"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil" (Ephesians 6:11). The armor is the belt of truth, "the breastplate of righteousness" (Ephesians 6:14), the gospel of peace (6:15), "the shield of faith" (6:16), and "the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (6:17), worn with prayer (6:18).
Ephesians 6 describes the believer's spiritual armor in the language of a Roman soldier. These twelve King James passages walk through it piece by piece and add Paul's related "armour" verses. This is a study page on spiritual warfare and standing firm; for God's shelter and safety in danger, see protection, and for being strengthened when weary, see strength. Families and kids' classes often memorize these verses together.
Be strong and stand
1. Ephesians 6:10
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might."
The armor passage begins with where strength comes from: be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might, not your own.
2. Ephesians 6:11
"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."
The whole armor, not a favorite piece. Its purpose is to stand against the devil's schemes (KJV "wiles").
3. 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."
Our real struggle is not against people but against spiritual forces of darkness. That changes how we treat the people who oppose us.
4. Ephesians 6:13
"Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."
The evil day will come; the armor lets us withstand it and, having done all, still be standing.
The pieces of the armor
5. Ephesians 6:14
"Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;"
The belt of truth holds everything together; the breastplate of righteousness guards the heart. Both are first Christ's gift and then our daily practice.
6. Ephesians 6:15
"And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;"
Sure footing comes from the gospel of peace: peace with God gives stability, and a readiness to share it.
7. Ephesians 6:16
"Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked."
Faith is the shield that quenches the enemy's fiery darts (accusations, lies, temptations) by holding up what God has said.
8. Ephesians 6:17
"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:"
The helmet of salvation guards the mind with assurance; the sword of the Spirit is the Word of God, the only offensive weapon listed. Jesus answered temptation with Scripture (Matthew 4:4).
Pray, and put on the light
9. Ephesians 6:18
"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;"
Prayer is how the armor is worn. Paul calls for praying always, staying alert, and praying for all the saints.
10. Romans 13:12
"The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light."
The night is far spent; put on the armour of light. The armor is also a way of life: casting off the works of darkness.
11. 1 Thessalonians 5:8
"But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation."
Paul's shorter armor list: the breastplate of faith and love, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. Faith, love, and hope protect the believer.
12. 2 Corinthians 10:4
"(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)"
Our weapons are not carnal but mighty through God to pull down strongholds: lies and arguments raised against the knowledge of God (verse 5).
A short prayer
Lord, I put on Your whole armor today. Gird me with truth, guard my heart with righteousness, and steady my feet with the gospel of peace. Help me lift the shield of faith against every lie, guard my mind with the helmet of salvation, and take up Your Word as my sword. Keep me praying and standing in the power of Your might. In Jesus' name, amen.
Go deeper: a SOAP study prompt
Pick one verse above and write: - Scripture: copy the verse by hand. - Observation: what does it say? Who is speaking, to whom? - Application: what does it mean for you today? - Prayer: turn it into a two-line prayer.
New to this method? See our Bible study guide or pick a Bible reading plan.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the 6 pieces of the armor of God?
The belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:14-17), all worn with prayer (Ephesians 6:18).
Where is the armor of God in the Bible?
Ephesians 6:10-18. Related passages include Isaiah 59:17, Romans 13:12, and 1 Thessalonians 5:8.
How do you put on the armor of God daily?
Practically: believe and speak truth, live in Christ's righteousness, stay at peace with God, trust His promises when lies come, rest in your salvation, read and memorize Scripture, and pray throughout the day.
Is the armor of God about protection from harm?
It is mainly about standing firm spiritually against temptation, lies, and the schemes of the devil. For God's care in physical danger, see Psalm 91 and our protection page.
Sources: All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), public domain in the United States. References were checked against the KJV text from bible-api.com.
Related: Bible verses about protection · Bible verses about strength · Bible verses about victory · Bible verses about being prayerful · Bible verses about temptation · Bible verses about truth
Explore more: All Bible verses by topic · KJV Bible verses · Verse of the day · Prayers · Bible study · Bible reading plans
