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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Ephesians 2:4 But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/ephesians/2-4.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/2/49_Eph_02_04.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Ephesians 2:4 - Alive with Christ" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy," /><script type="application/javascript" 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cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad4.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/ephesians/2-3.htm" title="Ephesians 2:3">◄</a> Ephesians 2:4 <a href="/ephesians/2-5.htm" title="Ephesians 2:5">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/ephesians/2.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/ephesians/2.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/ephesians/2.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/ephesians/2.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/ephesians/2.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/ephesians/2.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/ephesians/2.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/ephesians/2.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/ephesians/2.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/ephesians/2.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/ephesians/2.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/ephesians/2.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />But God, being rich in mercy because of His great love with which He loved us,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/ephesians/2.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />But God, being [so very] rich in mercy, because of His great <i>and</i> wonderful love with which He loved us,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/ephesians/2.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/ephesians/2.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/ephesians/2.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />but God, being rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/ephesians/2.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />but God, being rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/ephesians/2.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />But God is rich in mercy because of his great love for us.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/ephesians/2.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />But God's mercy is so abundant, and his love for us is so great, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/ephesians/2.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love for us<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/ephesians/2.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/ephesians/2.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/ephesians/2.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/ephesians/2.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />But God, being rich in mercy, because of the intense love which He bestowed on us,<div class="vheading2"><b>Majority Text Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/ephesians/2.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/ephesians/2.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us, <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/ephesians/2.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />but God, being rich in kindness, because of His great love with which He loved us,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/ephesians/2.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/ephesians/2.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and God, being rich in kindness, because of His great love with which He loved us,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/ephesians/2.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />But God, being rich in mercy, by his much love which he loved us,<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/ephesians/2.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />But God, (who is rich in mercy,) for his exceeding charity wherewith he loved us, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/ephesians/2.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Yet still, God, who is rich in mercy, for the sake of his exceedingly great charity with which he loved us,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/ephesians/2.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />But God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love he had for us,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/ephesians/2.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/ephesians/2.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/aramaic-plain-english/ephesians/2.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a></span><br />But God who is rich in his compassion, because of his great love with which he loved us,<div class="vheading2"><b>NT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/anderson/ephesians/2.htm">Anderson New Testament</a></span><br />but God, being rich in mercy, on account of his great love with which he loved us,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/godbey/ephesians/2.htm">Godbey New Testament</a></span><br />but God, being rich in mercy, on account of his great love with which he loved us,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/haweis/ephesians/2.htm">Haweis New Testament</a></span><br />But God, being rich in mercy, through the great love with which he hath loved us,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/mace/ephesians/2.htm">Mace New Testament</a></span><br />then it was that God, who is rich in mercy, thro' his great love, wherewith he loved us,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/ephesians/2.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />But God, being rich in mercy, because of the intense love which He bestowed on us,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worrell/ephesians/2.htm">Worrell New Testament</a></span><br />but God, being rich in mercy, on account of His great love wherewith He loved us,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worsley/ephesians/2.htm">Worsley New Testament</a></span><br />But God being rich in mercy, through his great love wherewith He loved us,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/ephesians/2-4.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AfeSHen3sAQ?start=232" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/ephesians/2.htm">Alive with Christ</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">3</span>All of us also lived among them at one time, fulfilling the cravings of our flesh and indulging its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature children of wrath. <span class="reftext">4</span><span class="highl"><a href="/greek/1161.htm" title="1161: de (Conj) -- A primary particle; but, and, etc.">But</a> <a href="/greek/1223.htm" title="1223: dia (Prep) -- A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.">because of</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autou (PPro-GM3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">His</a> <a href="/greek/4183.htm" title="4183: pollēn (Adj-AFS) -- Much, many; often. ">great</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tēn (Art-AFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/26.htm" title="26: agapēn (N-AFS) -- From agapao; love, i.e. Affection or benevolence; specially a love-feast.">love</a> <a href="/greek/3739.htm" title="3739: hēn (RelPro-AFS) -- Who, which, what, that. ">for us,</a> <a href="/greek/25.htm" title="25: ēgapēsen (V-AIA-3S) -- To love, wish well to, take pleasure in, long for; denotes the love of reason, esteem. Perhaps from agan; to love."></a> <a href="/greek/1473.htm" title="1473: hēmas (PPro-A1P) -- I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I."></a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: Ho (Art-NMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/2316.htm" title="2316: Theos (N-NMS) -- A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.">God,</a> <a href="/greek/1510.htm" title="1510: ōn (V-PPA-NMS) -- I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.">who is</a> <a href="/greek/4145.htm" title="4145: plousios (Adj-NMS) -- Rich, abounding in, wealthy; subst: a rich man. From ploutos; wealthy; figuratively, abounding with.">rich</a> <a href="/greek/1722.htm" title="1722: en (Prep) -- In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; in, at, on, by, etc.">in</a> <a href="/greek/1656.htm" title="1656: eleei (N-DNS) -- Pity, mercy, compassion. Of uncertain affinity; compassion.">mercy,</a> </span> <span class="reftext">5</span>made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved!…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/3-16.htm">John 3:16</a></span><br />For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/5-8.htm">Romans 5:8</a></span><br />But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_john/4-9.htm">1 John 4:9-10</a></span><br />This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. / And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/titus/3-4.htm">Titus 3:4-5</a></span><br />But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, / He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/2-4.htm">Romans 2:4</a></span><br />Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/1-3.htm">1 Peter 1:3</a></span><br />Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/colossians/2-13.htm">Colossians 2:13</a></span><br />When you were dead in your trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our trespasses,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/5-14.htm">2 Corinthians 5:14-15</a></span><br />For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, therefore all died. / And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and was raised again.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/103-8.htm">Psalm 103:8</a></span><br />The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/lamentations/3-22.htm">Lamentations 3:22-23</a></span><br />Because of the loving devotion of the LORD we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail. / They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/63-7.htm">Isaiah 63:7</a></span><br />I will make known the LORD’s loving devotion and His praiseworthy acts, because of all that the LORD has done for us—the many good things for the house of Israel according to His great compassion and loving devotion.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/micah/7-18.htm">Micah 7:18</a></span><br />Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance—who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/34-6.htm">Exodus 34:6</a></span><br />Then the LORD passed in front of Moses and called out: “The LORD, the LORD God, is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/9-17.htm">Nehemiah 9:17</a></span><br />They refused to listen and failed to remember the wonders You performed among them. They stiffened their necks and appointed a leader to return them to their bondage in Egypt. But You are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in loving devotion, and You did not forsake them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/86-15.htm">Psalm 86:15</a></span><br />But You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us,</p><p class="hdg">who.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ephesians/2-7.htm">Ephesians 2:7</a></b></br> That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in <i>his</i> kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ephesians/1-7.htm">Ephesians 1:7</a></b></br> In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ephesians/3-8.htm">Ephesians 3:8</a></b></br> Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;</p><p class="hdg">his.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/7-7.htm">Deuteronomy 7:7,8</a></b></br> The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye <i>were</i> the fewest of all people: … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/9-5.htm">Deuteronomy 9:5,6</a></b></br> Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/31-3.htm">Jeremiah 31:3</a></b></br> The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, <i>saying</i>, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/ephesians/1-6.htm">Bestowed</a> <a href="/ephesians/1-23.htm">Full</a> <a href="/ephesians/1-19.htm">Great</a> <a href="/2_corinthians/11-29.htm">Intense</a> <a href="/galatians/6-16.htm">Kindness</a> <a href="/ephesians/1-15.htm">Love</a> <a href="/galatians/6-16.htm">Mercy</a> <a href="/2_corinthians/9-12.htm">Rich</a> <a href="/galatians/5-1.htm">Wherewith</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/philippians/2-9.htm">Bestowed</a> <a href="/ephesians/2-7.htm">Full</a> <a href="/ephesians/5-32.htm">Great</a> <a href="/1_thessalonians/2-17.htm">Intense</a> <a href="/ephesians/2-7.htm">Kindness</a> <a href="/ephesians/3-17.htm">Love</a> <a href="/ephesians/2-7.htm">Mercy</a> <a href="/colossians/3-16.htm">Rich</a> <a href="/ephesians/4-1.htm">Wherewith</a><div class="vheading2">Ephesians 2</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ephesians/2-1.htm">By comparing what we were by nature, with what we are by grace,</a></span><br><span class="reftext">10. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ephesians/2-10.htm">he declares that we are made for good works: and being brought near by Christ, </a></span><br><span class="reftext">19. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ephesians/2-19.htm">should not live as Gentiles and foreigners, but as citizens with the saints, and the family of God.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/ephesians/2.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/ephesians/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/ephesians/2.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>But because of His great love for us</b><br>This phrase emphasizes the motivation behind God's actions—His immense love for humanity. This love is agape, a selfless, unconditional love that seeks the best for others. In the biblical context, God's love is a recurring theme, seen in <a href="/john/3-16.htm">John 3:16</a>, where God's love leads to the giving of His Son for the salvation of the world. The Old Testament also reflects this love, as seen in <a href="/deuteronomy/7-7.htm">Deuteronomy 7:7-8</a>, where God chooses Israel not because of their merits but because of His love and faithfulness to His promises. This love is foundational to the Christian faith, underscoring the relationship between God and His people.<p><b>God, who is rich in mercy</b><br>Here, the focus shifts to God's character, particularly His mercy. Mercy, in this context, refers to God's compassion and forgiveness towards humanity, despite their sinfulness. The richness of His mercy indicates an abundance, suggesting that God's mercy is inexhaustible and freely given. This is consistent with the portrayal of God throughout the Bible, such as in <a href="/psalms/103-8.htm">Psalm 103:8</a>, which describes God as "compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love." The concept of God's mercy is also evident in the New Testament, as seen in <a href="/titus/3-5.htm">Titus 3:5</a>, where salvation is attributed to God's mercy rather than human deeds. This mercy is a key aspect of the gospel message, highlighting God's willingness to forgive and restore those who turn to Him.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God</a></b><br>The central figure in this verse, God is depicted as rich in mercy and motivated by great love for humanity.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/p/paul.htm">Paul</a></b><br>The apostle who authored the letter to the Ephesians, addressing the church in Ephesus.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/e/ephesus.htm">Ephesus</a></b><br>An ancient city in Asia Minor, where the early Christian church was established and to whom this letter was addressed.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_church.htm">The Church</a></b><br>The body of believers in Ephesus and, by extension, all Christians who are recipients of God's love and mercy.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/j/jesus_christ.htm">Jesus Christ</a></b><br>While not mentioned directly in this verse, He is the embodiment of God's love and mercy, central to the context of <a href="/bsb/ephesians/2.htm">Ephesians 2</a>.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/u/understanding_god's_nature.htm">Understanding God's Nature</a></b><br>Recognize that God's actions are motivated by His intrinsic nature of love and mercy. This understanding should shape our view of God as compassionate and gracious.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/e/experiencing_god's_mercy.htm">Experiencing God's Mercy</a></b><br>Reflect on personal experiences of God's mercy in your life. Acknowledge that His mercy is not earned but freely given because of His love.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/living_in_response_to_god's_love.htm">Living in Response to God's Love</a></b><br>Our response to God's great love should be a life of gratitude, obedience, and love towards others, mirroring the mercy we have received.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/sharing_the_message_of_mercy.htm">Sharing the Message of Mercy</a></b><br>As recipients of God's mercy, we are called to share this message with others, demonstrating love and compassion in our interactions.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/trusting_in_god's_character.htm">Trusting in God's Character</a></b><br>In times of doubt or struggle, trust in the unchanging nature of God's love and mercy as a source of comfort and strength.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_ephesians_2.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Ephesians 2</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_defines_being_rich_in_mercy.htm">What defines being rich in mercy?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/bible's_view_on_body_piercings.htm">What defines being rich in mercy?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_to_let_christ's_word_dwell_richly.htm">How do we love in actions and truth?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_can_we_show_mercy_to_others_daily.htm">How can we show mercy to others daily?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/ephesians/2.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(4) <span class= "bld">Rich in mercy.</span>--Not only merciful, but rich "in the multitude of mercy," as attaching even to those dead in sin (see Chrysostom on this passage). The idea of richness in grace, glory, mercy, is especially frequent in this Epistle. (See <a href="/ephesians/1-7.htm" title="In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;">Ephesians 1:7</a>; <a href="/ephesians/1-18.htm" title="The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,">Ephesians 1:18</a>; <a href="/ephesians/2-7.htm" title="That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.">Ephesians 2:7</a>; <a href="/ephesians/3-8.htm" title="To me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;">Ephesians 3:8</a>; <a href="/ephesians/3-16.htm" title="That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;">Ephesians 3:16</a>.)<p><span class= "bld">For his great</span> <span class= "bld">love.</span>--Again, as in <a href="/ephesians/1-4.htm" title="According as he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:">Ephesians 1:4</a>, stress is laid on the love of God, before all else, as the one moving cause of salvation. (Comp. <a href="/romans/5-8.htm" title="But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.">Romans 5:8</a>, "God commendeth His love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.") . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/ephesians/2.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 4.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">But God, being rich in mercy.</span> The preceding verses convey the idea of a rushing towards inevitable ruin - towards some frightful cataract, when all help from man is hopeless. Man's extremity becomes God's opportunity. The "but" is very emphatic, and wonderfully reverses the picture. The sovereignty of God is very apparent, on its gracious side. It interposes to rescue those who would otherwise plunge into irretrievable ruin. We have here the filling up of that Divine saying, "O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself, but in me is thine help." The genesis of salvation is declared to be in two of God's attributes, of which the first is mercy, or compassion. God has a tender, yearning feeling towards men brought to misery by their own sins. And this feeling is not shallow or spare - he is rich in mercy. It is an exuberant, full-flowing feeling in God ("Thy mercy ... is in the heavens," <a href="/psalms/36-5.htm">Psalm 36:5</a>), and may therefore be appealed to trustfully. <span class="cmt_word">For his great love wherewith he loved us.</span> The other attribute from which the plan of salvation sprang is God's love. Love is more than compassion. Compassion may be confined to the breast, but love goes forth in active beneficence. It makes common cause with its object. It cannot rest till its object is lint right. Two expressions are used intensifying this Divine love: <p><span class="note_emph">(1)</span> his great love; <p><span class="note_emph">(2)</span> love with which he loved us; <p>the verb of love governing the noun of love makes the idea rich and strong. This view of the exuberance of the Divine attributes from which salvation has its rise is in harmony with the whole character of the Epistle. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/ephesians/2-4.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div><span class="word">But</span><br /><span class="grk">δὲ</span> <span class="translit">(de)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1161.htm">Strong's 1161: </a> </span><span class="str2">A primary particle; but, and, etc.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">because of</span><br /><span class="grk">διὰ</span> <span class="translit">(dia)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1223.htm">Strong's 1223: </a> </span><span class="str2">A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">His</span><br /><span class="grk">αὐτοῦ</span> <span class="translit">(autou)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> </span><span class="str2">He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">great</span><br /><span class="grk">πολλὴν</span> <span class="translit">(pollēn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4183.htm">Strong's 4183: </a> </span><span class="str2">Much, many; often. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">love</span><br /><span class="grk">ἀγάπην</span> <span class="translit">(agapēn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_26.htm">Strong's 26: </a> </span><span class="str2">From agapao; love, i.e. Affection or benevolence; specially a love-feast.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">for us,</span><br /><span class="grk">ἣν</span> <span class="translit">(hēn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Feminine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3739.htm">Strong's 3739: </a> </span><span class="str2">Who, which, what, that. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">God,</span><br /><span class="grk">Θεὸς</span> <span class="translit">(Theos)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2316.htm">Strong's 2316: </a> </span><span class="str2">A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">who is</span><br /><span class="grk">ὢν</span> <span class="translit">(ōn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1510.htm">Strong's 1510: </a> </span><span class="str2">I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">rich</span><br /><span class="grk">πλούσιος</span> <span class="translit">(plousios)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4145.htm">Strong's 4145: </a> </span><span class="str2">Rich, abounding in, wealthy; subst: a rich man. From ploutos; wealthy; figuratively, abounding with.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in</span><br /><span class="grk">ἐν</span> <span class="translit">(en)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1722.htm">Strong's 1722: </a> </span><span class="str2">In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">mercy,</span><br /><span class="grk">ἐλέει</span> <span class="translit">(eleei)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Dative Neuter Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1656.htm">Strong's 1656: </a> </span><span class="str2">Pity, mercy, compassion. Of uncertain affinity; compassion.</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/ephesians/2-4.htm">Ephesians 2:4 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/ephesians/2-4.htm">Ephesians 2:4 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/ephesians/2-4.htm">Ephesians 2:4 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/ephesians/2-4.htm">Ephesians 2:4 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/ephesians/2-4.htm">Ephesians 2:4 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/ephesians/2-4.htm">Ephesians 2:4 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/ephesians/2-4.htm">Ephesians 2:4 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/ephesians/2-4.htm">Ephesians 2:4 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/ephesians/2-4.htm">Ephesians 2:4 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/ephesians/2-4.htm">Ephesians 2:4 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/ephesians/2-4.htm">NT Letters: Ephesians 2:4 But God being rich in mercy (Ephes. Eph. Ep) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/ephesians/2-3.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Ephesians 2:3"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Ephesians 2:3" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/ephesians/2-5.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Ephesians 2:5"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Ephesians 2:5" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>