Ephesians 5:26

New King James Version

that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
He died to make the church holy. He used the telling of the Good News to make the church clean by washing it with water.

Revised Standard Version
that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
to sanctifie it and clensed it in the fountayne of water thorow the worde

Hebrew Names Version
that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word,

New American Standard Bible
so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

New Century Version
to make it belong to God. Christ used the word to make the church clean by washing it with water.

Update Bible Version
that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word,

Webster's Bible Translation
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

English Standard Version
that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

World English Bible
that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word,

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
That he might sanctify it (having cleansed it by the washing of water) through the word:

Weymouth's New Testament
in order to make her holy, cleansing her with the baptismal water by the word,

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and clenside it with the waisching of watir, in the word of lijf,

English Revised Version
that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word,

Berean Standard Bible
to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,

Contemporary English Version
He made the church holy by the power of his word, and he made it pure by washing it with water.

Amplified Bible
so that He might sanctify the church, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word [of God],

American Standard Version
that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word,

Bible in Basic English
So that he might make it holy, having made it clean with the washing of water by the word,

Complete Jewish Bible
in order to set it apart for God, making it clean through immersion in the mikveh, so to speak,

Darby Translation
in order that he might sanctify it, purifying [it] by the washing of water by [the] word,

International Standard Version
so that he might make it holy by cleansing it, washing it with water and the word,John 3:5; 15:3; 17:17; Titus 3:5; Hebrews 10:22; 1 John 5:6;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
that he might sanctify her and purify her in the laver of waters and by the word,

Murdock Translation
that he might sanctify it, and cleanse it, by the washing of water, and by the word;

King James Version (1611)
That he might sanctifie & cleanse it with the washing of water, by the word,

New Living Translation
to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God's word.

New Life Bible
Christ did this so He could set the church apart for Himself. He made it clean by the washing of water with the Word.

New Revised Standard
in order to make her holy by cleansing her with the washing of water by the word,

Geneva Bible (1587)
That hee might sanctifie it, and clense it by the washing of water through the worde,

George Lamsa Translation
That he might sanctify and cleanse it, by the washing of water and by the word,

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
That, her, he might sanctify, having purified her with the bath of water, in declaration,

Douay-Rheims Bible
That he might sanctify it, cleansing it by the laver of water in the word of life:

Bishop's Bible (1568)
To sanctifie it, clensyng [it] in the fountayne of water in the worde,

Good News Translation
He did this to dedicate the church to God by his word, after making it clean by washing it in water,

Christian Standard Bible®
to make her holy, cleansing her with the washing of water by the word.

King James Version
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

Lexham English Bible
in order that he might sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of water by the word;

Literal Translation
that He might sanctify it, cleansing it by the washing of the water in the Word,

Young's Literal Translation
that he might sanctify it, having cleansed [it] with the bathing of the water in the saying,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
to sanctifye it, and clensed it in the fountayne of water by the worde,

Mace New Testament (1729)
to sanctify and purify her by the ablution of his word,

New English Translation
to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the word,

Simplified Cowboy Version
He did this to make us holy and clean. We've been washed in the cleansing river of God's word.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

Legacy Standard Bible
so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

Contextual Overview

²¹ submitting to one another in the fear of God. [fn] ²² Colossians 3:18,19">[xr] Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. ²³ For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. ²⁴ Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. ²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, ²⁶ that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, ²⁷ that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. ²⁸ So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. ³⁰ For we are members of His body, [fn] of His flesh and of His bones.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

he: John 17:17-19, Acts 26:18, 1 Corinthians 6:11, Titus 2:14, Hebrews 9:14, Hebrews 10:10, 1 Peter 1:2, Jude 1:1

with: Ezekiel 16:9, Ezekiel 36:25, Zechariah 13:1, John 3:5, Acts 22:16, Titus 3:5-7, Hebrews 10:22, 1 Peter 3:21, 1 John 5:6

by: John 15:8, John 17:7, James 1:18, 1 Peter 1:22, 1 Peter 1:23

Reciprocal: Genesis 24:47 - I put Exodus 29:4 - wash them Leviticus 3:17 - blood Leviticus 8:6 - washed Leviticus 14:7 - seven times Leviticus 14:11 - General Leviticus 16:30 - General Numbers 31:23 - ye shall make Deuteronomy 23:11 - wash himself 2 Kings 5:13 - Wash 2 Chronicles 29:5 - sanctify the house Psalms 45:9 - queen Psalms 45:11 - So shall Psalms 51:7 - whiter Psalms 68:13 - the wings Song of Solomon 1:5 - comely Ezekiel 37:23 - will cleanse Ezekiel 37:28 - sanctify Malachi 3:3 - sit John 2:6 - after John 13:1 - having John 13:5 - poureth John 13:8 - If John 13:10 - needeth John 15:3 - General John 19:34 - came Acts 3:26 - in Romans 8:4 - That 1 Corinthians 1:2 - sanctified 1 Corinthians 1:30 - sanctification 1 Corinthians 12:13 - by Ephesians 5:23 - he 1 Thessalonians 4:3 - your 1 Thessalonians 5:23 - preserved Hebrews 10:14 - them Hebrews 12:10 - partakers Hebrews 13:12 - sanctify 1 Peter 3:20 - by 2 Peter 1:9 - that he 1 John 1:9 - and to Revelation 7:14 - and have Revelation 19:8 - to her

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Ver. 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it,.... Being defiled, both with original sin and actual transgressions; for God's elect, whom Christ loved and espoused from everlasting, fell in Adam with the rest of mankind; and, in their natural state, live in sin as others do; and so are under the guilt, and in the pollution of it, as others be: Christ gave himself for them, that he might deliver them out of this state; he gave himself a sacrifice for them, that he might expiate their sins and make atonement and satisfaction for them; he shed his blood that he might cleanse them from them; and he wrought out a righteousness that he might justify them from all their iniquities; and which being put upon them, makes them to appear pure and spotless in the sight of divine justice; for this sanctifying and cleansing does not so much refer to the inward work of sanctification of the Spirit, though that is a fruit and effect of the death of Christ, and is brought about by the following means, as to the justification of them by the blood and righteousness of Christ: which is said to be,

with the washing of water; not baptism, which is never expressed by washing; nor does it purify or cleanse from sin; nor is it the means of sanctification and regeneration, which ought to be before it; nor the grace of the Spirit, though that is often compared to water, and regeneration and sanctification are owing to it; yet the saints are not so cleansed from sin by it, as to be without spot or wrinkle; but the blood of Christ, which is the fountain to wash in, and which cleanses from all sin:

by the word; not the form of words in baptism; but either the Gospel, which brings the good news and glad tidings of peace, pardon, atonement, and justification by Christ; or the sentence of justification pronounced upon the conscience by him; see John 15:2.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

That he might sanctify - The great object of the Redeemer was to purify and save the church. The meaning here is, that a husband is to manifest similar love toward his wife, and a similar desire that she should be prepared to “walk before him in white”.

And cleanse it with the washing of water - In all this there is an allusion doubtless to the various methods of purifying and cleansing those who were about to be married, and who were to be united to monarchs as their brides. In some instances this previous preparation continued for twelve months. The means of purification were various, but consisted usually in the use of costly unguents; see Esther 2:12. “Six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odors, and with other things for the purifying of women;” compare Psalms 45:13-14; Ezekiel 16:7-14. As such a virgin was purified and prepared for her husband by washing and by anointing, so the church is to be prepared for Christ. It is to be made pure and holy. Outwardly there is to be the application of water - the symbol of purity; and within there is to be holiness of heart; see the notes on 2 Corinthians 11:2, where Paul says of the Corinthians, “I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”

By the word - There has been much diversity of opinion respecting the meaning of this. Probably the sense of the expression is, that all this was to be accomplished by the instrumentality of the truth - the Word of God. By that truth they were to be sanctified John 17:17; and in accordance with that the whole work from the commencement to the close was to be accomplished. It was not by external ceremonies, and not by any miraculous power on the heart, but by the faithful application of truth to the heart.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 26. That he might sanctify and cleanse it — The Church is represented as the spouse of Christ, as the woman is the spouse of the man; and, to prepare this Church for himself, he washes, cleanses, and sanctifies it. There is certainly an allusion here to the ancient method of purifying women, who were appointed to be consorts to kings; twelve months, it appears, were in some instances spent in this purification: Six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours and with other things, for the purifying of women. See the case of Esther, Esther 2:12; see also Psalms 45:13; Psalms 45:14; Ezekiel 16:7-14.

With the washing of water — Baptism, accompanied by the purifying influences of the Holy Spirit.

By the word — The doctrine of Christ crucified, through which baptism is administered, sin cancelled, and the soul purified from all unrighteousness; the death of Christ giving efficacy to all.