Ephesians 6:12

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.

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Word by word — the Greek

Word	Greek	Strong’s	Meaning
For	ὅτι hoti	G3754	demonstrative · conjunction
we	ἡμῖν hēmîn	G2254	to (or for
wrestle	πάλη palē	G3823	another form for G906 (βάλλω)) · noun — nominative singular feminine
not	οὐκ ouk	G3756	the absolute negative (compare G3361 (μή)) adverb · particle — negative
against	πρὸς pros	G4314	a preposition of direction · preposition
flesh	σάρκα sarka	G4561	flesh (as stripped of the skin) · noun — accusative singular feminine
and	καὶ kai	G2532	and · conjunction
blood	αἷμα haima	G129	blood · noun — accusative singular neuter
but	ἀλλὰ alla	G235	properly · conjunction
against	πρὸς pros	G4314	a preposition of direction · preposition
principalities	ἀρχάς, archas	G746	(properly abstract) a commencement · noun — accusative plural feminine
against	πρὸς pros	G4314	a preposition of direction · preposition
powers	ἐξουσίας, exousias	G1849	privilege · noun — accusative plural feminine
agains	πρὸς pros	G4314	a preposition of direction · preposition
rulers	κοσμοκράτορας kosmokratoras	G2888	a world-ruler · noun — accusative plural masculine
darkness	σκότους skotous	G4655	shadiness · noun — genitive singular neuter
this	τούτου toútou	G5127	of (from or concerning) this (person or thing)
world	αἰῶνος aiōnos	G165	properly · noun — genitive singular masculine
against	πρὸς pros	G4314	a preposition of direction · preposition
spiritual	πνευματικὰ pneumatika	G4152	non-carnal · adjective — accusative plural neuter
wickedness	πονηρίας ponērias	G4189	depravity · noun — genitive singular feminine
in	ἐν en	G1722	"in · preposition
high	ἐπουρανίοις. epouraniois	G2032	above the sky · adjective — dative plural neuter

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

Cross-references

Colossians 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the…
Ephesians 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now w…
Colossians 2:15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins…
Ephesians 1:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which…
Romans 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
1 Corinthians 9:25-27 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptibl…

Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).

Commentary

Matthew Henry on Ephesians 6:10-18

Here is a general exhortation to constancy in our Christian course, and to encourage in our Christian warfare. Is not our life a warfare? It is so; for we struggle with the common calamities of human life. Is not our religion much more a warfare? It is so; for we struggle with the opposition of the powers of darkness, and with many enemies who would keep us from God and heaven. We have enemies to fight against, a captain to fight for, a banner to fight under, and certain rules of war by which we are to govern ourselves. "Finally, my brethren (Eph 6:10), it yet remains that you apply yourselves to your work and duty as Christian soldiers." Now it is requisite that a soldier be both stout-hear…

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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ephesians 6:12

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 (Gen 32:24-29; Hos 12:4). Translate, "The principalities . . . the powers" (Eph 1:21; Col 1:16; see on Eph 3:10). The same grades of powers are specified in the case of the demons here, as in that of angels there (compare Rom 8:38; Co1 15:24; Col 2:15). The Ephesians had practiced sorcery (Act 19:…

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Adam Clarke on Ephesians 6:12

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood - Ουκ εστιν ἡμιν ἡ παλη προς αἱμα και σαρκα· 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 Gal 1:16. The word παλη implies the athletic exercises in the Olympic and other national games; and παλαιστρα was the place in which the contenders exercised. Here it signifies warfare in general. Against principalities - Αρχας· Chief rulers; beings of the first rank and order in their own kingdom. Powers - Εξουσιας, Authorities, derived from, and constituted by the above. The rulers of the darkness of this world - Τους κοσμοκρατορας του σκοτους του αιωνος τουτου· The rule…

The Church Fathers

For being made after the image of the Only-begotten, as I said, it has an unsurpassable beauty, and therefore evil spirits. "for we wrestle not against flesh and blood; "
— Methodius of Olympus, Methodius Discourse VI. Agathe

But ours are other thews and other sinews, just as our contests withal are other; we whose "wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the world's power, against the spiritualities of malice.
— Tertullian, On Fasting

Some spiritual creatures have sinned in heaven. It is against these that we now struggle, "against the spirits of iniquity in high places." They first sinned in heaven. Now they are doing it again on earth.
— Origen of Alexandria, PALESTINIAN CATENA ON PSALM 118.119

The Church Fathers: public-domain translations (Ante-Nicene and Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers), verse-indexed by SermonIndex (CC BY 4.0).

Dictionary and topics

Daemon — The Greek form, rendered “devil” in the Authorized Version of the New Testament. Daemons are spoken of as spiritual beings (Matt. 8:16; 10:1; 12:43-45) at enmity with God, and as having a certain…
Principality — In several passages of the New Testament the term “principalities and powers” appears to denote different orders of angels, good or bad. See (Ephesians 6:12)
Rome — The most celebrated city in the world at the time of Christ. It is said to have been founded B.C. 753. When the New Testament was written, Rome was enriched and adorned with the spoils of the world,…
Satan — Adversary; accuser. When used as a proper name, the Hebrew word so rendered has the article “the adversary” (Job 1:6-12; 2:1-7). In the New Testament it is used as interchangeable with Diabolos, or…
War — The Israelites had to take possession of the Promised Land by conquest. They had to engage in a long and bloody war before the Canaanitish tribes were finally subdued. Except in the case of Jericho…
Wrestle — (Eph. 6:12). See GAMES.
Armor · FIGURATIVE — FIGURATIVE
Arms, Military · Illustrative of: Spiritual armour — Illustrative of: Spiritual armour
Darkness · .“ Power of darkness,” — .“ Power of darkness,”
Devil, The · Saints: Should be armed against — Saints: Should be armed against
Roman Empire, The · Allusions to military affairs of: Use of the panoply or defensive armour — Allusions to military affairs of: Use of the panoply or defensive armour
Satan · .Ruler of the darkness of this worl

Ephesians 6:12

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on Ephesians 6:10-18

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ephesians 6:12

Adam Clarke on Ephesians 6:12

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

Ephesians 6:12

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on Ephesians 6:10-18

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ephesians 6:12

Adam Clarke on Ephesians 6:12

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

John Gill on Ephesians 6:12

John Calvin on Ephesians 6:10-13

Tyndale Open Study Notes on Ephesians 6:12