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Monday, November 25th, 2024
the Week of Christ the King / Proper 29 / Ordinary 34
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Ephesians 6:14

So stand firm and hold your ground, HAVING TIGHTENED THE WIDE BAND OF TRUTH (personal integrity, moral courage) AROUND YOUR WAIST and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (an upright heart),

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Armor;   Breastplate;   Commandments;   Girdle;   Justification;   Satan;   Soldiers;   Temptation;   Truth;   War;   Zeal, Religious;   Thompson Chain Reference - Attitudes of the Christian;   Breastplate;   Girdle;   Righteousness;   Righteousness-Unrighteousness;   Seven;   Social Duties;   Truth-Falsehood;   Truthfulness;   The Topic Concordance - Armor;   War/weapons;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Arms, Military;   Breastplate;   Devil, the;   Girdles;   Paschal Lamb, Typical Nature of;   Righteousness;   Roman Empire, the;   Truth;   Warfare of Saints;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Gird, Girdle;   War;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Armour;   Holy spirit;   Paul;   Soldier;   Truth;   Victory;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Armor;   Dead Sea Scrolls;   Demon;   Nahum, Theology of;   Watchfulness;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Image;   Love, Brotherly;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Armour;   Breastplate;   War;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Arms;   Girdle;   Passover;   War;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Arms and Armor;   Breastplate;   Church;   Devil, Satan, Evil, Demonic;   Ephesians, Book of;   Life;   Loins;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Armour, Arms;   Ephesians, Epistle to;   Sin;   Symbol;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Discipline;   Ephesians Epistle to the;   Heathen;   Metaphor;   Perseverance;   Quotations;   Righteousness;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Breastplate;   Girdle;   Jordan ;   Loins;   Satan ;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Breastplate;   Irt;   Loins;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - War;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Allegory;   Armor;   Bible, the;   Ephesians, Epistle to the;   Loins;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Breastplate;  

Devotionals:

- Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life - Devotion for July 31;   Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for November 8;   Every Day Light - Devotion for December 20;   Today's Word from Skip Moen - Devotion for June 25;  

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
So stand strong with the belt of truth tied around your waist, and on your chest wear the protection of right living.
Revised Standard Version
Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Stonde therfore and youre loynes gyrd aboute with veritie havinge on the brest plate of rightewesnes
Hebrew Names Version
Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
New American Standard Bible
Stand firm therefore, having belted your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
New Century Version
So stand strong, with the belt of truth tied around your waist and the protection of right living on your chest.
Update Bible Version
Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
Webster's Bible Translation
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breast-plate of righteousness;
English Standard Version
Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
World English Bible
Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
Weymouth's New Testament
Stand therefore, first fastening round you the girdle of truth and putting on the breastplate of uprightness
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor stonde ye, and be gird aboute youre leendis in sothefastnesse, and clothid with the haburioun of riytwisnesse,
English Revised Version
Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
Berean Standard Bible
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth fastened around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed,
Contemporary English Version
Be ready! Let the truth be like a belt around your waist, and let God's justice protect you like armor.
American Standard Version
Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
Bible in Basic English
Take your place, then, having your body clothed with the true word, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness;
Complete Jewish Bible
Therefore, stand! Have the belt of truth buckled around your waist , put on righteousness for a breastplate ,
Darby Translation
Stand therefore, having girt about your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
International Standard Version
Stand firm, therefore, having fastened the belt of truth around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,Isaiah 11:5; 59:17; Luke 12:35; 2 Corinthians 6:7; 1 Thessalonians 5:8; 1 Peter 1:13;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
Stand, therefore, with your loins strengthened with the truth, and wear the breastplate of righteousness,
Murdock Translation
Stand up therefore, and gird your loins with truth; and put on the breastplate of righteousness;
King James Version (1611)
Stand therefore, hauing your loynes girt about with trueth, and hauing on the breast-plate of righteousnesse:
New Living Translation
Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness.
New Life Bible
So stand up and do not be moved. Wear a belt of truth around your body. Wear a piece of iron over your chest which is being right with God.
New Revised Standard
Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Stand therefore, and your loynes girded about with veritie, and hauing on the brest plate of righteousnesse,
George Lamsa Translation
Arise, therefore, gird your loins with truth, and put on the breastplate of righteousness;
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Stand therefore, - having girded your loins with truth, and put on the breastplate of righteousness,
Douay-Rheims Bible
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth and having on the breastplate of justice:
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Stande therfore, hauyng loynes girt about with the trueth, and puttyng on the brest plate of righteousnesse,
Good News Translation
So stand ready, with truth as a belt tight around your waist, with righteousness as your breastplate,
Christian Standard Bible®
Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest,
King James Version
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Lexham English Bible
Stand therefore, girding your waist with truth, and putting on the breastplate of righteousness,
Literal Translation
Then stand firm, "having girded your loins about with truth" and having put "on the breastplate of righteousness," Isa. 11:5; 59:17
Young's Literal Translation
Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about in truth, and having put on the breastplate of the righteousness,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Stonde therfore, and youre loynes gyrde aboute with the trueth, hauynge on the brest plate of righteousnes,
Mace New Testament (1729)
stand firm, the belt of truth round your waist, let justice invest you like mail:
New English Translation
Stand firm therefore, by fastening the belt of truth around your waist, by putting on the breastplate of righteousness,
New King James Version
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
Simplified Cowboy Version
Stand your ground with the belt of truth and the armor of God's goodness.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,
Legacy Standard Bible
Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

Contextual Overview

10In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His [boundless] might. 11Put on the full armor of God [for His precepts are like the splendid armor of a heavily-armed soldier], so that you may be able to [successfully] stand up against all the schemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places. 13Therefore, put on the complete armor of God, so that you will be able to [successfully] resist and stand your ground in the evil day [of danger], and having done everything [that the crisis demands], to stand firm [in your place, fully prepared, immovable, victorious]. 14So stand firm and hold your ground, HAVING TIGHTENED THE WIDE BAND OF TRUTH (personal integrity, moral courage) AROUND YOUR WAIST and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (an upright heart), 15and having strapped on YOUR FEET THE GOSPEL OF PEACE IN PREPARATION [to face the enemy with firm-footed stability and the readiness produced by the good news]. 16Above all, lift up the [protective] shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. 18With all prayer and petition pray [with specific requests] at all times [on every occasion and in every season] in the Spirit, and with this in view, stay alert with all perseverance and petition [interceding in prayer] for all God's people.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

having: Ephesians 5:9, Isaiah 11:5, Luke 12:35, 2 Corinthians 6:7, 1 Peter 1:13

the breastplate: The טשסבמ [Strong's G2382], or breastplate, consisted of two parts; one of which covered the whole region of the thorax or breast, and the other the back, as far down as the front part extended. Isaiah 59:17, 1 Thessalonians 5:8, Revelation 9:9, Revelation 9:17

Reciprocal: Exodus 28:4 - a breastplate Exodus 39:8 - General Leviticus 8:8 - General 1 Samuel 2:4 - stumbled 1 Kings 18:46 - he girded 2 Kings 3:21 - put on armour 2 Kings 4:29 - Gird up thy loins Job 12:21 - weakeneth the strength of the mighty Job 29:14 - I put Proverbs 31:17 - girdeth Isaiah 5:27 - neither Ezekiel 13:5 - to stand Daniel 10:5 - loins Luke 21:36 - stand 2 Corinthians 1:12 - godly 2 Corinthians 1:24 - for Galatians 5:1 - Stand Philippians 4:8 - are true 1 Thessalonians 3:8 - if

Cross-References

Exodus 2:3
When she could no longer hide him, she got him a basket (chest) made of papyrus reeds and covered it with tar and pitch [making it waterproof]. Then she put the child in it and set it among the reeds by the bank of the Nile.
Matthew 24:38
"For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the [very] day when Noah entered the ark,
Luke 17:27
the people were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, [they were indifferent to God] until the day that Noah went into the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.
1 Peter 3:20
who once were disobedient, when the great patience of God was waiting in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons [Noah's family], were brought safely through the water.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Stand therefore,.... Keep your ground, do not desert the army, the church of Christ, nor his cause; continue in the station in which you are placed, keep your post, be upon your watch, stand upon your guard:

having your loins girt about with truth; by which is meant the Gospel, and the several doctrines of it; see Ephesians 1:13; and to have the loins girt with it, shows, that it should be near and close to the saints, and never departed from; and that it is a means of keeping them close to God and Christ, and of strengthening them against the assaults and attacks of Satan; and is of great use in the Christians' spiritual conflict with their enemies; the girdle is a part of armour, and so considerable as sometimes to be put for the whole, Isaiah 5:27; and here it is mentioned in the first place:

and having on the breastplate of righteousness; in allusion to

Isaiah 59:17, meaning not works of righteousness done by men, though these are a fence when rightly used against the reproaches and charges of the enemy, as they were by Samuel, 1 Samuel 12:3, but rather the graces of faith and love, 1 Thessalonians 5:8, though faith has another place in the Christian armour, afterwards mentioned; wherefore it seems best to understand this of the righteousness of Christ, which being imputed by God, and received by faith, is a guard against, and repels the accusations and charges of Satan, and is a security from all wrath and condemnation.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Stand therefore - Resist every attack - as a soldier does in battle. In what way they were to do this, and how they were to be armed, the apostle proceeds to specify; and in doing it, gives a description of the ancient armor of a soldier.

Having your loins girt about - The “girdle, or sash,” was always with the ancients an important part of their dress, in war as well as in peace. They wore loose, flowing robes; and it became necessary to gird them up when they traveled, or ran, or labored. The girdle was often highly ornamented, and was the place where they carried their money, their sword, their pipe, their writing instruments, etc.; see the notes on Matthew 5:38-41. The “girdle” seems sometimes to have been a cincture of iron or steel, and designed to keep every part of the armor in its place, and to gird the soldier on every side.

With truth - It may not be easy to determine with entire accuracy the resemblance between the parts of the armor specified in this description, and the things with which they are compared, or to determine precisely why he compared truth to a girdle, and “righteousness” to a breast-plate, rather than why he should have chosen a different order, and compared righteousness to a girdle, etc. Perhaps in themselves there may have been no special reason for this arrangement, but the object may have been merely to specify the different parts of the armor of a soldier, and to compare them with the weapons which Christians were to use, though the comparison should be made somewhat at random. In some of the cases, however, we can see a particular significancy in the comparisons which are made; and it may not be improper to make suggestions of that kind as we go along. The idea here may be, that as the girdle was the bracer up, or support of the body, so truth is suited to brace us up, and to gird us for constancy and firmness. The girdle kept all the parts of the armor in their proper place, and preserved firmness and consistency in the dress; and so truth might serve to give consistency and firmness to our conduct. “Great,” says Grotius, “is the laxity of falsehood; truth binds the man.” Truth preserves a man from those lax views of morals, of duty and of religion, which leave him exposed to every assault. It makes the soul sincere, firm, constant, and always on its guard. A man who has no consistent views of truth, is just the man for the adversary successfully to assail.

And having on the breast-plate - The word rendered here as “breastplate” θώρἀξ thōrax denoted the “cuirass,” Lat.: lorica, or coat of mail; i. e., the armor that covered the body from the neck to the thighs, and consisted of two parts, one covering the front and the other the back. It was made of rings, or in the form of scales, or of plates, so fastened together that they, would be flexible, and yet guard the body from a sword, spear, or arrow. It is referred to in the Scriptures as a “coat of mail” 1 Samuel 17:5; an “habergeon” Nehemiah 4:16, or as a “breast-plate.” We are told that Goliath’s coat of mail weighed five thousand shekels of brass, or nearly one hundred and sixty pounds. It was often formed of plates of brass, laid one upon another, like the scales of a fish. The following cuts will give an idea of this ancient piece of armor.

Of righteousness - Integrity, holiness, purity of life, sincerity of piety. The breast-plate defended the vital parts of the body; and the idea here may be that the integrity of life, and righteousness of character, is as necessary to defend us from the assaults of Satan, as the coat of mail was to preserve the heart from the arrows of an enemy. It was the incorruptible integrity of Job, and, in a higher sense, of the Redeemer himself, that saved them from the temptations of the devil. And it is as true now that no one can successfully meet the power of temptation unless he is righteous, as that a soldier could not defend himself against a foe without such a coat of mail. A want of integrity will leave a man exposed to the assaults of the enemy, just as a man would be whose coat of mail was defective, or some part of which was missing. The king of Israel was smitten by an arrow sent from a bow, drawn at a venture, “between the joints of his harness” or the “breast-plate” (margin), 1 Kings 22:34; and many a man who thinks he has on the “Christian” armor is smitten in the same manner. There is some defect of character; some want of incorruptible integrity; some point that is unguarded - and that will be sure to be the point of attack by the foe. So David was tempted to commit the enormous crimes that stain his memory, and Peter to deny his Lord. So Judas was assailed, for the want of the armor of righteousness, through his avarice; and so, by some want of incorruptible integrity in a single point, many a minister of the gospel has been assailed and has fallen. It may be added here, that we need a righteousness which God alone can give; the righteousness of God our Saviour, to make us perfectly invulnerable to all the arrows of the foe.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 14. Stand therefore — Prepare yourselves for combat, having your loins girt about with truth. He had told them before to take the whole armour of God, Ephesians 6:13, and to put on this whole armour. Having got all the pieces of it together, and the defensive parts put on, they were then to gird them close to their bodies with the ζωμα or girdle, and instead of a fine ornamented belt, such as the ancient warriors used, they were to have truth. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the truth of God; unless this be known and conscientiously believed no man can enter the spiritual warfare with any advantage or prospect of success. By this alone we discover who our enemies are, and how they come on to attack us; and by this we know where our strength lies; and, as the truth is great, and must prevail, we are to gird ourselves with this against all false religion, and the various winds of doctrine by which cunning men and insidious devils lie in wait to deceive. Truth may be taken here for sincerity; for if a man be not conscious to himself that his heart is right before God, and that he makes no false pretences to religion, in vain does he enter the spiritual lists. This alone can give him confidence:-

---------------- Hic murus aheneus esto,

Nil conscire sibi, nulla pallescere culpa.


Let this be my brazen wall; that no man can reproach me with a crime, and that I am conscious of my own integrity.

The breast-plate of righteousness — What the θωραξ or breast-plate was, see before. The word righteousness, δικαισυνη, we have often had occasion to note, is a word of very extensive import: it signifies the principle of righteousness; it signifies the practice of righteousness, or living a holy life; it signifies God's method of justifying sinners; and it signifies justification itself. Here it may imply a consciousness of justification through the blood of the cross; the principle of righteousness or true holiness implanted in the heart; and a holy life, a life regulated according to the testimonies of God. As the breast-plate defends the heart and lungs, and all those vital functionaries that are contained in what is called the region of the thorax; so this righteousness, this life of God in the soul of man, defends every thing on which the man's spiritual existence depends. While he possesses this principle, and acts from it, his spiritual and eternal life is secure.


 
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