Ephesians 6:12

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

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].

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ἡμῖν ἡ πάλη πρὸς αἷμα καὶ σάρκα, ἀλλὰ πρὸς τὰς ἀρχάς, πρὸς τὰς ἐξουσίας, πρὸς τοὺς κοσμοκράτορας τοῦ σκότους τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου, πρὸς τὰ πνευματικὰ τῆς πονηρίας ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις.

Transliteration

Hoti ouk estin to us the palē pros haima and sarka, but pros the archas, pros the exousias, pros the kosmokratoras of the skotous of the aiōnos this, pros the pneumatika of the ponērias in the epouraniois.

Grammar Details

*Hoti*: conjunction - because/for
*ouk estin*: negative + present indicative, 3rd person singular - is not
*palē*: nominative, feminine, singular - wrestling/struggle
*pros*: preposition + accusative - against
*haima*: accusative, neuter, singular - blood
*sarka*: accusative, feminine, singular - flesh
*archas*: accusative, feminine, plural - rulers/principalities/beginning authorities
*exousias*: accusative, feminine, plural - authorities/powers
*kosmokratoras*: accusative, masculine, plural - world rulers
*skotous*: genitive, neuter, singular - of darkness
*aiōnos*: genitive, masculine, singular - of age/world
*pneumatika*: accusative, neuter, plural - spiritual forces/beings
*ponērias*: genitive, feminine, singular - of evil/wickedness
*epouraniois*: dative, neuter, plural - in heavenly places/realms

Word Meanings

*Hoti*: because/for/that
*palē*: wrestling/struggle/conflict
*haima*: blood [metonymy for human beings]
*sarka*: flesh [physical nature/humanity]
*archas*: rulers/principalities/beginning authorities
*exousias*: authorities/powers/ruling entities
*kosmokratoras*: world rulers/cosmic powers/world dominators
*skotous*: darkness/obscurity
*aiōnos*: age/world/era
*pneumatika*: spiritual forces/beings/things
*ponērias*: evil/wickedness/malice
*epouraniois*: heavenly places/realms/celestial regions

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Col 1:13 : 13 who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love;
Eph 2:2 : 2 wherein {G1722} ye once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the powers of the air, of the spirit that now worketh in the sons of disobedience;
Col 2:15 : 15 having despoiled the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
1 Cor 9:25-27 : 25 And every man that striveth in the games exerciseth self-control in all things. Now they {G3303} [do it] to receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, as not uncertainly; so fight I, as not beating the air: 27 but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, {G4458} after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.
Rom 8:38 : 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
2 Cor 4:4 : 4 in whom the god of this world hath blinded {G1519} the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn [upon them].
Heb 12:1 : 1 Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Eph 1:21 : 21 far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
Eph 3:10 : 10 to the intent that now unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenly [places] might be made known through the church the manifold wisdom of God,
Eph 1:3 : 3 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly [places] in Christ:
Acts 26:18 : 18 to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith in me.
1 Cor 15:50 : 50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood {G3756} cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
Job 2:2 : 2 And Jehovah said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered Jehovah, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
Matt 16:17 : 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jonah: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven.
Luke 13:24 : 24 Strive to enter in by the narrow door: for many, I say unto you, shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
Luke 22:53 : 53 When I was daily {G2596} with you in the temple, ye stretched not forth your hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.
John 12:31 : 31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
John 14:30 : 30 I will no more speak much with you, for the prince of the world cometh: and he hath {G3756} nothing in me;
John 16:11 : 11 of judgment, because the prince of this world hath been judged.
2 Tim 2:5 : 5 And if also a man contend in the games, he is not crowned, except he have contended lawfully.
Heb 12:4 : 4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin:
1 Pet 3:22 : 22 who is on the right hand of God, having gone into heaven; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
Gal 1:16 : 16 to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles; straightway I conferred not with flesh and blood:

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

Eph 6:10-11
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13Wherefore {G5124} take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand.
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15and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16withal {G3956} taking up the shield of faith, wherewith {G3739} ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts 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 {G1722} {G2540} {G3956} and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching {G846} thereunto {G5124} in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints,
2 Cor 10:3-5
3 verses
79%
3For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh
4(for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds),
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Eph 3:10
73%
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Rom 13:12
72%
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Eph 2:2
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2 Cor 2:11
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Eph 1:19-21
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71%
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2 Cor 6:7
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Col 2:15
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1 Cor 2:6
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1 Cor 9:26
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Rev 12:7
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John 12:31
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Jas 4:7
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Rom 13:14
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Luke 11:22
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1 Cor 2:13
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Col 3:6
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Eph 5:11
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Gal 5:16-17
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Matt 12:29
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Rom 8:5
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Rom 8:12
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Eph 5:6
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Mark 3:27
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Rom 12:21
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Acts 19:16
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