit together by its joints and ligaments, grows as God causes it to grow.