Ephesians 6:17

Amplified Bible

And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
Accept God's salvation as your helmet. And take the sword of the Spirit—that sword is the teaching of God.

Revised Standard Version
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And take the helmet of salvacio and the swearde of the sprete which is the worde of God.

Hebrew Names Version
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

New American Standard Bible
And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

New Century Version
Accept God's salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Update Bible Version
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Webster's Bible Translation
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

English Standard Version
and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

World English Bible
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit,

Weymouth's New Testament
and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And take ye the helm of helthe, and the swerd of the Goost, that is, the word of God.

English Revised Version
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Berean Standard Bible
And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Contemporary English Version
Let God's saving power be like a helmet, and for a sword use God's message that comes from the Spirit.

American Standard Version
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Bible in Basic English
And take salvation for your head-dress and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Complete Jewish Bible
And take the helmet of deliverance ; along with the sword given by the Spirit, that is, the Word of God;

Darby Translation
Have also the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is God's word;

International Standard Version
also take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.Isaiah 59:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:8; Hebrews 4:12; Revelation 1:16; 2:16; 19:15;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
and put on the helmet of salvation, and take the sword of the Spirit which is the word of Aloha.

Murdock Translation
And put on the helmet of rescue; and take hold of the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

King James Version (1611)
And take the helmet of saluation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

New Living Translation
Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

New Life Bible
The covering for your head is that you have been saved from the punishment of sin. Take the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.

New Revised Standard
Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Geneva Bible (1587)
And take the helmet of saluation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the worde of God.

George Lamsa Translation
And put on the helmet of salvation, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, the helmet of salvation, welcome ye, and the sword of the spirit, which is what God hath spoken,

Douay-Rheims Bible
And take unto you the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit (which is the word of God).

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And take the helmet of saluation, and the sworde of the spirite, whiche is the worde of God.

Good News Translation
And accept salvation as a helmet, and the word of God as the sword which the Spirit gives you.

Christian Standard Bible®
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit—which is the word of God.

King James Version
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Lexham English Bible
and receive the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

Literal Translation
Also, take "the helmet of salvation," and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God; Isa. 59:17 LXX-Isa. 11:4; MT-Isa. 49:2; LXX and MT-Hos. 6:5

Young's Literal Translation
and the helmet of the salvation receive, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the saying of God,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And take the helmet of saluacion, & the swerde of the sprete, which is the worde of God.

Mace New Testament (1729)
let salvation be your helmet, and the divine doctrine your spiritual sword.

New English Translation
And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

New King James Version
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

Simplified Cowboy Version
Put on the felt hat of salvation and strap on the sword of God's word.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Legacy Standard Bible
also receive the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

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

the helmet: 1 Samuel 17:5, 1 Samuel 17:58, Isaiah 59:17, 1 Thessalonians 5:8

the sword: Isaiah 49:2, Hebrews 4:12, Revelation 1:16, Revelation 2:16, Revelation 19:15

which: Matthew 4:4, Matthew 4:7, Matthew 4:10, Matthew 4:11, Hebrews 12:5, Hebrews 12:6, Hebrews 13:5, Hebrews 13:6, Revelation 12:11

Reciprocal: Psalms 17:4 - word Zechariah 9:13 - made Luke 4:4 - It

Cross-References

Genesis 2:7
then the LORD God formed [that is, created the body of] man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being [an individual complete in body and spirit].

Genesis 6:3
Then the LORD said, "My Spirit shall not strive and remain with man forever, because he is indeed flesh [sinful, corrupt—given over to sensual appetites]; nevertheless his days shall yet be a hundred and twenty years."

Genesis 6:4
There were Nephilim (men of stature, notorious men) on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God lived with the daughters of men, and they gave birth to their children. These were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown (great reputation, fame).

Genesis 6:7
So the LORD said, "I will destroy (annihilate) mankind whom I have created from the surface of the earth—not only man, but the animals and the crawling things and the birds of the air—because it [deeply] grieves Me [to see mankind's sin] and I regret that I have made them."

Genesis 6:12
God looked on the earth and saw how debased and degenerate it was, for all humanity had corrupted their way on the earth and lost their true direction.

Genesis 6:13
God said to Noah, "I intend to make an end of all that lives, for through men the land is filled with violence; and behold, I am about to destroy them together with the land.

Genesis 6:14
"Make yourself an ark of gopher wood; make in it rooms (stalls, pens, coops, nests, cages, compartments) and coat it inside and out with pitch (bitumen).

Genesis 6:20
"Of fowls and birds according to their kind, of animals according to their kind, of every crawling thing of the ground according to its kind—two of every kind shall come to you to keep them alive.

Genesis 6:21
"Also take with you every kind of food that is edible, and you shall collect and store it; and it shall be food for you and for them."

Genesis 6:22
So Noah did this; according to all that God commanded him, that is what he did.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And take the helmet of salvation,.... Meaning either Christ himself, the Saviour; and so the Arabic version renders it, "the helmet of the Saviour": or the salvation itself, which he is the author of, and a well grounded hope of it; see 1 Thessalonians 5:8; the allusion is to Isaiah 59:17; and such an hope of salvation by Christ is a defence of the head against false doctrines; for the helmet is a piece of armour for the head; and it is an erecter of the head in times of difficulty, affliction, and distress; and it covers the head in the day of battle, when engaged with Satan, the enemy of souls:

and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; the word of God is compared to a "sword", for its two edges, the law and Gospel; the one convicts of sin, and cuts to the heart for it, and the other cuts down all the goodliness of man; and the Scriptures in general are a sharp sword, in convincing of sin, reproving for it, and threatening with wrath and ruin, in refuting error and heresy, and repelling Satan's temptations, and will be used in the destruction of antichrist: and this word may be called "the sword of the Spirit", because it is not carnal, but of a spiritual nature; and is used by the spiritual man; and because the Holy Spirit, as the Ethiopic version here expresses it, is the author of it; and which he furnishes the saints with, and teaches them how to make use of, and makes it powerful and effectual. So the Jews say t, the words of the law are like to a sword, and speak of חרב תורה "the sword of the law" u

t Targum in Cant. 3. 8. u Bereshit Rabba, sect. 21. fol. 19. 1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And take the helmet - The helmet was a cap made of thick leather, or brass, fitted to the head, and was usually crowned with a plume, or crest, as an ornament. Its use was to guard the head from a blow by a sword, or war-club, or battle-axe. The cuts will show its usual form.

Of salvation - That is, “of the hope of salvation;” for so it is expressed in the parallel place in 1 Thessalonians 5:8. The idea is, that a well-founded hope of salvation will preserve us in the day of spiritual conflict, and will guard us from the blows which an enemy would strike. The helmet defended the head, a vital part; and so the hope of salvation will defend the soul, and keep it from the blows of the enemy. A soldier would not fight well without a hope of victory. A Christian could not contend with his foes, without the hope of final salvation; but, sustained by this, what has he to dread?

And the sword - The sword was an essential part of the armor of an ancient soldier. His other weapons were the bow, the spear, or the battle-axe. But, without a sword, no soldier would have regarded himself as well armed. The ancient sword was short, and usually two-edged, and resembled very much a dagger.

Of the Spirit - Which the Holy Spirit furnishes; the truth which he has revealed.

Which is the word of God - What God has spoken - his truth and promises; see the notes on Hebrews 4:12. It was with this weapon that the Saviour met the tempter in the wilderness; Matthew 4:0. It is only by this that Satan can now be met. Error and falsehood will not put back temptation; nor can we hope for victory, unless we are armed with truth. Learn, hence:

1. That we should study the Bible, that we may understand what the truth is.

(2)We should have texts of Scripture at command, as the Saviour did, to meet the various forms of temptation.

(3)We should not depend on our own reason, or rely on our own wisdom.

A single text of Scripture is better to meet a temptation, than all the philosophy which the world contains. The tempter can reason, and reason plausibly too. But he cannot resist a direct and positive command of the Almighty. Had Eve adhered simply to the Word of God, and urged his command, without attempting to “reason” about it, sire would have been safe. The Saviour Matthew 4:4, Matthew 4:7,Matthew 4:10, met the tempter with the Word of God, and he was foiled. So we shah be safe if we adhere to the simple declarations of the Bible, and oppose a temptation by a positive command of God. But, the moment we leave that, and begin to parley with sin, that moment we are gone. It is as if a man should throw away his sword, and use his naked hands only in meeting an adversary. Hence,

(4) We may seethe importance of training up the young in the accurate study of the Bible. There is nothing which will furnish a better security to them in future life, when temptation comes upon them, than to have a pertinent text of Scripture at command. Temptation often assails us so suddenly that it checks all “reasoning;” but a text of Scripture will suffice to drive the tempter from us.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 17. Take the helmet of salvation — Or, as it is expressed, 1 Thessalonians 5:8, And for a helmet, the hope of salvation. It has already been observed, in the description of the Grecian armour, that on the crest and other parts of the helmet were a great variety of emblematical figures, and that it is very likely the apostle refers to helmets which had on them an emblematical representation of hope; viz. that the person should be safe who wore it, that he should be prosperous in all his engagements, and ever escape safe from battle. So the hope of conquering every adversary and surmounting every difficulty, through the blood of the Lamb, is as a helmet that protects the head; an impenetrable one, that the blow of the battle-axe cannot cleave. The hope of continual safety and protection, built on the promises of God, to which the upright follower of Christ feels he has a Divine right, protects the understanding from being darkened, and the judgment from being confused by any temptations of Satan, or subtle arguments of the sophistical ungodly. He who carries Christ in his heart cannot be cheated out of the hope of his heaven,

The sword of the Spirit — See what is said before on ξιφος and μαχαιρα, in the account of the Greek armour (Ephesians 6:13 (note)). The sword of which St. Paul speaks is, as he explains it, the word of God; that is, the revelation which God has given of himself, or what we call the Holy Scriptures. This is called the sword of the Spirit, because it comes from the Holy Spirit, and receives its fulfilment in the soul through the operation of the Holy Spirit. An ability to quote this on proper occasions, and especially in times of temptation and trial, has a wonderful tendency to cut in pieces the snares of the adversary. In God's word a genuine Christian may have unlimited confidence, and to every purpose to which it is applicable it may be brought with the greatest effect. The shield, faith, and the sword-the word of God, or faith in God's unchangeable word, are the principal armour of the soul. He in whom the word of God dwells richly, and who has that faith by which he knows that he has redemption, even the forgiveness of sins, need not fear the power of any adversary. He stands fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made him free. Some suppose that του πνευματος, of the Spirit, should be understood of our own spirit or soul; the word of God being the proper sword of the soul, or that offensive weapon the only one which the soul uses. But though it is true that every Christian soul has this for its sword, yet the first meaning is the most likely.