Ephesians 3:8

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach unto the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Ἐμοὶ, τῷ ἐλαχιστοτέρῳ πάντων ἁγίων, ἐδόθη ἡ χάρις αὕτη, ἐν τοῖς Ἔθνεσιν εὐαγγελίσασθαι τὸν ἀνεξιχνίαστον πλοῦτον τοῦ Χριστοῦ·

Transliteration

To me, the elachistoterō pantōn hagiōn, edothē the charis hautē, en the Ethnesin euangelisasthai the anexichniaston plouton of the Christou;

Grammar Details

• *Emoi*: dative, 1st person, singular - to me
• *elachistoterō*: dative, masculine, singular, comparative - less than the least/more least
• *pantōn*: genitive, masculine, plural - of all
• *hagiōn*: genitive, masculine, plural - of saints/holy ones
• *edothē*: aorist, passive, indicative, 3rd person, singular - was given
• *charis*: nominative, feminine, singular - grace/favor
• *hautē*: nominative, feminine, singular, demonstrative - this
• *en*: preposition with dative - among
• *Ethnesin*: dative, neuter, plural - Gentiles/nations
• *euangelisasthai*: aorist, middle, infinitive - to preach the gospel/announce good news
• *anexichniaston*: accusative, masculine, singular - unsearchable/untraceable
• *plouton*: accusative, masculine, singular - wealth/riches
• *Christou*: genitive, masculine, singular - of Christ

Word Meanings

• *elachistoterō*: less than the least/more least (double comparative form)
• *hagiōn*: saints/holy ones/set apart ones
• *edothē*: was given/was granted/was bestowed
• *charis*: grace/favor/kindness
• *Ethnesin*: Gentiles/nations/non-Jewish peoples
• *euangelisasthai*: to preach the gospel/announce good news/evangelize
• *anexichniaston*: unsearchable/untraceable/unfathomable
• *plouton*: wealth/riches/abundance

Referenced Verses

• 1 Cor 15:9 : 9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
• 1 Tim 1:13 : 13 though I was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief;
• 1 Tim 2:7 : 7 whereunto {G1519} I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I speak the truth, I lie not), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
• 2 Tim 1:11 : 11 whereunto {G1519} I was appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher.
• Phil 2:3 : 3 [ doing] nothing through faction or through vainglory, but in lowliness of mind {G2233} each counting other better than himself;
• Phil 4:19 : 19 And my God shall supply every {G5216} need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
• Col 1:27 : 27 to whom God was pleased to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
• Col 2:1-3 : 1 For I would have you know how greatly I {G2192} strive for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; 2 that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery None of God, [even] Christ, 3 in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden.
• Acts 5:41 : 41 They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name.
• Eph 1:7-8 : 7 in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,
• Eph 3:16 : 16 that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that ye may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man;
• Rom 11:33 : 33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out!
• Rom 12:10 : 10 In love of the brethren be tenderly affectioned one to another; in honor preferring one another;
• Rom 15:15-17 : 15 But {G80} I write the more boldly unto you in some measure, as putting you again in remembrance, because of the grace that was given me of God, 16 that I should be a minister of Christ Jesus unto the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be made acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17 I have therefore my glorifying in Christ Jesus in things pertaining to God.
• 1 Cor 1:30 : 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who was made unto us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption:
• 1 Cor 2:9 : 9 but as it is written, Things which {G3739} eye saw not, and {G3756} ear heard not, And [which] entered not into the heart of man, Whatsoever things God prepared for them that love him.
• 1 Chr 17:16 : 16 Then David the king went in, and sat before Jehovah; and he said, Who am I, O Jehovah God, and what is my house, that thou hast brought me thus far?
• 1 Chr 29:14-15 : 14 But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee. 15 For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as all our fathers were: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is no abiding.
• Ps 31:19 : 19 Oh how great is thy goodness, Which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee, Which thou hast wrought for them that take refuge in thee, Before the sons of men!
• Prov 30:2-3 : 2 Surely I am more brutish than any man, And have not the understanding of a man; 3 And I have not learned wisdom, Neither have I the knowledge of the Holy One.
• John 1:16 : 16 For of his fulness {G2983} we all received, and grace for grace.
• Eph 3:19 : 19 and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled unto all the fulness of God.
• Eph 2:7 : 7 that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus:
• Eph 3:2 : 2 if so be that ye have heard of the dispensation of that grace of God which was given me to you-ward;
• Acts 9:15 : 15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings, and the children of Israel:
• Rom 2:4 : 4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
• Gal 1:16 : 16 to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles; straightway I conferred not with flesh and blood:
• Gal 2:8 : 8 (for he that wrought for Peter unto the apostleship of the circumcision wrought for me also unto the Gentiles);
• 1 Pet 5:5-6 : 5 Likewise, ye younger, be subject unto the elder. Yea, all of you gird yourselves with humility, to serve one another: for God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time;
• Rev 3:18 : 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold refined by fire, that thou mayest become rich; and white garments, that thou mayest clothe thyself, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness be not made manifest; and eyesalve to anoint thine eyes, that thou mayest see.
• 1 Tim 1:15 : 15 Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief: