Ephesians 2:19

THE MESSAGE

That's plain enough, isn't it? You're no longer wandering exiles. This kingdom of faith is now your home country. You're no longer strangers or outsiders. You belong here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone. God is building a home. He's using us all—irrespective of how we got here—in what he is building. He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation. Now he's using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone that holds all the parts together. We see it taking shape day after day—a holy temple built by God, all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home.

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
So now you non-Jewish people are not visitors or strangers, but you are citizens together with God's holy people. You belong to God's family.

Revised Standard Version
So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Now therfore ye are no moare straugers and foreners: but citesyns with the saynctes and of the housholde of god:

Hebrew Names Version
So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones, and of the household of God,

New American Standard Bible
So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household,

New Century Version
Now you who are not Jewish are not foreigners or strangers any longer, but are citizens together with God's holy people. You belong to God's family.

Update Bible Version
So then you are no more strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God,

Webster's Bible Translation
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

English Standard Version
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,

World English Bible
So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God,

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Therefore ye are no longer strangers, and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints and of the houshold of God,

Weymouth's New Testament
You are therefore no longer mere foreigners or persons excluded from civil rights. On the contrary you share citizenship with God's people and are members of His family.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor now ye ben not gestis and straungeris, but ye ben citeseyns of seyntis, and houshold meine of God;

English Revised Version
So then ye are no more strangers and sojourners, but ye are fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God,

Berean Standard Bible
Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens of the saints and members of God's household,

Contemporary English Version
You Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens with everyone else who belongs to the family of God.

Amplified Bible
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens [outsiders without rights of citizenship], but you are fellow citizens with the saints (God's people), and are [members] of God's household,

American Standard Version
So then ye are no more strangers and sojourners, but ye are fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God,

Bible in Basic English
So then you are no longer as those who have no part or place in the kingdom of God, but you are numbered among the saints, and of the family of God,

Complete Jewish Bible
So then, you are no longer foreigners and strangers. On the contrary, you are fellow-citizens with God's people and members of God's family.

Darby Translation
So then ye are no longer strangers and foreigners, but ye are fellow-citizens of the saints, and of the household of God,

International Standard Version
That is why you are no longer strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's household,Galatians 6:10; Ephesians 3:15; Philippians 3:20; Hebrews 12:22-23;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
THEREFORE are you no more strangers and sojourners but sons of the city of the saints, and sons of the house of Aloha;

Murdock Translation
Wherefore, ye are not strangers, nor sojourners, but ye are fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.

King James Version (1611)
Now therefore yee are no more strangers and forreiners; but fellow citizens with the Saints, and of the houshold of God,

New Living Translation
So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God's holy people. You are members of God's family.

New Life Bible
From now on you are not strangers and people who are not citizens. You are citizens together with those who belong to God. You belong in God's family.

New Revised Standard
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God,

Geneva Bible (1587)
Nowe therefore ye are no more strangers and forreiners: but citizens with the Saintes, and of the houshold of God,

George Lamsa Translation
Thus from henceforth you are neither strangers, nor foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and children of the household of God;

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Hence, then - no longer, are ye strangers and sojourners, but ye are fellow-citizens of the saints, and members of the household of God, -

Douay-Rheims Bible
Now therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners: but you are fellow citizens with the saints and the domestics of God,

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Nowe therefore, ye are no more straungers and foreyners: but citezins with the saintes, and of the housholde of God,

Good News Translation
So then, you Gentiles are not foreigners or strangers any longer; you are now citizens together with God's people and members of the family of God.

Christian Standard Bible®
So then you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household,

King James Version
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

Lexham English Bible
Consequently, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens of the saints and members of the household of God,

Literal Translation
So, then, you are no longer strangers and tenants, but you are fellow citizens of the saints and of the family of God,

Young's Literal Translation
Then, therefore, ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens of the saints, and of the household of God,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Now therfore ye are nomore gestes and straungers, but citesins with the sayntes, & of the housholde of God,

Mace New Testament (1729)
Therefore now, you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and domesticks of God's family,

New English Translation
So then you are no longer foreigners and noncitizens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's household,

New King James Version
Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,

Simplified Cowboy Version
So now you Gentiles are no longer outsiders. You are part of the crew along with all of God's other cowboys. Even more than that, you are part of God's family.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household,

Legacy Standard Bible
So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household,

Contextual Overview

¹⁴The Messiah has made things up between us so that we're now together on this, both non-Jewish outsiders and Jewish insiders. He tore down the wall we used to keep each other at a distance. He repealed the law code that had become so clogged with fine print and footnotes that it hindered more than it helped. Then he started over. Instead of continuing with two groups of people separated by centuries of animosity and suspicion, he created a new kind of human being, a fresh start for everybody. ¹⁶Christ brought us together through his death on the cross. The Cross got us to embrace, and that was the end of the hostility. Christ came and preached peace to you outsiders and peace to us insiders. He treated us as equals, and so made us equals. Through him we both share the same Spirit and have equal access to the Father. ¹⁹That's plain enough, isn't it? You're no longer wandering exiles. This kingdom of faith is now your home country. You're no longer strangers or outsiders. You belong here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone. God is building a home. He's using us all—irrespective of how we got here—in what he is building. He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation. Now he's using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone that holds all the parts together. We see it taking shape day after day—a holy temple built by God, all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

strangers: Ephesians 2:12

but: Ephesians 3:6, Galatians 3:26-28, Galatians 4:26-31, Philippians 3:20,*Gr: Hebrews 12:22-24, Revelation 21:12-26

household: Ephesians 3:15, Matthew 10:25, Galatians 6:10, 1 John 3:1

Reciprocal: Genesis 9:27 - dwell Exodus 12:46 - one house Exodus 36:29 - coupled Numbers 3:10 - and the stranger Numbers 9:14 - General 1 Chronicles 22:2 - the strangers Psalms 148:14 - a people Song of Solomon 8:8 - what Jeremiah 12:16 - built Ezekiel 37:22 - I will make Ezekiel 47:22 - and to the strangers Zechariah 14:21 - in the Matthew 16:18 - upon Romans 11:18 - thou bearest Romans 11:30 - as ye 1 Corinthians 12:13 - whether we be Jews Galatians 2:12 - he did Ephesians 2:13 - were Philippians 1:5 - General Colossians 1:21 - sometime Hebrews 10:21 - the house 1 Peter 1:1 - the

Cross-References

Genesis 2:8
Then God planted a garden in Eden, in the east. He put the Man he had just made in it. God made all kinds of trees grow from the ground, trees beautiful to look at and good to eat. The Tree-of-Life was in the middle of the garden, also the Tree-of-Knowledge-of-Good-and-Evil.

Genesis 2:23
The Man said, "Finally! Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh! Name her Woman for she was made from Man." Therefore a man leaves his father and mother and embraces his wife. They become one flesh. The two of them, the Man and his Wife, were naked, but they felt no shame.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Now therefore ye are no more strangers..... Alluding to the name נכרי, "a stranger", by which the Jews called the Gentiles; meaning that they were not now strangers to God, to the grace of God, the love of God, and communion with him, nor to the throne of his grace; nor to Christ, to his person, his work and office, to his righteousness, to his voice, and to believing in him; nor to the Holy Spirit, as an enlightener, a comforter, the spirit of adoption, and as a seal and earnest of future glory; nor to their own hearts, the corruption and deceitfulness of them; nor to the devices of Satan; nor to the covenant of grace, its blessings and promises:

and foreigners: in the commonwealth of Israel, in the church of God;

but fellow citizens with the saints: the city they belong to is either the church below, which is the city of God, of his building, and where he dwells, of which Christ is the foundation, which is strongly fortified with the walls and bulwarks of salvation, is delightfully situated by the river of divine love, and is endowed with various privileges; or heaven above, which is a city of God's preparing and building also, and where he has his residence, and which is the habitation of angels and saints; of this city in either sense saints are citizens; such who are saints by separation, who are set apart by the Father's grace, and by imputation, or through Christ's being made sanctification to them, and by the regenerating grace of the blessed Spirit; and these, as they have a right to a name and a place in the church on earth, have also their citizenship in heaven; and which they have not by birth, nor by purchase, but by the free grace of God, which gives them both a right and a meetness; and believing Gentiles are upon equal foot of grace and privilege with believing Jews:

and of the household of God: and which is sometimes called the household of faith, the church of God consisting of believers, the family in heaven and in earth named of Christ; in which family or household God is the Father, Christ is the firstborn, ministers are stewards; and here are saints of various growth and size, some fathers, some young men, some children: and to this family all believers belong, whether Gentiles or Jews; and which they come into, not by birth, nor by merit, but by adopting grace; and happy are they that belong to this city and house! they are freed from all servitude and bondage; they can never be arrested, or come into condemnation; they have liberty of access to God, and share in the fulness of grace in Christ; they are well taken care of; they are richly clothed, and have plenty of provisions; and will never be turned out, and are heirs of a never fading inheritance.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners - You are reckoned with the people of God. You are entitled to their privileges, and are not to be regarded as outcasts and aliens. The meaning is, that they belonged to the same community - the same family - as the people of God. The word rendered “strangers” - ξένοι xenoi - means “foreigners in state,” as opposed to citizens. The word rendered “foreigners” - πάροικοι paroikoi - means “guests in a private family,” as opposed to the members of the family. “Rosenmuller.” Strangers and such as proposed to reside for a short time in Athens, were permitted to reside in the city, and to pursue their business undisturbed, but they could perform no public duty; they had no voice in the public deliberations, and they had no part in the management of the state. They could only look on as spectators, without mingling in the scenes of state, or interfering in any way in the affairs of the government.

They were bound humbly to submit to all the enactments of the citizens, and observe all the laws and usages of the republic. It was not even allowed them to transact any business in their own name, but they were bound to choose from among the citizens one to whose care they committed themselves as a patron, and whose duty it was to guard them against all injustice and wrong Potter’s Greek Ant. i. 55. Proselytes, who united themselves to the Jews, were also called in the Jewish writings, “strangers.” All foreigners were regarded as “strangers,” and Jews only were supposed to have near access to God. But now, says the apostle, this distinction is taken away, and the believing pagan, as well as the Jew, has the right of citizenship in the New Jerusalem, and one, as well as another, is a member of the family of God. “Burder,” Ros. Alt. u. neu. Morgertland, in loc. The meaning here is, that they had not come to sojourn merely as guests or foreigners, but were a part of the family itself, and entitled to all the privileges and hopes which others had.

But fellow-citizens with the saints - Belonging to the same community with the people of God.

And of the household of God - Of the same family. Entitled to the same privileges, and regarded by him as his children; see Ephesians 3:15.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 19. Ye are no more strangers — In this chapter the Church of God is compared to a city, which, has a variety of privileges, rights, c., founded on regular charters and grants. The Gentiles, having believed in Christ, are all incorporated with the believing Jews in this holy city. Formerly, when any of them came to Jerusalem, being ξενοι, strangers, they had no kind of rights whatever nor could they, as mere heathens, settle among them. Again, if any of them, convinced of the errors of the Gentiles, acknowledged the God of Israel, but did not receive circumcision, he might dwell in the land, but he had no right to the blessings of the covenant; such might be called παροικοι, sojourners-persons who have no property in the land, and may only rent a house for the time being.

Fellow citizens with the saints — Called to the enjoyment of equal privileges with the Jews themselves, who, by profession, were a holy people; who were bound to be holy, and therefore are often called saints, or holy persons, when both their hearts and conduct were far from being right in the sight of God. But the saints spoken of here are the converted or Christianized Jews.

Of the household of God — The house of God is the temple; the temple was a type of the Christian Church; this is now become God's house; all genuine believers are considered as being οικειοι, domestics, of this house, the children and servants of God Almighty, having all equal rights, privileges, and advantages; as all, through one Spirit, by the sacred head of the family, had equal access to God, and each might receive as much grace and as much glory as his soul could possibly contain.