EPH 6:18 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

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

OET (OET-RV) Make your requests as you pray in the spirit at every occasion and similarly staying alert and persevering as you make requests on behalf of all the dedicated believers

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 With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit. And to this end, be watchful with all perseverance and requests for all the saints,

UST Whenever you pray to God and request things from him, always let God’s Spirit direct you in how you pray and what you pray for. To be most effective, keep watching to see what God is doing, and be persistent as you continue to pray for all of God’s people.

BLB through all prayer and supplication, praying in the Spirit in every season and unto this very thing, watching with all perseverance and supplication for all saints,

AICNT Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication.
¶  To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints,

OEB Pray in spirit at all times. Be intent on this, with unwearying perseverance and supplication for all Christ’s people –

WEBBE with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints.

WMBB with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the holy ones.

NET With every prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and to this end be alert, with all perseverance and requests for all the saints.

LSV through all prayer and supplication praying at all times in the Spirit, and in this, watching in all perseverance and supplication for all the holy ones—

FBV Always pray in the Spirit as you do all this. Stay awake and keep on praying for all God's people.

TCNT Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every prayer and supplication, and to this end, stay alert and be persistent in praying for all the saints.

T4T As you are doing that, keep praying to God at all times, and requesting him to do things for you and others; and let God’s Spirit direct what you pray. For this purpose, always be spiritually alert/watchful, and ◄always be persistent in/never quit► praying for all God’s people.

LEB with all prayer and supplication praying at all times in the Spirit, and to this end being alert with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints,

BBE With prayers and deep desires, making requests at all times in the Spirit, and keeping watch, with strong purpose, in prayer for all the saints,

Moff praying at all times in the Spirit with all manner of prayer and entreaty — be alive to that, attend to it unceasingly, interceding on behalf of all the saints

Wymth Pray with unceasing prayer and entreaty on every fitting occasion in the Spirit, and be always on the alert to seize opportunities for doing so, with unwearied persistence and entreaty on behalf of all God's people,

ASV with all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints,

DRA By all prayer and supplication praying at all times in the spirit; and in the same watching with all instance and supplication for all the saints:

YLT through all prayer and supplication praying at all times in the Spirit, and in regard to this same, watching in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints —

Drby praying at all seasons, with all prayer and supplication in [the] Spirit, and watching unto this very thing with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints;

RV with all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints,

SLT By all prayer and supplication praying in all time in Spirit, and for this same watching vigilantly in all perseverance and supplication for the holy:

Wbstr Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching for this purpose with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

KJB-1769 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

KJB-1611 Praying alwayes with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseuerance, and supplication for all Saints,
(Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseuerance, and supplication for all Saints,)

Bshps Praying alwayes in all prayer and supplication in the spirite, and watche thervnto with all instaunce and supplication, for all saintes,
(Praying always in all prayer and supplication in the spirit, and watch thervnto with all instance and supplication, for all saints,)

Gnva And pray alwayes with all maner prayer and supplication in the Spirit: and watch thereunto with all perseuerance and supplication for al Saints,
(And pray always with all manner prayer and supplication in the Spirit: and watch thereunto with all perseuerance and supplication for all Saints, )

Cvdl And praye allwayes with all maner of prayer and supplicacion in the sprete, and watch there vnto with all instaunce and supplicacion for all sayntes
(And pray always with all manner of prayer and supplication in the spirit, and watch there unto with all instance and supplication for all saints)

TNT And praye all wayes with all maner prayer and supplicacion: and that in the sprete: and watch thervnto with all instance and supplicacion for all saynctes
(And pray always with all manner prayer and supplication: and that in the spirit: and watch thervnto with all instance and supplication for all saynctes )

Wycl Bi al preier and bisechyng preie ye al tyme in spirit, and in hym wakinge in al bisynesse, and bisechyng for alle hooli men, and for me;
(By all prayer and beseeching/imploring pray ye/you_all all time in spirit, and in him wakinge in all bisyness, and beseeching/imploring for all holy men, and for me;)

Luth Und betet stets in allem Anliegen mit Bitten und Flehen im Geist und wachet dazu mit allem Anhalten und Flehen für alle Heiligen
(And prays always in everything Anliegen with Pleasen and pleading in_the spirit and watch(v) to_that/in_addition with everything Anhalten and pleading for/in_favour_of all saints/holy_ones)

ClVg per omnem orationem et obsecrationem orantes omni tempore in spiritu: et in ipso vigilantes in omni instantia et obsecratione pro omnibus sanctis:[fn]
(through all speech and obsecrationem orantes all at_the_time in/into/on in_spirit: and in/into/on himself vigilantes in/into/on all instantia and obsecratione for to_all to_the_saints: )

6.18 In spiritu. Orat in spiritu, qui munda conscientia et integra fide orat. In carne orat, qui polluta mente iterum peccat, non casu, sed de proposito.

6.18 In in_spirit. Orat in/into/on in_spirit, who/which clean conscience and integra with_faith prays. In flesh/meat prays, who/which polluted mind again sins, not/no casu, but from/about proposito.

UGNT διὰ πάσης προσευχῆς καὶ δεήσεως, προσευχόμενοι ἐν παντὶ καιρῷ ἐν Πνεύματι, καὶ εἰς αὐτὸ, ἀγρυπνοῦντες ἐν πάσῃ προσκαρτερήσει καὶ δεήσει περὶ πάντων τῶν ἁγίων;
(dia pasaʸs proseuⱪaʸs kai deaʸseōs, proseuⱪomenoi en panti kairōi en Pneumati, kai eis auto, agrupnountes en pasaʸ proskarteraʸsei kai deaʸsei peri pantōn tōn hagiōn;)

SBL-GNT διὰ πάσης προσευχῆς καὶ δεήσεως, προσευχόμενοι ἐν παντὶ καιρῷ ἐν πνεύματι, καὶ εἰς ⸀αὐτὸ ἀγρυπνοῦντες ἐν πάσῃ προσκαρτερήσει καὶ δεήσει περὶ πάντων τῶν ἁγίων,
(dia pasaʸs proseuⱪaʸs kai deaʸseōs, proseuⱪomenoi en panti kairōi en pneumati, kai eis ⸀auto agrupnountes en pasaʸ proskarteraʸsei kai deaʸsei peri pantōn tōn hagiōn,)

RP-GNT διὰ πάσης προσευχῆς καὶ δεήσεως προσευχόμενοι ἐν παντὶ καιρῷ ἐν πνεύματι, καὶ εἰς αὐτὸ τοῦτο ἀγρυπνοῦντες ἐν πάσῃ προσκαρτερήσει καὶ δεήσει περὶ πάντων τῶν ἁγίων,
(dia pasaʸs proseuⱪaʸs kai deaʸseōs proseuⱪomenoi en panti kairōi en pneumati, kai eis auto touto agrupnountes en pasaʸ proskarteraʸsei kai deaʸsei peri pantōn tōn hagiōn,)

TC-GNT διὰ πάσης προσευχῆς καὶ δεήσεως προσευχόμενοι ἐν παντὶ καιρῷ ἐν πνεύματι, καὶ εἰς αὐτὸ [fn]τοῦτο ἀγρυπνοῦντες ἐν πάσῃ προσκαρτερήσει καὶ δεήσει περὶ πάντων τῶν ἁγίων,
(dia pasaʸs proseuⱪaʸs kai deaʸseōs proseuⱪomenoi en panti kairōi en pneumati, kai eis auto touto agrupnountes en pasaʸ proskarteraʸsei kai deaʸsei peri pantōn tōn hagiōn, )

6:18 τουτο ¦ — CT

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.

6:18–20

In 6:14–17, Paul used six metaphors (belt, breastplate, shoes, shield, helmet, sword) to teach the Ephesian Christians how they should fight against Satan and protect themselves from Satan. In 6:18–20 he added a seventh way to fight Satan: by praying. But he did not use a metaphor to teach about praying.

6:18a

Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition.

Pray at all times as the Holy Spirit leads you^(plur). When you^(plur) pray, use all kinds of prayers and requests.
And as you do all these things, pray to God in every way and ask him to help you. Pray on all occasions, as the Holy Spirit leads you.

Pray in the Spirit: The phrase Pray in the Spirit means that we should pray as the Holy Spirit leads or shows us. It does not mean that we should pray silently. Here are some ways to translate this phrase:

pray by the power of the Spirit (CEV)

Pray…as the Spirit leads (GNT)

at all times: The phrase at all times means “all the time” or “in every situation.” Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

Never stop praying (CEV)

Pray…in every situation (GW)

Constantly ask God’s help in prayer (REB)

with every kind of prayer and petition: The phrase with every kind of means to use “all types of” prayers. For example:

Use every kind of prayer and request there is. (GW)

prayer: The word prayer is a generic term for the many types of prayer that the New Testament mentions: giving thanks to God, asking him for forgiveness and asking him for things.

petition: A petition is a specific type of prayer—it is when a person asks God for something.

If your language would not use nouns for “prayer” and petition, you can say:

pray to God in every way and ask him to help you

asking for everything you need (NCV)

6:18b

To this end, stay alert

In order to pray like this, be watchful/vigilant,
For this purpose, do not be inattentive,

To this end, stay alert: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as To this end means “for this purpose.” It refers back to 6:18a about praying in many ways as the Holy Spirit leads. In order to pray as the Holy Spirit leads, a person must be alert.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

For this purpose, be alert

In order to pray like this, pay attention.

stay alert: to the Greek word that the BSB translates as stay alert means to “be watchful,” “pay attention,” or “look for opportunities” to pray. Here is another way to translate this:

always be ready (NCV)

In some languages it may be possible to state this negatively as:

do not be inattentive

do not sleep

6:18c

with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.

and never give up praying for all of God’s people.
but be persistent in your prayers for all of God’s people.

with all perseverance in your prayers: The Greek clause that the BSB literally translates as with all perseverance in your prayers means that we should be persistent when we pray. We should not give up. This does not mean that we should always pray and never do anything else.

for all the saints: As in 1:1c and 3:18a, the word saints means “people set apart for God.” It does not refer to a special group of “holy people.” All Christians are saints.

Here are some ways to translate the word saints:

God’s people

people belonging to God

See Holy, Meaning 1, special use in the Glossary for more information.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

διὰ πάσης προσευχῆς καὶ δεήσεως, προσευχόμενοι ἐν παντὶ καιρῷ ἐν Πνεύματι

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: διά πάσης προσευχῆς καί δεήσεως προσευχόμενοι ἐν παντί καιρῷ ἐν Πνεύματι καί εἰς αὐτό ἀγρυπνοῦντες ἐν πάσῃ προσκαρτερήσει καί δεήσει περί πάντων τῶν ἁγίων)

Alternate translation: [Pray at all times in the Spirit as you pray and make specific requests]

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-goal

εἰς αὐτὸ

to (Some words not found in SR-GNT: διά πάσης προσευχῆς καί δεήσεως προσευχόμενοι ἐν παντί καιρῷ ἐν Πνεύματι καί εἰς αὐτό ἀγρυπνοῦντες ἐν πάσῃ προσκαρτερήσει καί δεήσει περί πάντων τῶν ἁγίων)

The connecting phrase to this end marks a goal or purpose relationship. The goal is what was just mentioned: to pray at all times in the Spirit. In order to do that, believers must be watchful and persevere in making requests for all the saints. Alternate translation: [for this reason] or [in order to do that]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἀγρυπνοῦντες ἐν πάσῃ προσκαρτερήσει καὶ δεήσει περὶ πάντων τῶν ἁγίων

watching with all perseverance (Some words not found in SR-GNT: διά πάσης προσευχῆς καί δεήσεως προσευχόμενοι ἐν παντί καιρῷ ἐν Πνεύματι καί εἰς αὐτό ἀγρυπνοῦντες ἐν πάσῃ προσκαρτερήσει καί δεήσει περί πάντων τῶν ἁγίων)