Divine Power in Ephesians 1:19

The four Greek words for divine power used by Paul in Ephesians 1:19—and throughout the New Testament—are:


1. Dynamis (δύναμις)

  • Meaning: Inherent power, capacity, capability, or miraculous ability.
  • English Translations: Power, ability, virtue, miracle.
  • Context: Refers to power residing within a person or thing by nature. It is the root for words like dynamic, dynamite, and generator. In scripture, it represents God's inherent supernatural ability. 
  • Primary Translations: Power, inherent ability, strength, capability, miraculous power.
  • NKJV Translation: "power"
  • Key Idea: Inherent power or divine potential (the ability to perform a work).

2. Energeia (ἐνέργεια)

  • Meaning: Working power, operational force, active energy, or effectual action.
  • English Translations: Working, activity, effectual working, energy.
  • Primary Translations: Working, operational force, activity, effectual action, energy.
  • NKJV Translation: "working"
  • Key Idea: Active or operational power (power in dynamic effect or motion).
  • Context: Derived from (in) and (work), it describes power put into active operation rather than staying in reserve. It is the root of the English word energy. 

3. Kratos (κράτος)

  • Meaning: Might, sovereign control, manifested strength, or ruling authority.
  • English Translations: Might, power, dominion, mastery.
  • Primary Translations: Mighty power, dominion, sovereignty, masterly force, manifested strength.
  • NKJV Translation: "power" (in the phrase "mighty power" / combined with ischys)
  • Key Idea: Victorious, ruling power that overcomes resistance and exerts authority.
  • Context: Emphasizes exerted force that overcomes resistance and maintains authority. It appears in English suffixes like democrat or autocrat. In divine contexts, it points to God's ultimate dominion and victory. 

4. Ischys (ἰσχύς)

  • Meaning: Great physical/inherent strength, forcefulness, or endowment of vigor.
  • English Translations: Might, strength, force, power.
  • Primary Translations: Might, great strength, force, power, muscular vigor.
  • NKJV Translation: "mighty" (in "mighty power")
  • Key Idea: Deep, residing reservoir of raw strength backing up the operation.
  • Context: While dynamis is capability, ischys is the deep reservoir of raw strength or divine muscularity that backs up the action. 

How They Combine in Ephesians 1:19 (NKJV)

"and what is the exceeding greatness of His power (dynamis) toward us who believe, according to the working (energeia) of His mighty (ischys) power (kratos)..."

How They Render Together in Major Bible Translations

  • NKJV: "...the exceeding greatness of His power (dynamis) toward us who believe, according to the working (energeia) of His mighty (ischys) power (kratos)..."

  • KJV: "...the exceeding greatness of his power (dynamis) to us-ward who believe, according to the working (energeia) of his mighty (ischys) power (kratos)..."

  • ESV: "...what is the immeasurable greatness of his power (dynamis) toward us who believe, according to the working (energeia) of his great (ischys) might (kratos)..."

  • NASB: "...what is the surpassing greatness of His power (dynamis) toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working (energeia) of the strength (ischys) of His might (kratos)..."

By stacking all four terms in a single verse, Paul emphasizes that the complete, multi-faceted spectrum of divine power—the very power that raised Jesus from the dead—is actively available to every believer.

I would love feedback. Drop a comment. Thanks. * Sources used in podcast and/or blog post: * Gamini * Bible hub online commentary * Barnes Notes on the Bible https://amzn.to/445yM1g * John Gill's Exposition of the Bible https://amzn.to/4em5pN0 * Ellicott's Bible Commentary https://amzn.to/4veuwsy * #CommissionsEarned

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