• Ephesians 6:12
    The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures

    • 12 ὅτι because οὐκ not ἔστιν is ἡμῖν to us ἡ the πάλη wrestling πρὸς toward αἷμα blood καὶ and σάρκα, flesh, ἀλλὰ but πρὸς toward τὰς the ἀρχάς, governments, πρὸς toward τὰς the ἐξουσίας, authorities, πρὸς toward τοὺς the κοσμοκράτορας world-mighty ones τοῦ of the σκότους darkness τούτου, this, πρὸς toward τὰ the πνευματικὰ spiritual (things) τῆς of the πονηρίας wickedness ἐν in τοῖς the ἐπουρανίοις. heavenly [places].

  • Ephesians 6:12
    King James Version

    • 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.

  • Ephesians 6:12
    American Standard Version

    • 12 For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places .

  • Ephesians Study Notes—Chapter 6
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)

    • 6:12

      a struggle: The Greek word rendered “a struggle,” used only here in the Christian Greek Scriptures, originally referred to “a wrestling,” as in a sports contest. Here the word conveys the idea of a personal fight against wicked spirits. Because the context refers to the spiritual war of Christians and the figurative suit of armor, some suggest that Paul may have had two types of struggles in mind, that of a wrestler and that of a soldier. (Eph 6:11-18) Combining the images was natural, since ancient warfare could involve hand-to-hand combat and well-equipped soldiers were often skilled wrestlers. In his second letter to Timothy, Paul also combined a military image with an athletic one.​—2Ti 2:3-5.

      the world rulers of this darkness: Paul calls these “world rulers” the wicked spirit forces, that is, Satan and his demons. (See study note on Joh 12:31.) Their intention is to keep mankind in spiritual darkness, alienated from the light of Jehovah God. The Greek word ko·smo·kraʹtor, rendered “world rulers,” occurs only here in the Christian Greek Scriptures, though it is used in ancient Greek writings in reference to such mythological gods as Hermes.

      in the heavenly places: Here this expression refers to the invisible spirit realm from which Satan, “the ruler of the authority of the air,” influences mankind.​—Eph 2:2.