EPH 6:10-20

The Full Armor of God

10Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the might of his strength.

11Put on the complete armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil,

12because our wrestling is not against blood and flesh, but against rulers, against authorities, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

13Therefore take up the complete armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having accomplished all, to stand.

14Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

15and having fitted your feet with the readiness of the gospel of peace,

16in all these taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

17And receive the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

18praying at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and petition — and to this end, staying alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

19and for me, that a word may be given to me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,

20for which I am an ambassador in chains — so that in it I may speak boldly, as I must speak.

In the world it was spoken into

In the 1st-century Roman Empire, military imagery was pervasive, as soldiers were a common sight in urban centers and along trade routes. The metaphor of the 'full armor of God' would have evoked the image of a heavily armed Roman legionary, whose equipment symbolized strength, protection, and readiness for battle. The listeners, many of whom lived under Roman rule, would have understood this imagery as a call to spiritual vigilance. The mention of 'rulers,' 'authorities,' and 'cosmic powers' reflects the widespread belief in a spiritual hierarchy of malevolent forces that influenced human affairs. This language resonated with both Jewish apocalyptic thought and Greco-Roman ideas about unseen spiritual powers. The term 'wrestling' suggests a close, personal struggle, emphasizing the intimate and ongoing nature of this spiritual conflict. The 'heavenly realms' would have been understood as the domain where these spiritual battles took place, a concept familiar to both Jewish and Hellenistic audiences. The passage frames the Christian life as a disciplined, strategic engagement in a cosmic struggle, requiring divine strength and protection.

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How other translations render this

EPH 6:10

KJV: Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
BSB: Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
Koinōnos: Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the might of his strength.

EPH 6:11

KJV: Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
BSB: Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devilʼs schemes.
Koinōnos: Put on the complete armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil,

EPH 6:12

KJV: For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
BSB: For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this worldʼs darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Koinōnos: because our wrestling is not against blood and flesh, but against rulers, against authorities, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

EPH 6:13

KJV: Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
BSB: Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand.
Koinōnos: Therefore take up the complete armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having accomplished all, to stand.

EPH 6:14

KJV: Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
BSB: Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed,
Koinōnos: Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

EPH 6:15

KJV: And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
BSB: and with your feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace.
Koinōnos: and having fitted your feet with the readiness of the gospel of peace,

EPH 6:16

KJV: Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
BSB: In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Koinōnos: in all these taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

EPH 6:17

KJV: And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
BSB: And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Koinōnos: And receive the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

EPH 6:18

KJV: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
BSB: Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.
Koinōnos: praying at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and petition — and to this end, staying alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

EPH 6:19

KJV: And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
BSB: Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will boldly make known the mystery of the gospel,
Koinōnos: and for me, that a word may be given to me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,

EPH 6:20

KJV: For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
BSB: for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it fearlessly, as I should.
Koinōnos: for which I am an ambassador in chains — so that in it I may speak boldly, as I must speak.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

EPH 6:10

brothers:The word translated 'strengthened' here implies being empowered or invigorated, suggesting an internal source of might rather than just external reinforcement.

EPH 6:11

complete armor:The term 'complete armor' refers to the full panoply of a heavily armed soldier, including shield, helmet, breastplate, greaves, sword, and spear, indicating comprehensive protection.

EPH 6:12

wrestling:The word translated 'wrestling' specifically refers to a hand-to-hand combat sport, emphasizing a close, personal, and intense struggle rather than a general fight.
cosmic powers:The phrase 'cosmic powers' uses a term that literally means 'world-rulers' or 'lords of the world,' often used in ancient contexts for powerful celestial beings or even emperors.