Ephesians 6:12

Ephesians 6:12 in other versions

• King James Version (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.
• New International Version (NIV)For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Context of Ephesians 6:12

10Finally, receive your power from the Lord and from his mighty strength. 11Put on all the armor that God supplies. In this way you can take a stand against the devil’s strategies. This is not a wrestling match against a human opponent. We are wrestling with rulers, authorities, the powers who govern this world of darkness, and spiritual forces that control evil in the heavenly world. 13For this reason, take up all the armor that God supplies. Then you will be able to take a stand during these evil days. Once you have overcome all obstacles, you will be able to stand your ground. 14So then, take your stand! Fasten truth around your waist like a belt. Put on God’s approval as your breastplate.

Ephesians 6:12 word by word

ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ἡμῖν ἡ πάλη πρὸς αἷμα καὶ σάρκα ἀλλὰ πρὸς τὰς ἀρχάς, πρὸς τὰς ἐξουσίας, πρὸς τοὺς κοσμοκράτορας τοῦ σκότους τούτου, πρὸς τὰ πνευματικὰ τῆς πονηρίας ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Forὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• weἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• wrestleπάληpalē · struggleG3823
• notοὐou · noG3756
• ·εἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• againstπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• fleshσάρξsarx · fleshG4561
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• bloodαἷμαaima · bloodG129
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• principalitiesἀρχήarchē · beginningG746
• powersἐξουσίαexousia · authorityG1849
• the rulersκοσμοκράτωρkosmokratōr · world powerG2888
• of the darknessσκότοςskotos · darknessG4655
• of thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• worldαἰώνaiōn · an age: ageG165
• spiritualπνευματικόςpneumatikos · spiritualG4152
• wickednessπονηρίαponēria · evilG4189
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• highἐπουράνιοςepouranios · heavenlyG2032

Cross-references for Ephesians 6:12

• Luke 13:24“Try hard to enter through the narrow door. I can guarantee that many will try to enter, but they won’t succeed.
• 1 Corinthians 9:25Everyone who enters an athletic contest goes into strict training. They do it to win a temporary crown, but we do it to win one that will be permanent.
• 2 Timothy 2:5Whoever enters an athletic competition wins the prize only when playing by the rules.
• Hebrews 12:1Since we are surrounded by so many examples ⌞of faith⌟, we must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially sin that distracts us. We must run the race that lies ahead of us and never give up.
• Matthew 16:17Jesus replied, “Simon, son of Jonah, you are blessed! No human revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven revealed it to you.
• 1 Corinthians 15:50Brothers and sisters, this is what I mean: Flesh and blood cannot inherit God’s kingdom. What decays cannot inherit what doesn’t decay.
• Galatians 1:16to show me his Son. He did this so that I would tell people who are not Jewish that his Son is the Good News. When this happened, I didn’t talk it over with any other person.
• Ephesians 1:21He is far above all rulers, authorities, powers, lords, and all other names that can be named, not only in this present world but also in the world to come.
• Ephesians 3:10He did this so that now, through the church, he could let the rulers and authorities in heaven know his infinite wisdom.
• Romans 8:38I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love which Christ Jesus our Lord shows us. We can’t be separated by death or life, by angels or rulers, by anything in the present or anything in the future, by forces
• Colossians 2:15He stripped the rulers and authorities ⌞of their power⌟ and made a public spectacle of them as he celebrated his victory in Christ.
• 1 Peter 3:22Now Christ has gone to heaven where he holds the honored position—the one next to God the Father on the throne. Angels, rulers, and powers have been placed under his authority.
• Ephesians 2:2You followed the ways of this present world and its spiritual ruler. This ruler continues to work in people who refuse to obey God.
• Job 2:2The Lord asked Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the Lord, “From wandering all over the earth.”
• Luke 22:53I was with you in the temple courtyard every day and you didn’t try to arrest me. But this is your time, when darkness rules.”
• John 12:31“This world is being judged now. The ruler of this world will be thrown out now.

Commentaries on Ephesians 6:12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood - ̔ ̔ ̔ · Our wrestling or contention is not with men like ourselves: flesh and blood is a Hebraism for men, or human beings. See the note on Galatians 1:16. The word implies the athletic exercises in the Olympic and other national games; and was the place in which the contenders exercised. Here it signifies warfare in general. Against principalities - · Chief rulers; beings of the first rank and order in their…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12For we wrestle - Greek, “The wrestling to us;” or, “There is not to us a wrestling with flesh and blood.” There is undoubtedly here an allusion to the ancient games of Greece, a part of the exercises in which consisted in wrestling; see the notes on 1 Corinthians 9:25-27. The Greek word used here - ́ palē- denotes a “wrestling;” and then a struggle, fight, combat. Here it refers to the struggle or combat which the Christian has to mainrain - the…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-18Verses 10-18 Spiritual strength and courage are needed for our spiritual warfare and suffering. Those who would prove themselves to have true grace, must aim at all grace; and put on the whole armour of God, which he prepares and bestows. The Christian armour is made to be worn; and there is no putting off our armour till we have done our warfare, and finished our course. The combat is not against human enemies, nor against our own corrupt nature only; we…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12Believers should not see other people as their enemies. Instead, their opposition comes from spiritual evil in the unseen world. Christ has authority over that realm (see 1:21–22).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. Greek, "For our wrestling ('the wrestling' in which we are engaged) is not against flesh," &c. Flesh and blood foes are Satan's mere tools, the real foe lurking behind them is Satan himself, with whom our conflict is. "Wrestling" implies that it is a hand-to-hand and foot-to-foot struggle for the mastery: to wrestle successfully with Satan, we must wrestle with God in irresistible prayer like Jacob (Ge 32:24-29; Ho 12:4). Translate, "The…Read the comment

Topics related to Ephesians 6:12

• Armor
• Darkness
• Satan
• Soldiers
• Wrestling

In the dictionaries

• Flesh and Blood
• Daemon
• Nurture
• Obey
• Provoke
• War
• Wrestle
• Allegory
• Angel
• Armor; Arms

Commentaries on Ephesians 6

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings