Ephesians 3:9-10 (KJV) states:

9 “And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:”
10 “To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,”

Let’s break this passage down using deep linguistic and theological analysis from the Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic perspectives

1. Greek Analysis

Paul wrote Ephesians in Koine Greek. Here is a word-by-word breakdown:

Ephesians 3:9 (Greek)

καὶ φωτίσαι πάντας τίς ἡ οἰκονομία τοῦ μυστηρίου τοῦ ἀποκεκρυμμένου ἀπὸ τῶν αἰώνων ἐν τῷ Θεῷ τῷ τὰ πάντα κτίσαντι διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ

• φωτίσαι (phōtisai) – “to enlighten, to bring light, illuminate” (root: φῶς, phōs = “light”).
• πάντας (pantas) – “all people, everyone.”
• τίς ἡ οἰκονομία (tis hē oikonomia) – “what is the stewardship, administration, or divine plan.”
  • οἰκονομία (oikonomia) refers to God’s divine order or management of His purposes over time.
• τοῦ μυστηρίου (tou mystēriou) – “of the mystery, secret plan of God.”
  • μυστήριον (mystērion) refers to a hidden divine truth now being revealed through Christ.
• ἀποκεκρυμμένου (apokekrymmenou) – “having been hidden, concealed” (root: κρύπτω, kryptō = “to hide”).
• ἀπὸ τῶν αἰώνων (apo tōn aiōnōn) – “from the ages, from eternity past.”
  • αἰών (aiōn) can mean “eternity, an age, a long period.”
• ἐν τῷ Θεῷ (en tō Theō) – “in God” (indicating God’s sovereignty over the mystery).
• τῷ τὰ πάντα κτίσαντι (tō ta panta ktisanti) – “who created all things.”
  • κτίζω (ktizō) means “to create, to found, to establish.”
• διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ (dia Iēsou Christou) – “through Jesus Christ.”
  • The phrase shows Christ’s role in creation (Colossians 1:16, John 1:3).

Greek Summary (3:9)

This verse reveals God’s eternal plan, hidden from past ages, but now being made known through Christ—especially in relation to the Gentiles (Ephesians 3:6).

Ephesians 3:10 (Greek)

ἵνα γνωρισθῇ νῦν ταῖς ἀρχαῖς καὶ ταῖς ἐξουσίαις ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις διὰ τῆς ἐκκλησίας ἡ πολυποίκιλος σοφία τοῦ Θεοῦ

• ἵνα (hina) – “so that, in order that” (expressing purpose).
• γνωρισθῇ (gnōristhēi) – “might be made known, revealed.”
  • γινώσκω (ginōskō) = “to know, to understand deeply.”
• νῦν (nyn) – “now, at this present moment.”
• ταῖς ἀρχαῖς (tais archais) – “to the rulers, principalities.”
  • ἀρχή (archē) refers to angelic or demonic powers that have authority.
• καὶ ταῖς ἐξουσίαις (kai tais exousiais) – “and to the authorities, dominions.”
  • ἐξουσία (exousia) refers to spiritual powers, heavenly authorities, both good and evil.
• ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις (en tois epouraniois) – “in the heavenly places.”
• διὰ τῆς ἐκκλησίας (dia tēs ekklēsias) – “through the church.”
  • The church (ἐκκλησία, ekklēsia) is the means by which God reveals His wisdom.
• ἡ πολυποίκιλος σοφία τοῦ Θεοῦ (hē polypoikilos sophia tou Theou) – “the manifold wisdom of God.”
  • πολυποίκιλος (polypoikilos) – “multi-faceted, richly varied, diverse.”
  • σοφία (sophia) – “wisdom, divine insight.”

Greek Summary (3:10)

God’s purpose is to reveal His multi-dimensional wisdom not just to humans but to the spiritual realm—including angels and demonic forces—through His Church.

2. Hebrew & Aramaic Considerations

Though Paul wrote in Greek, he was deeply influenced by Hebrew thought and possibly Aramaic expressions.

• מִסְתָּר (Mistar) – “mystery, secret” (linked to mystērion).
• סָתוּם (Satūm) – “concealed, hidden” (similar to apokekrymmenou in Greek).
• רוּחַ חָכְמָה (Ruach Chokhmah) – “Spirit of Wisdom” (Isaiah 11:2, connected to sophia).

Paul might be alluding to Daniel 2:22, where God “reveals deep and secret things.” The idea of God’s wisdom being revealed to celestial beings aligns with Job 38:7, where angels observed God’s creation.

3. Theological Significance

1. God’s Hidden Plan:
   • This mystery (μυστήριον) was concealed from previous generations but is now made known.
   • This mystery includes Gentiles being co-heirs with Israel (Ephesians 3:6).
2. The Church as God’s Instrument:
   • The ekklesia (church) plays a cosmic role in declaring God’s wisdom to the spiritual realm.
   • Even angels learn from observing God’s plan unfolding through the church (1 Peter 1:12).
3. Spiritual Warfare & Authority:
   • The principalities and powers (ἀρχαί, ἐξουσίαι) refer to angelic and demonic authorities.
   • Paul states that the church demonstrates God’s wisdom to these beings, indicating its cosmic significance.

Final Insights

• Ephesians 3:9 highlights God’s eternal stewardship (οἰκονομία) in revealing His plan through Jesus.
• Ephesians 3:10 teaches that the church declares God’s wisdom to spiritual authorities, both good and evil.
• Paul’s use of Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic influences shows a deep theological and cosmic scope, not just a historical revelation but a spiritual unfolding of God’s divine order.