Devine Scripture

Ephesians 6:12

What does Ephesians 6:12 mean?

A plain-English look at Ephesians 6:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Ephesians 6:12 means

Paul clarifies that our struggle is not against “flesh and blood,” but against a hierarchy of spiritual evil—rulers, authorities, world-rulers of this darkness, spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. The point is not to map unseen realms in detail, but to reorient our focus. People are not the ultimate enemy; unseen powers exploit situations to oppose God’s people. This perspective fosters humility, patience, and prayer, and it steers us away from merely human strategies. If the battle is spiritual, we need spiritual armor. The verse sobers believers without breeding fear, because it stands between assurances of God’s strength (v. 10) and his provision (vv. 13–17).

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

For our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against authorities and powers, against the world-rulers of this dark night, against the spirits of evil in the heavens.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

because we have not the wrestling with blood and flesh, but with the principalities, with the authorities, with the world-rulers of the darkness of this age, with the spiritual things of the evil in the heavenly places;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood; but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

because our struggle is not against blood and flesh, but against principalities, against authorities, against the universal lords of this darkness, against spiritual [power] of wickedness in the heavenlies.

Context

Verse 12 provides the rationale for verse 11’s command to put on the whole armor of God: the opposition is spiritual and organized. With this diagnosis in place, verse 13 will repeat the call to take up the armor so believers can withstand evil days and remain standing. The next verses (14–17) will detail each piece of armor suited to this invisible but real warfare.

v.11Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

v.12This passage

v.13Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Matthew 16:17

    And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jonah: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven.

  • Galatians 1:16

    to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles; straightway I conferred not with flesh and blood:

  • John 16:11

    of judgment, because the prince of this world hath been judged.

  • 1 Peter 3:22

    who is on the right hand of God, having gone into heaven; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

  • Hebrews 12:1

    Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

  • 1 Corinthians 9:25

    And every man that striveth in the games exerciseth self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

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