The Meaning of Ephesians 6:16 Explained

Ephesians 6:16

KJV: Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

YLT: above all, having taken up the shield of the faith, in which ye shall be able all the fiery darts of the evil one to quench,

Darby: besides all these, having taken the shield of faith with which ye will be able to quench all the inflamed darts of the wicked one.

ASV: withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one .

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Above  all,  taking  the shield  of faith,  wherewith  ye shall be able  to quench  all  the fiery  darts  of the wicked. 

What does Ephesians 6:16 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The Roman soldier"s shield was wood covered with leather to make it flame retardant. It was rectangular in shape and about two and one-half feet wide by four feet long. With it the soldier could protect his whole body.
"Before a battle in which flaming arrows might be shot at them, the soldiers wet the leather covering with water to extinguish the arrows. The Roman legionaries could close ranks with these shields, the first row holding theirs edge to edge in front, and the rows behind holding the shields above their heads. In this formation they were practically invulnerable to arrows, rocks, and even spears." [1]
"These darts were sometimes ablaze in order to set fire to the enemies" clothing or camp or homes just as the American Indians used to shoot poisoned arrows." [2]
The faith that provides such a defense for the Christian in his or her spiritual warfare is two-fold. It is trust in all that God has revealed and active application of that trust at the moment of spiritual attack.
The first three participles that explain how to stand fast are "having girded" or "buckled" ( Ephesians 6:14), "having put on" or "in place" ( Ephesians 6:14), and "having shod" or "fitted" ( Ephesians 6:15). The fourth participle is "taking up" or "take up" ( Ephesians 6:16).

Context Summary

Ephesians 6:13-24 - "finally, Be Strong In The Lord"
Many would be strong, but fail because they forget that they can be effectively so only "in the Lord, and in the strength of His might." Paul had a very vivid conception of the powerful forces that are arrayed against the Church. He is not dealing here especially with our personal temptations, but with those hosts of wicked spirits that lie behind the evil of the world. It is probable that the vast systems which oppose the gospel-the philosophies, temples, and priests of false religions; the trade in strong drink, impurity, and like evils; and such iniquitous institutions as the system of indentured slavery-are directly promoted and furthered by the agency of evil spirits in arms against God.
We must be pure and holy, if we are to prevail against evil; and especially must we give ourselves to prayer. To prevail in this warfare we must diligently employ the weapon of all prayer. Tychicus carried this letter. He was faithful to the end, Acts 20:4; 2 Timothy 4:12. The Epistle closes, as it began, with uncorrupted, that is, pure and eternal, love. Alford says, "This is the only truth worthy to be the crown and climax of this glorious Epistle." [source]

Chapter Summary: Ephesians 6

1  The duty of children toward their parents;
5  of servants toward their masters
10  Our life is a warfare, not only against flesh and blood, but also spiritual enemies
13  The complete armor of a Christian;
18  and how it ought to be used
21  Tychicus is commended

Greek Commentary for Ephesians 6:16

Taking up [αναλαβοντες]
See Ephesians 6:13. [source]
The shield of faith [τον τυρεον της πιστεως]
Late word in this sense a large stone against the door in Homer, from τυρα — thura door, large and oblong (Latin scutum), ασπις — aspis being smaller and circular, only here in N.T. To quench (σβεσαι — sbesai). First aorist active infinitive of σβεννυμι — sbennumi old word, to extinguish (Matthew 12:20). All the fiery darts ελος — Belos is an old word for missile, dart (from βαλλω — ballō to throw), only here in N.T. Πεπυρωμενα — Pepurōmena is perfect passive participle of πυροω — puroō old verb, to set on fire, from πυρ — pur (fire). These darts were sometimes ablaze in order to set fire to the enemies‘ clothing or camp or homes just as the American Indians used to shoot poisoned arrows. [source]
To quench [σβεσαι]
First aorist active infinitive of σβεννυμι — sbennumi old word, to extinguish (Matthew 12:20). [source]
All the fiery darts [παντα τα βελη τα πεπυρωμενα]
ελος — Belos is an old word for missile, dart (from βαλλω — ballō to throw), only here in N.T. Πεπυρωμενα — Pepurōmena is perfect passive participle of πυροω — puroō old verb, to set on fire, from πυρ — pur (fire). These darts were sometimes ablaze in order to set fire to the enemies‘ clothing or camp or homes just as the American Indians used to shoot poisoned arrows. [source]
Above all [ἐπὶ πᾶσιν]
Ambiguous. It may mean over all, or in addition to all. The latter is correct. Rev., withal. [source]
The shield of faith [τὸν θυρεὸν τῆς πίστεως]
Θυρεόν shieldis from θύρα doorbecause shaped like a door. Homer uses the word for that which is placed in front of the doorway. Thus of the stone placed by Polyphemus in front of his cave (“Odyssey,” ix., 240). The shield here described is that of the heavy infantry; a large, oblong shield, four by two and a half feet, and sometimes curved on the inner side. Sculptured representations may be seen on Trajan's column. Compare “Compass him as with a shield,” Psalm 5:12. It was made of wood or of wicker-work, and held on the left arm by means of a handle. Xenophon describes troops, supposed to be Egyptians, with wooden shields reaching to their feet (“Anabasis,” i., 8,9). Saving faith is meant. [source]
Fiery darts [τὰ βέλη τὰ πεπυρωμένα]
Lit., the darts, those which have been set on fire. Herodotas says that the Persians attacked the citadel of Athens “with arrows whereto pieces of lighted tow were attached, which they shot at the barricade” (viii., 52). Thucydides: “the Plataeans constructed a wooden frame, which they set up on the top of their own wall opposite the mound … . They also hung curtains of skills and hides in front: these were designed to protect the woodwork and the workers, and shield them against blazing arrows” (ii. 75). Livy tells of a huge dart used at the siege of Saguntum, which was impelled by twisted ropes. “There was used by the Saguntines a missile weapon called falarica, with the shaft of fir, and round in other parts, except toward the point, whence the iron projected. This part, which was square, they bound around with tow and besmeared with pitch. It had an iron head three feet in length, so that it could pierce through the body with the armor. But what caused the greatest fear was that this weapon, even though it stuck in the shield and did not penetrate into the body, when it was discharged with the middle part on fire, and bore along a much greater flame produced by the mere motion, obliged the armor to be thrown down, and exposed the soldier to succeeding blows” (xxi. 8). Again, of the siege of Ambracia by the Romans: “Some advanced with burning torches, others carrying tow and pitch and fire-darts, their entire line being illuminated by the blaze” (xxxviii. 6). Compare Psalm 7:13, where the correct rendering is, “His arrows He maketh fiery arrows.” Temptation is thus represented as impelled from a distance. Satan attacks by indirection - through good things from which no evil is suspected. There is a hint of its propagating power: one sin draws another in its track: the flame of the fire-tipped dart spreads. Temptation acts on susceptible material. Self-confidence is combustible. Faith, in doing away with dependence on self, takes away fuel for the dart. It creates sensitiveness to holy influences by which the power of temptation is neutralized. It enlists the direct aid of God. See 1 Corinthians 10:13; Luke 22:32; James 1:2; 1 Peter 4:12; 2 Peter 2:9. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Ephesians 6:16

Ephesians 6:17 Take the helmet of salvation [τὴν περικεφαλαίαν τοῦ σωτηρίου δέξασθε]
Compare Isaiah 59:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:8. Take is a different word from that used in Ephesians 6:13, Ephesians 6:16. It is receive as from God. The meaning is the helmet which is salvation. The protection for the head. The helmet was originally of skin, strengthened with bronze or other metal, and surmounted with a figure adorned with a horsehair crest. It was furnished with a visor to protect the face. [source]
2 Thessalonians 3:3 From evil [ἀπὸ τοῦ πονηροῦ]
Possibly, from the evil one. Τὸ πονηρόν evilis found Romans 12:9; Matthew 5:39; but general N.T. usage favors the masculine, personal sense. See Matthew 13:19, Matthew 13:38; Ephesians 6:16; 1 John 2:13, 1 John 2:14; 1 John 3:12; 1 John 5:18. In lxx, τὸ πονηρόν evil is very common: ὁ πονηρὸς a few times, but always of men. See Deuteronomy 24:7; Esther 7:6; Job 21:30. In Tobit 3:8,17, τὸ πονηρόν δαιμόνιον thewicked demon. The masculine is favored by the Jewish formularies, of which traces appear in the Lord's prayer; by the unanimous tradition of Greek interpreters; by the interpretations of Tertullian and Cyprian, and by the evidence of the Syriac and Sahidic Versions. [source]
2 Thessalonians 3:3 But faithful is the Lord [correct rendition)]
(correct rendition), with a play (paronomasia) on πιστις — pistis by πιστος — pistos as in Romans 3:3 we have a word-play on απιστεω — apisteō and απιστια — apistia The Lord can be counted on, however perverse men may be. From the evil one (απο του πονηρου — apo tou ponērou). Apparently a reminiscence of the Lord‘s Prayer in Matthew 6:13 ρυσαι ημας απο του πονηρου — rusai hēmas apo tou ponērou But here as there it is not certain whether του πονηρου — tou ponērou is neuter (evil) like to πονηρον — ponēron in Romans 12:9 or masculine (the evil one). But we have ο πονηρος — ho ponēros (the evil one) in 1 John 5:18 and του πονηρου — tou ponērou is clearly masculine in Ephesians 6:16. If masculine here, as is probable, is it “the Evil One” (Ellicott) or merely the evil man like those mentioned in 2 Thessalonians 3:2 ? Perhaps Paul has in mind the representative of Satan, the man of sin, pictured in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12, by the phrase here without trying to be too definite. [source]
2 Thessalonians 3:3 From the evil one [απο του πονηρου]
Apparently a reminiscence of the Lord‘s Prayer in Matthew 6:13 ρυσαι ημας απο του πονηρου — rusai hēmas apo tou ponērou But here as there it is not certain whether του πονηρου — tou ponērou is neuter (evil) like to πονηρον — ponēron in Romans 12:9 or masculine (the evil one). But we have ο πονηρος — ho ponēros (the evil one) in 1 John 5:18 and του πονηρου — tou ponērou is clearly masculine in Ephesians 6:16. If masculine here, as is probable, is it “the Evil One” (Ellicott) or merely the evil man like those mentioned in 2 Thessalonians 3:2 ? Perhaps Paul has in mind the representative of Satan, the man of sin, pictured in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12, by the phrase here without trying to be too definite. [source]
1 Timothy 1:19 Holding faith and a good conscience [εχων πιστιν και αγατην συνειδησιν]
Possibly as a shield (Ephesians 6:16) or at any rate possessing (Romans 2:20) faith as trust and a good conscience. A leader expects them of his followers and must show them himself. [source]
2 Timothy 4:11 Take Mark [Μαρκον αναλαβων]
Second aorist active participle of αναλαμβανω — analambanō old verb, to pick up, as in Ephesians 6:13, Ephesians 6:16. “Pick up Mark.” He is useful to me (εστιν μοι ευχρηστος — estin moi euchrēstos). See note on 2 Timothy 2:21 for ευχρηστος — euchrēstos Paul had long ago changed his opinion of Mark (Colossians 4:10) because Mark had changed his conduct and had made good in his ministry. Now Paul longs to have the man that he once scornfully rejected (Acts 15:37.). [source]
Revelation 1:15 As if it had been refined [ως πεπυρομενης]
Perfect passive participle of πυροω — puroō old verb, to set on fire, to glow, as in Ephesians 6:16; Revelation 3:18. The feminine gender shows that η χαλκολιβανος — hē chalkolibanos is referred to with της χαλκολιβανου — tēs chalkolibanou understood, for it does not agree in case with the associative-instrumental χαλκολιβανωι — chalkolibanōi just before. Some would call it a slip for πεπυρομενωι — pepuromenōi as Aleph, and some cursives have it (taking χαλκολιβανωι — chalkolibanōi to be neuter, not feminine). But P Q read πεπυρωμενοι — pepurōmenoi (masculine plural), a correction, making it agree in number and gender with ποδες — podes (feet).In a furnace (εν καμινωι — en kaminōi). Old word, in N.T. also Revelation 9:2; Matthew 13:42, Matthew 13:50.As the voice of many waters So the voice of God in the Hebrew (not the lxx) of Ezekiel 43:2. Repeated in Revelation 14:2; Revelation 19:6. [source]

What do the individual words in Ephesians 6:16 mean?

besides all having taken up the shield - of faith with which you will be able all the arrows of the evil one - flaming to quench
ἐν πᾶσιν ἀναλαβόντες τὸν θυρεὸν τῆς πίστεως ἐν δυνήσεσθε πάντα τὰ βέλη τοῦ πονηροῦ τὰ πεπυρωμένα σβέσαι

ἐν  besides 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐν 
Sense: in, by, with etc.
ἀναλαβόντες  having  taken  up 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀναλαμβάνω  
Sense: to take up, raise.
θυρεὸν  shield 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: θυρεός  
Sense: a shield, a large oblong, four cornered shield.
τῆς  - 
Parse: Article, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
πίστεως  of  faith 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: πίστις  
Sense: conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervour born of faith and joined with it.
δυνήσεσθε  you  will  be  able 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Middle, 2nd Person Plural
Root: δύναμαι  
Sense: to be able, have power whether by virtue of one’s own ability and resources, or of a state of mind, or through favourable circumstances, or by permission of law or custom.
βέλη  arrows 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: βέλος  
Sense: a missile, dart, javelin, arrow.
τοῦ  of  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
πονηροῦ  evil  one 
Parse: Adjective, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: πονηρός  
Sense: full of labours, annoyances, hardships.
τὰ  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
πεπυρωμένα  flaming 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Participle Middle or Passive, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: πυρόω  
Sense: to burn with fire, to set on fire, kindle.
σβέσαι  to  quench 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: ζβέννυμι 
Sense: to extinguish, quench.