Ephesians 5:26

26. sanctify—that is, consecrate her to God. Compare :-, meaning, "I devote Myself as a holy sacrifice, that My disciples also may be devoted or consecrated as holy in (through) the truth" [NEANDER] (Hebrews 2:11; Hebrews 10:10; Hebrews 13:12 see on Hebrews 13:12- :).

and cleanse—rather, as Greek, "cleansing," without the "and."

with the washing of water—rather as Greek, "with," or "by the laver of the water," namely, the baptismal water. So it ought to be translated in Hebrews 13:12- :, the only other passage in the New Testament where it occurs. As the bride passed through a purifying bath before marriage, so the Church (compare Revelation 21:2). He speaks of baptism according to its high ideal and design, as if the inward grace accompanied the outward rite; hence he asserts of outward baptism whatever is involved in a believing appropriation of the divine truths it symbolizes, and says that Christ, by baptism, has purified the Church [NEANDER] (1 Peter 3:21).

by the word—Greek, "IN the word." To be joined with "cleansing it," or "her." The "word of faith" (Romans 10:8; Romans 10:9; Romans 10:17), of which confession is made in baptism, and which carries the real cleansing (John 15:3; John 17:17) and regenerating power (1 Peter 1:23; 1 Peter 3:21) [ALFORD]. So AUGUSTINE [Tract 80, in John], "Take away the word, and what is the water save water? Add the word to the element, and it becomes a sacrament, being itself as it were the visible word." The regenerating efficacy of baptism is conveyed in, and by, the divine word alone.