EPH 6:16 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT In everything take up the shield of the faith, by which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

UST Just as a soldier holds up a shield to stop the flaming arrows that his enemy shoots at him, you must keep trusting firmly in the Lord at all times. That will protect you from all of the things that your enemy, Satan, the evil one, will try to do to harm you spiritually.

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.

BLB besides all, having taken up the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

AICNT {In all},[fn] taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one;

6:16, in all: Later manuscripts read “above all.”

OEB At every onslaught take up faith for your shield; for with it you will be able to extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one.

WEBBE above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET and in all of this, by taking up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

LSV in all, having taken up the shield of faith, in which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one,

FBV Above all, take up the shield of trusting God, by which you'll be able to put out all the devil's flaming arrows.

TCNT [fn]Above all, take up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

6:16 Above all ¦ In all circumstances CT

T4T In addition, keep trusting firmly in the Lord. That will enable you to protect yourselves from anything that Satan, the evil one, may do to harm you spiritually, just like soldiers carry shields to protect themselves against the arrows that have flaming tips that their enemies shoot at them [MET].

LEB in everything taking up the shield of faith, with which you are able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one,

BBE And most of all, using faith as a cover to keep off all the flaming arrows of the Evil One.

Moff above all, take faith as your shield, to enable you to quench all the fire-tipped darts flung by the evil one,

Wymth And besides all these take the great shield of faith, on which you will be able to quench all the flaming darts of the Wicked one;

ASV withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one.

DRA In all things taking the shield of faith, wherewith you may be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of the most wicked one.

YLT above all, having taken up the shield of the faith, in which ye shall be able all the fiery darts of the evil one to quench,

Drby besides all [these], having taken the shield of faith with which ye will be able to quench all the inflamed darts of the wicked one.

RV withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one.
(withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye/you_all shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. )

SLT Over all, having taken the shield of faith, in which ye shall be able to quench all the inflamed darts of evil.

Wbstr Above all, taking the shield of faith, with which ye will be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of the wicked.

KJB-1769 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
(Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye/you_all shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. )

KJB-1611 Aboue all, taking the shielde of Faith, wherewith yee shall bee able to quench all the fierie dartes of the wicked.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation)

Bshps Aboue all, takyng the shielde of fayth, wherwith ye may quenche all the fierie dartes of the wicked:
(Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye/you_all may quench all the fiery darts of the wicked:)

Gnva Aboue all, take the shielde of faith, wherewith ye may quench all the fierie dartes of the wicked,
(Above all, take the shield of faith, wherewith ye/you_all may quench all the fiery darts of the wicked, )

Cvdl Aboue all thinges take holde of the shylde of faith, wherwith ye maye quenche all the fyrie dartes of the wicked.
(Above all things take hold of the shield of faith, wherewith ye/you_all may quench all the fyrie darts of the wicked.)

TNT Above all take to you the shelde of fayth wherwith ye maye quenche all the fyrie dartes of the wicked.
(Above all take to you the shelde of faith wherewith ye/you_all may quench all the fyrie darts of the wicked. )

Wycl In alle thingis take ye the scheld of feith, in which ye moun quenche alle the firy dartis of `the worste.
(In all things take ye/you_all the shield of faith, in which ye/you_all may/can quench all the fiery darts of the worste.)

Luth Vor allen Dingen aber ergreifet den Schild des Glaubens, mit welchem ihr auslöschen könnt alle feurigen Pfeile des Bösewichts.
(Before/In_front_of all/everyone things but seized the shield/sign(n) the faiths, with which_one you(pl)/their/her wipe_out can all fiery arrows the evil/evil_personwichts.)

ClVg in omnibus sumentes scutum fidei, in quo possitis omnia tela nequissimi ignea extinguere:[fn]
(in/into/on to_all sumentes shield of_faith, in/into/on where you(pl)_can everything tela nequissimi with_firea extinguere: )

6.16 Scutum fidei. Fides est scutum, sub quo tuta est justitia, sicut sub munimine omnium virtutum, quod protenditur ante omnia arma et quod primo omnium impugnat diabolus.

6.16 Scutum of_faith. Faith it_is shield, under where tuta it_is justice, like under munimine of_all virtues, that protenditur before everything weapons and that at_first of_all impugnat the_devil.

UGNT ἐν πᾶσιν ἀναλαβόντες τὸν θυρεὸν τῆς πίστεως, ἐν ᾧ δυνήσεσθε πάντα τὰ βέλη τοῦ πονηροῦ πεπυρωμένα σβέσαι.
(en pasin analabontes ton thureon taʸs pisteōs, en hō dunaʸsesthe panta ta belaʸ tou ponaʸrou pepurōmena sbesai.)

SBL-GNT ⸀ἐν πᾶσιν ἀναλαβόντες τὸν θυρεὸν τῆς πίστεως, ἐν ᾧ δυνήσεσθε πάντα τὰ βέλη τοῦ ⸀πονηροῦ πεπυρωμένα σβέσαι·
(⸀en pasin analabontes ton thureon taʸs pisteōs, en hō dunaʸsesthe panta ta belaʸ tou ⸀ponaʸrou pepurōmena sbesai;)

RP-GNT ἐπὶ πᾶσιν ἀναλαβόντες τὸν θυρεὸν τῆς πίστεως, ἐν ᾧ δυνήσεσθε πάντα τὰ βέλη τοῦ πονηροῦ τὰ πεπυρωμένα σβέσαι.
(epi pasin analabontes ton thureon taʸs pisteōs, en hō dunaʸsesthe panta ta belaʸ tou ponaʸrou ta pepurōmena sbesai.)

TC-GNT [fn]ἐπὶ πᾶσιν ἀναλαβόντες τὸν θυρεὸν τῆς πίστεως, ἐν ᾧ δυνήσεσθε πάντα τὰ βέλη τοῦ πονηροῦ [fn]τὰ πεπυρωμένα σβέσαι.
(epi pasin analabontes ton thureon taʸs pisteōs, en hō dunaʸsesthe panta ta belaʸ tou ponaʸrou ta pepurōmena sbesai. )

6:16 επι ¦ εν CT

6:16 τα ¦ — SBL

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

TTN Tyndale Theme Notes:

Overcoming the Devil

The New Testament writers were convinced of the reality of evil and the dangers of the spiritual world. So they took Satan (the evil one, the devil) seriously as a real threat. The devil inhibits the work of God’s people (see 1 Thes 2:18; Rev 2:10), and he “prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” (1 Pet 5:8).

The entire unbelieving world is subject to the power of sin and the devil (see Eph 2:2; 1 Jn 5:19). As the “god of this world,” the devil can blind the minds of unbelievers (see 2 Cor 4:4; cp. Matt 13:19). While Satan opposes God and seeks to destroy his people (Rev 12:12, 17), Jesus came to destroy Satan’s work (1 Jn 3:8). God turns what the devil intends for evil into good. Following this principle, Paul instructs the church at Corinth to expel someone from Christian fellowship in order that, by being exposed to the devil’s destructive power, that person might repent and be saved (see 1 Cor 5:5).

Christians are to stand firm and resist the devil (Jas 4:7), praying for God’s deliverance (Matt 6:13) and availing themselves of the armor that God provides for their defense (Eph 6:10-20). Those who yield to Satan’s influence suffer the consequences (see Acts 5:1-5). But believers who walk with Christ are secure because they know that the cross has broken the devil’s power (see Rom 8:38-39; 1 Cor 15:24; Col 1:13; 2:10, 15; 1 Pet 3:22) and that the Lord protects them (see 1 Jn 5:18). They also know that the Holy Spirit within them is greater than the devil (see 1 Jn 4:4). By the word of God, they can overcome the evil one (see 1 Jn 2:14; cp. Rev 12:11).

Although believers need to be wary of the devil and protect themselves from his power, they need not live in fear. The power of the devil is no match for the power of God. And in the end, the devil will be ultimately and totally defeated (see Rev 20:7-10).

Passages for Further Study

Matt 6:13; 13:19; Acts 5:3-5; Rom 8:38-39; 1 Cor 5:5; 15:24; 2 Cor 4:4; Eph 2:2; 4:27; 6:10-20; Col 1:13; 2:10, 15; 1 Thes 2:18; Jas 4:7; 1 Pet 3:22; 5:8; 1 Jn 2:14; 3:8; 4:4; 5:18-19; Rev 2:10; 12:7-9, 11-12, 17

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 6:10–20: Paul told believers how to fight against Satan

In this section, Paul compared the Christian to a soldier fighting in a war. The Christian’s enemies are not human, but supernatural. Christians are fighting against the devil and all the powers of evil, and they must use all the weapons that God gives them. Paul described six pieces of equipment that the Roman soldier of that time used (see the picture below), and he compared each one to something spiritual that will help Christians to overcome Satan. Then Paul also reminded Christians to pray at all times. He told them to pray for their fellow believers and to pray for him so that he would be able to proclaim the gospel without fear.

Here are some other examples for a heading for this section:

Wear the full armour of God (NCV)

Put on all the armour that God supplies (GW)

Christians should prepare and fight against evil spiritual forces

Paragraph 6:14–20

In this paragraph, Paul used six metaphors to describe the way a Christian should prepare himself to fight against Satan. Paul based these metaphors on the armor a Roman soldier wore. The specific pieces of armor are:

belt (6:14b)
breastplate (6:14c)
shoes (6:15)
shield (6:16b–c)
helmet (6:17a)
sword (6:17b)

In many places in the world, people do not know what breastplates, helmets, shields and other armor of the Roman soldiers looked like. So you may want to put a picture of a Roman soldier in your Bible translation at this place when it is printed.

6:16a

In addition to all this,

Another thing is this:
In addition to all these other things,
Here is another thing:

In addition to all this: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as In addition to all this is literally “with all (these things).” There is an interpretation issue here. Scholars interpret this phrase in two ways:

It means As well as putting on the things I have already mentioned. Paul had already told the Ephesians to put on a belt, breastplate and shoes. Next he told them some other pieces of armor to take. For example:
In addition to all these (GW) (BSB, NIV, RSV, NASB, REB, GW, NLT)
It means At all times or always. For example:
At all times (GNT) (GNT, NJB, ESV, NLT96)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) and the greater number of versions. It also seems to fit the context better.

6:16b

take up the shield of faith,

take hold of the shield. The shield is faith in God.
Believe/Trust in God. This will be like holding a shield to protect yourselves.
just as a soldier carries a shield to protect himself against the arrows the enemy shoots at him, believe firmly in Christ to protect yourselves from being harmed by Satan.

the shield of faith: A shield is a large piece of armor that protected the soldier’s whole body. A soldier held it in one hand out in front of himself to protect himself from his enemies’ weapons.

A shield was made of wooden boards fastened together, covered with cloth and then leather. Before a battle, a soldier would soak his shield in water so that it would not burn when enemies shot flaming arrows at him. See the shield of a soldier in the picture at Section 6:10–20.

This is also a metaphor. Paul compared faith to a shield.

One way to fully explain this metaphor is like this: “Just as a shield protects a soldier in a battle, so if you trust in God, he will protect you when Satan attacks you.”

faith: Here faith means to trust or believe in God. See how you translated faith in 1:15b and 3:12a. See faith, Meaning 1, in the Glossary for more information.

Here are some ways to translate 6:16b:

Keep the metaphor. For example:
Take hold of the shield. The shield is faith in God.
Make the metaphor a simile. For example:
Have faith in God. This will be like your shield.
Let your faith be like a shield (CEV)
Give the full meaning of the metaphor. For example:
As a soldier takes hold of a shield to protect himself in battle, if you believe/trust in God it will protect you when Satan attacks.

6:16c

with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

With this shield you^(plur) can put out the arrows of fire which the evil one shoots at you.
This shield will stop all the burning arrows that Satan shoots at you.

with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows: As was mentioned in 6:16b, before a battle, soldiers soaked their shields in water. When the enemy shot burning arrows at them, the wet shields put out the flames and the shields did not burn.

If people do not use bows and arrows in your part of the world, this figure of speech may be difficult to explain. If this is the case, you may want to translate this without the metaphor of arrows. One example is:

Your faith will be like a shield that protects you from all the dangerous weapons/things that the evil one throws at you.

all the flaming arrows: In Paul’s time, soldiers dipped the tips of arrows in something like tar. During a battle, they would set the arrows on fire before shooting them.

the evil one: The phrase the evil one refers to Satan, the devil, the ruler of demons. See note on 6:11b.

Here are some other ways to translate 6:16c:

to stop the fiery arrows of the devil (NLT)

for with it you will be able to put out all the burning arrows shot by the Evil One (GNT)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐν πᾶσιν ἀναλαβόντες τὸν θυρεὸν τῆς πίστεως

with (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἐν πᾶσιν ἀναλαβόντες τόν θυρεόν τῆς πίστεως ἐν ᾧ δυνήσεσθε παντᾶ τά βέλη τοῦ πονηροῦ πεπυρωμένα σβέσαι)

In this metaphor, faith is compared to a soldier’s shield. Just as a soldier uses a shield to protect himself from enemy attacks, the believer must use the faith that God gives for protection when the devil attacks.

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

τῆς πίστεως

¬the ˱of˲_faith

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind the word faith, you could express the same idea with a verbal form. Alternate translation: [that represents how much you trust in the Lord]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

τὰ βέλη τοῦ πονηροῦ πεπυρωμένα

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἐν πᾶσιν ἀναλαβόντες τόν θυρεόν τῆς πίστεως ἐν ᾧ δυνήσεσθε παντᾶ τά βέλη τοῦ πονηροῦ πεπυρωμένα σβέσαι)

The attacks of the devil against a believer are like flaming arrows shot at a soldier by an enemy.

Parallel EPH 6:16

Section 6:10–20: Paul told believers how to fight against Satan

Paragraph 6:14–20

6:16a

6:16b

6:16c