Ephesians3:17

Previous Verse Next Verse

Translation

[for] CHRIST to dwell

Go to footnote number

in your hearts through faith, and, having been rooted

Go to footnote number

and founded

Go to footnote number

in love,

Paraphrase

and that you will allow THE SPIRIT-ANOINTED MESSIAH  to live in your hearts by faith, and that, having been well established and well founded in sacrificial love,

Footnotes

1: "dwell":

This is a compound word built using preposition “down” as an intensifier, and the verb “to house,” thus “to settle down permanently, to establish oneself with deep roots.”

2: "rooted":

This word not only means “to take root” but also “to establish, to plant firmly.” It is a picture of something immovable.

3: founded

Here we have the verb “to lay a foundation, or to establish well, to make stable.” Thus, we see three words in this one verse that have the emphasis of being deeply and firmly established.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE ROOTED AND FOUNDED IN LOVE?

As a starting point it means that, for the person who has attained this condition, love has become habitual because love for others is what guides, limits, motivates and empowers that person’s life. Love is the most notable characteristic of that individual. I’m sure much more could be said here.