Ephesians 5:26
New International Version
to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,

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

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

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

Berean Literal Bible
so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water by the word,

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

New King James Version
that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,

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

NASB 1995
so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

NASB 1977
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,

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

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

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

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

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
To sanctify and purify her in the washing of water and in 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.

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

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He did this to make the church holy by cleansing it, washing it using water along with spoken words.

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

International Standard Version
so that he might make it holy by cleansing it, washing it with water and the word,

Literal Standard Version
that He might sanctify it, having cleansed [it] with the bathing of the water in the saying,

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

New American Bible
to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water with the word,

NET Bible
to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the word,

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

New Heart English Bible
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,

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

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

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

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Wives and Husbands
25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her 26to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27and to present her to Himself as a glorious church, without stain or wrinkle or any such blemish, but holy and blameless.…

Cross References
Leviticus 8:6
Then Moses presented Aaron and his sons and washed them with water.

Leviticus 16:30
because on this day atonement will be made for you to cleanse you, and you will be clean from all your sins before the LORD.

John 3:5
Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.

John 13:10
Jesus told him, "Whoever has already bathed needs only to wash his feet, and he will be completely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you."

John 15:3
You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.

John 17:17
Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.

Acts 22:16
And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, calling on His name.'


Treasury of Scripture

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

he.

John 17:17-19
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth…

Acts 26:18
To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

1 Corinthians 6:11
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

with.

Ezekiel 16:9
Then washed I thee with water; yea, I throughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with oil.

Ezekiel 36:25
Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.

Zechariah 13:1
In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.

by.

John 15:8
Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

John 17:7
Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.

James 1:18
Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

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Bathing Clean Cleanse Cleansed Cleansing Holy Order Purifying Sanctify Washing Water Word
Ephesians 5
1. After general exhortations to love;
3. to flee sexual immorality;
4. and all uncleanness;
7. not to converse with the wicked;
15. to walk carefully;
18. and to be filled with the Spirit;
22. he descends to the particular duties, how wives ought to obey their husbands;
25. and husbands ought to love their wives,
32. even as Christ does his church.














(26) That he might sanctify and cleanse it . . .--The true rendering is, that He might sanctify it, having cleansed it in the laver of the water in [the] Word. The reference in "the laver of the water" to baptism, is even more unquestionable than in "the laver of regeneration" of Titus 3:5. Hence we must conclude that the phrase "in the Word" is in some way connected with that sacrament. Of the two Greek words translated "word," the one here used is that which signifies not "the word" existing as a definite thought in the mind, but "the word" as audibly spoken. It has, indeed, in the original no article, but this is probably because it had assumed so technical a sense as to resemble a proper name; and it is best connected with the phrase "having cleansed it," thus being coordinated, not subordinated, to the "laver of the water." Accordingly it would seem to signify all that element of baptism which is "in word"--that is, the question of faith, "the answer of a good conscience" (1Peter 3:21), and, lastly, the solemn formula of baptism "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." If we are to single out any of these, we must surely (with Chrysostom) take the last. But it is better to embrace the whole, and so include the whole spiritual element of baptism, both the acceptance of faith on the part of man, and the grace-giving blessing of God.

To "sanctify" is here to consecrate to Himself (comp. John 17:17; John 17:19) after purification. In the same connection we have in 1Corinthians 6:11, "Ye were washed, ye were sanctified, ye were justified." In virtue of such consecration the Church visible is "holy" in idea and in capacity--the Church invisible here (which will be the Church triumphant hereafter), holy in the actual purity which becomes a consecrated nature. Of such consecration baptism is unquestionably the means; as we see in command in Matthew 28:19, and in fact in Acts 2:38; Acts 2:41. . . .

Verse 26. - That he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word. The immediate object of Christ was to cleanse her, and for this end he used the Word as a purifying agent, washing her by means of it. The difference between selfish and unselfish love is seen here: a selfish lover cares for his wife in his own interest - like Samson, desires to have her simply because she pleases him, and, in his converse with her, thinks, not of her good, but of his own enjoyment; but the love of an unselfish lover constrains him to seek her good, to do nothing that will hurt her and damage her in any manner of way, but to do everything that he believes will advance her well-being, especially in the highest sense. He finds her polluted (comp. Ezekiel 16.), and his great instrument of cleansing is "the Word" (comp. John 15:3; John 17:5) - the Word in all its searching, humbling, rebuking, correcting, informing, stimulating, refreshing, consoling power. There is no express allusion to baptism, τῷ λουτρῷ τοῦ ὕδατος is explained by ἐν ῤήματι, "the Word" being the great sanctifying medium, and baptism a figure (1 Peter 3:21).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
to
ἵνα (hina)
Conjunction
Strong's 2443: In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that.

sanctify
ἁγιάσῃ (hagiasē)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 37: From hagios; to make holy, i.e. purify or consecrate; to venerate.

her,
αὐτὴν (autēn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Feminine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

cleansing [her]
καθαρίσας (katharisas)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2511: To cleanse, make clean, literally, ceremonially, or spiritually, according to context. From katharos; to cleanse.

by the
τῷ (tō)
Article - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

washing
λουτρῷ (loutrō)
Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3067: A bath (of water, not the vessel), water for washing, washing. From louo; a bath, i.e., baptism.

with water
ὕδατος (hydatos)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 5204: Water. And genitive case, hudatos, etc. From the base of huetos; water literally or figuratively.

through
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

[the] word,
ῥήματι (rhēmati)
Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4487: From rheo; an utterance, ; by implication, a matter or topic; with a negative naught whatever.


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NT Letters: Ephesians 5:26 That he might sanctify it having cleansed (Ephes. Eph. Ep)
Ephesians 5:25
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