Wedding reading
Ephesians 3:14–19
King James Bible
“Ephesians 3:14–19” (King James Bible) is a scripture reading read at a wedding ceremony. It takes about 50 seconds read aloud, usually by a guest reader. It is in the public domain, so the full text is printed on this page and goes straight into a ceremony script.
The full text
For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Public domain, so these words can be printed in a ceremony script or an order of service.
Where it comes from
Ephesians opens in Paul’s name, written “to the saints which are at Ephesus”, and this passage is a prayer he says he makes for them on his knees.
What it says
Paul prays that the people he loves will be strengthened inside, that Christ will live in their hearts, and that, rooted and grounded in love, they will understand how wide, long, deep and high that love is: a love that goes beyond knowing. It is a prayer for someone else, which is why it suits a wedding guest: the reader is praying for the couple in front of the room.
"Rooted and grounded in love" — and it names both families at once. Read at a wedding ceremony. Themes: rooted and grounded in love · family · strength · the whole family named.
Who it suits
Church weddings where a friend or relative wants to pray for the couple rather than give them advice, and couples who like the image of love having roots. It is clearly Christian and works across denominations.
Where it goes in the ceremony
As a reading before prayers or the blessing, or as the last reading before the vows. A godparent, grandparent or pastor friend reads it well.
Reading it aloud
The text on this page is 106 words. At a ceremony pace of about 130 words a minute, which is slower than conversation, that comes to about 50 seconds of reading.
- It is one long sentence in the King James. Mark your breaths in advance, at “that he would grant you”, “that Christ may dwell”, and “that ye may be able”.
- The four dimensions, breadth, length, depth and height, should be read slowly and evenly, like measurements.
- End on “filled with all the fulness of God” and leave a beat of silence.
Questions about reading it aloud
How long does “Ephesians 3:14–19” take to read aloud?
“Ephesians 3:14–19” takes about 50 seconds read aloud at a ceremony pace, which is slower than conversation — roughly 130 words a minute. That is the figure the run-sheet uses when it works out the timing for the whole service.
Who usually reads “Ephesians 3:14–19”?
Usually a guest reader rather than the officiant. “Ephesians 3:14–19” runs about 50 seconds, which is a manageable amount to hand to a friend or family member. Give them a printed copy of their own, in a size they can read without their glasses, and tell them where to stand and how you will introduce them.
Can “Ephesians 3:14–19” be printed in a ceremony script?
Yes. It is in the public domain, so the full text is on this page and can be printed in a script or an order of service.
Where this text was checked
Checked word for word against a full-text edition that is itself the authority — a Project Gutenberg or Wikisource transcription, a publisher’s own edition, or the issuing body’s page.
Checked
A reading is two minutes of the hour.
The rest is the welcome, the vows, the ring exchange, the pronouncement — and the timing that holds them together. Answer some questions about the couple and get the whole ceremony, written out, with this reading in its place.
Other readings that suit the same service
- Ephesians 4:2–640 secondsThe next chapter, on patience and unity
- 1 Corinthians 13:1–13two minutesLove that outlasts knowledge, in the full chapter
- Philippians 4:4–8a minute and a halfAnother of Paul’s letters, on joy and peace
- 1 Corinthians 16:13–1415 secondsKing James Bible
- Eshet Chayil — A Woman of Valour (Proverbs 31, JPS 1917)a minute and a halfJPS 1917 translation
- 1 Corinthians 13:4–8a45 secondsKing James Bible