Ephesians 6:14 kjv
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Ephesians 6:14 nkjv
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
Ephesians 6:14 niv
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
Ephesians 6:14 esv
Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
Ephesians 6:14 nlt
Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness.
Ephesians 6 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ephesians 6:11 | Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. | Protection against devil's schemes |
| Ephesians 6:13 | Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. | Standing in the evil day |
| 2 Corinthians 10:4 | (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) | Spiritual weapons |
| Proverbs 4:23 | Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. | Importance of the heart |
| Psalm 119:160 | Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever. | God's word is truth |
| John 17:17 | Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. | Sanctification by truth |
| John 14:6 | Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. | Jesus is Truth |
| 2 Samuel 22:33 | God is my strength and power, and maketh my way perfect. | God making way perfect |
| Psalm 23:3 | He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. | Leading in righteousness |
| Romans 1:17 | For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. | Righteousness of God revealed |
| 1 Corinthians 1:30 | But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: | Christ our righteousness |
| Galatians 5:22-23 | But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. | Fruit of the Spirit (righteousness) |
| 1 Peter 1:22 | Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: | Purity of soul through truth |
| Hebrews 4:12 | For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. | Word of God's power |
| 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. | Putting on light |
| Isaiah 59:17 | For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke. | God's righteousness as armor |
| Romans 6:13 | Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. | Members as instruments of righteousness |
| Psalm 89:14 | Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face. | Foundation of His throne |
| 2 Thessalonians 2:3 | Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there be a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; | Deception against truth |
| James 1:22 | But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. | Doers of the word |
Ephesians 6 verses
Ephesians 6 14 Meaning
This verse instructs believers to stand firm in their faith by wearing the "belt of truth" and the "breastplate of righteousness." This armor protects the vital areas of the spiritual life. The belt of truth supports and holds everything else in place, representing the foundational importance of truth. The breastplate of righteousness guards the heart, symbolizing the need for a righteous character and obedience to God's commands to shield against sin and condemnation.
Ephesians 6 14 Context
Ephesians chapter 6 continues Paul's exhortation to the church in Ephesus on how to live out their faith in practical ways. Following instructions on family and employer-employee relationships, Paul shifts to the spiritual warfare Christians face. He details the "full armor of God" that believers must don to effectively stand against the schemes of the devil. This specific verse, verse 14, introduces the first pieces of this armor: the belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness, setting the stage for the subsequent descriptions of the shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and sword of the Spirit. The emphasis is on proactive spiritual defense and steadfastness.
Ephesians 6 14 Word analysis
- Stand therefore, (Lianostai, oun, stedamenoi)
- "Stand": Refers to a position of stability, a military posture, or a refusal to yield. It implies endurance and resistance.
- "Therefore": Connects this command to the preceding context of spiritual warfare and the reality of demonic opposition.
- "stedamenoi": Aorist participle, suggesting a decisive action or ongoing state of having braced oneself.
- having your loins girt about with truth; (perizōsamenoio taos zonēn tes aletheias)
- "Having your loins girt about": The image is from a soldier securing his long tunic with a belt to allow freedom of movement and to keep weapons ready.
- "loins": The region of the body considered the source of strength and vitality.
- "girt about": Encircling tightly.
- "zonēn": Belt or sash.
- "tes aletheias": "of truth."
- "truth": Refers to God's revealed truth in scripture, Christ Himself, and the adherence to honest and sincere living.
- and having on the breastplate of righteousness; (endydōtas ton thoraka tes dikaiosynēs)
- "having on": To be clothed with, to wear.
- "breastplate": A piece of armor covering the torso, crucial for protecting vital organs.
- "thoraka": Breastplate, cuirass.
- "tes dikaiosynēs": "of righteousness."
- "righteousness": Refers to both God's imputed righteousness through Christ and our practical, obedient walk with God. It protects the heart from accusation and guilt.
Group of words analysis:
- "loins girt about with truth": This idiom signifies preparedness, steadfastness, and the integrity that comes from being firmly rooted in truth. It's the undergirding of our spiritual readiness, enabling us to move effectively in spiritual combat without hindrance or distraction by falsehood.
- "breastplate of righteousness": This protective covering shields the believer's heart—the center of emotions, decisions, and spiritual life. It signifies protection against Satan's accusations of guilt and sin, and it is maintained by a lifestyle of obedience to God's standards.
Ephesians 6 14 Bonus section
The imagery of girding the loins was common in the ancient world, allowing for effective movement. Jesus Himself illustrates this concept when He instructs his servants to be ready (Luke 12:35). The truth referenced is not merely factual information but the holistic truth revealed in God's Word and embodied in Jesus. Righteousness, as the breastplate, not only refers to being declared righteous by God through faith in Christ (Romans 5:1) but also to living out that righteousness in obedience, which actively defends the heart against the enemy's schemes. This armor is a gift from God, and it is by relying on His power that we are enabled to stand (Ephesians 6:10-13).
Ephesians 6 14 Commentary
The foundational stance for a Christian in spiritual battle is one of stability and preparedness, achieved by girding oneself with truth. This isn't just intellectual assent but a deep, encompassing adherence to God's word and the person of Jesus Christ, who is the Truth. This truth acts like a belt, providing integrity, holding other spiritual truths together, and giving freedom for spiritual action without encumbrance. Alongside this, the breastplate of righteousness guards the most vital part of the believer—the heart. Righteousness here encompasses God's declared righteousness imputed to us by faith in Christ, which frees us from condemnation, and also our personal pursuit of godly living, which is a safeguard against Satan's attacks and accusations of sin. Together, these two pieces of armor provide a firm basis for enduring spiritual trials and maintaining a clear conscience and unwavering faith.