The Meaning of Ephesians 4:7 Explained

Ephesians 4:7

KJV: But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

YLT: and to each one of you was given the grace, according to the measure of the gift of Christ,

Darby: But to each one of us has been given grace according to the measure of the gift of the Christ.

ASV: But unto each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But  unto every  one  of us  is given  grace  according to  the measure  of the gift  of Christ. 

What does Ephesians 4:7 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Whereas each believer has received grace (unmerited favor and divine enablement) from God ( Ephesians 3:2), God does not give each Christian the same measure of grace. Paul spoke of God"s gift of grace here as ability to serve God. Though Jews and Gentiles both receive enabling grace from God, God gives this ability to different individuals differently (cf. Ephesians 4:11; Romans 12:4-6; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6). [1]
"Gifts are not toys to play with. They are tools to build with. And if they are not used in love, they become weapons to fight with ... ( 1 Corinthians 12-14)." [2]

Context Summary

Ephesians 4:1-10 - Keeping The "unity Of The Spirit"
Paul here admonishes lowliness in the presence of another's excellence; meekness in suffering injury; long-suffering under provocation; forbearance toward the trying mistakes and failures of others. Remember that the unity of the Church, as the body of Christ, is already made; but it is for us to maintain it. We must avoid whatever in word or deed would break it. There are seven different bonds of unity, but of these the greatest is the nature of God, which is transcendent, who is above all; penetrant, through all; and immanent, in all. Each saint has some grace or gift; use it. On the whole, after we reach maturity, we had better center on what we can do best.
What a magnificent conception is given in Ephesians 4:8-9 of the ascended Christ! The original conception was supplied by Deborah in her noble song. Descending from her morning vigil on Tabor, she summoned Barak to lead captive the foe who for so long had held the land in captivity. But in Jesus' ascension, a long procession of yet mightier foes was led captive by Him. Among them were Death, the Grave, and Hades, the underworld. It is from the hands of Jesus that even the rebellious may obtain their gifts. There is no depth to which Jesus will not go to save; no height to which He will not lift us [source]

Chapter Summary: Ephesians 4

1  He exhorts to unity;
7  and declares that God therefore gives various gifts unto men;
11  that his church might be edified,
16  and grow up in Christ
18  He calls them from the impurity of the Gentiles;
24  to put on the new man;
25  to cast off lying;
29  and corrupt communication

Greek Commentary for Ephesians 4:7

According to the measure of the gifts of Christ [κατα το μετρον της δωρεας του Χριστου]
Each gets the gift that Christ has to bestow for his special case. See note on 1 Corinthians 12:4.; Romans 12:4-6. [source]
Every one [ἑνὶ ἑκάστῳ]
Rev., each. From the Church as a whole, he passes to its individual members. In the general unity the individual is not overlooked, and unity is consistent with variety of gifts and offices. [source]
Grace [ἡ χάρις]
The article, omitted by A.V., is important: the one grace of God, manifesting itself in the different gifts. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Ephesians 4:7

John 4:10 Answered and said [απεκριτη και ειπεν]
As often (redundant) in John. The first aorist passive Condition of second class, determined as unfulfilled, ει — ei and past perfect ηιδεις — ēideis (used as imperfect) in condition and αν — an and aorist active indicative in conclusion The gift of God Naturally the gift mentioned in John 3:16 (Westcott), the inexpressible gift (2 Corinthians 9:15). Some take it to refer to the living water below, but that is another allusion (metaphor) to John 3:16. See Ephesians 4:7 for Paul‘s use of both χαρις — charis and δωρεα — dōrea (from διδωμι — didōmi to give). Who it is She only knew that he was a Jew. This Messianic self-consciousness of Jesus is plain in John, but it is early in the Synoptics also. Living water Running water like a spring or well supplied by springs. This Jacob‘s Well was filled by water from rains percolating through, a sort of cistern, good water, but not equal to a real spring which was always preferred (Genesis 26:19; Leviticus 14:5; Numbers 19:17). Jesus, of course, is symbolically referring to himself as the Living Water though he does not say it in plain words as he does about the Living Bread (John 6:51). The phrase “the fountain of life” occurs in Proverbs 13:14. Jesus supplies the water of life (John 7:39). Cf. Revelation 7:17; Revelation 22:1. [source]
Ephesians 4:11 He gave []
He is emphatic. It is He that gave. Compare given in Ephesians 4:7. [source]
2 Timothy 1:9 Grace which was given [χάριν τὴν δοθεῖσαν]
Comp. Romans 12:3, Romans 12:6; Romans 15:15; 1 Corinthians 3:10; Ephesians 3:8; Ephesians 4:7. The phrase only here in Pastorals. [source]

What do the individual words in Ephesians 4:7 mean?

One now to each of us has been given - grace according to the measure of the gift - of Christ
Ἑνὶ δὲ ἑκάστῳ ἡμῶν ἐδόθη χάρις κατὰ τὸ μέτρον τῆς δωρεᾶς τοῦ Χριστοῦ

Ἑνὶ  One 
Parse: Adjective, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: εἷς  
Sense: one.
δὲ  now 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
ἑκάστῳ  to  each 
Parse: Adjective, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: ἕκαστος  
Sense: each, every.
ἡμῶν  of  us 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Plural
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
ἐδόθη  has  been  given 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: διδῶ 
Sense: to give.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
χάρις  grace 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: χάρις  
Sense: grace.
κατὰ  according  to 
Parse: Preposition
Root: κατά 
Sense: down from, through out.
μέτρον  measure 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: μέτρον  
Sense: measure, an instrument for measuring.
τῆς  of  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
δωρεᾶς  gift 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: δωρεά  
Sense: a gift.
τοῦ  - 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Χριστοῦ  of  Christ 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: Χριστός  
Sense: Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God.