What is the armour of God in Ephesians 6?

The armour of God is found in Ephesians 6:10–18:

‘Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.’

The armour of God includes:

• The belt of truth

• The breastplate of righteousness

• The shoes of readiness (from the gospel of peace)

• The shield of faith

• The helmet of salvation

• The sword of the Spirit (the word of God)

However, the armour of God is not a physical outfit – it’s referring to spiritual tools God equips us with, that we can hold on to during trials and challenges. It’s also about ​‘putting on Christ’, or becoming more like Christ (see Isaiah 11:5, 49:2, 59:17).

Just as we have practical tools that help our body stay healthy, such as exercise and nutrition, or have tools that help our mind such as mindfulness or practising gratitude, there are spiritual tools mentioned in the armour of God that we can use to protect our spirit (the part of us that connects with God), our faith, and actually – as you’ll read below – have an impact in the physical too.

And as we become more like Jesus, he moulds and shapes who we become, and how we do what we do. So the armour protects us, but also becomes a way of life that helps bring his kingdom to earth, just as Jesus did during his ministry.

But if the armour of God isn’t actually physical, how do we put on the armour of God and equip ourselves with these tools? Let’s take a deep dive into each verse and discover what putting on the armour of God really means.

The first thing we’re told to do is be strong in God’s power. This sounds great, but how do we do this?

Well, to ​‘be strong’ here isn’t about using our own willpower, or even finding strength in ourselves. The word used here is dunamoó which actually means ​‘to empower, to strengthen, to make strong’. This suggests that ​‘being strong in the Lord’ means God empowering and strengthening us in our weakness.

The idea that we, as Christians, can be made strong through God’s strength is echoed in 2 Corinthians 12:9, which says ​‘his power is made perfect in our weakness’. Admitting our weakness doesn’t feel strong, but by giving up the idea that we can make ourselves strong – especially in a world that can feel overwhelming – we can fully rely on God, whose strength is far beyond anything we could muster up ourselves.

In fact, the kind of strength that God gives us is explosively powerful. Dunamoó is actually where we get our English word ​‘dynamite’, which tells us just how powerful the strength God gives us is!

Talking about spiritual warfare, the battle between good and evil, or God versus the enemy, can feel heavy and dark. That’s why it’s reassuring to know that the idea of ​‘putting on’ the armour of God simply means to ​‘clothe yourself’, in the same way you get dressed every morning. It takes a bit of thought and intention, sure, but it’s something we can incorporate into our daily lives.

To ​‘put on’ also refers to the idea of sinking into, or being plunged into a garment, just as the sun sets naturally below the horizon at dusk. This is not heavy or difficult – it’s God’s design. It shouldn’t feel like a burden or feel scary; it should bring peace.

The armour of God is also not like most body armour, that protects the front of a person but leaves them exposed from behind. It’s a full covering, offering complete protection.

In Psalm 3:3, where David describes God as a shield around him, the word also means ​‘taker’, which refers to the idea that God takes us fully into himself, hidden and protected like we’re within an impenetrable fortress. This sounds a bit like the idea of being ​‘plunged into a garment’, doesn’t it? This is because the same sentiment applies in Ephesians 6 – by choosing to daily clothe ourselves with the armour of God, we’re taken fully into his protection.

This verse explains that although many challenges we face are to do with physical things, such as relationships, our environment or our health, the battle we actually fight is a spiritual one.

This concept can be a bit tricky to get your head around, but in short, we have an enemy (the devil, Satan) that is full of malice, causing calamity, harm, disease and wickedness, and we face a struggle against evil during our time on earth.

So what’s ​‘the struggle’ referring to? The word means to sway or wrestle, to be in a conflict. This wording reminds us that although God made us, we are also fully human, complete with flaws and not immune to temptation or sin. Every day, we must ​‘struggle’ or wrestle between what is good and what is not.

A phrase you might have heard thrown around by Christians is to be ​‘in the world but not of it’. When people say this, they’re usually referring to John 17:15–16, where Jesus prays that we’d be able to continue our lives here on earth but be protected from evil. 

What a powerful reminder this is that although we’re fighting against spiritual forces that exist within the world, because we belong to Jesus, we can withstand these, even if we find ourselves in a wrestle at times.

Despite using the English words ​‘put on’ again here, the original Greek is a different word, that means to ​‘take up’, ​‘raise’, ​‘receive’, ​‘get hold of (by the hand)’, to accept, hold on to and be amazed. This suggests that, having already been empowered and strengthened by God (verse 11), it’s now our responsibility to choose to accept and hold on to what God has given us. So how do we do this?

We are told to put on the ​‘full’ armour of God, not just one piece. This means taking time and care and being thorough, covering every detail. Receiving what God has given us is an intentional, daily choice to hold on to the tools and promises he’s given us to help us win whatever battles come our way.

And what about ​‘stand your ground’ and being able, ​‘after you’ve done everything, to stand’? The Greek word for standing your ground is ​‘histemi’, which means to stop and take a stand.

When you think of people taking a stand, what do you imagine? I think of protests and loud voices, even going against what is accepted or breaking the rules, to shout about what is wrong with the world and put it right. ​‘Histemi’ describes exactly this – standing your ground, continuing, establishing and standing by/​forth/​still/​up. God calls us to stand our ground for what is right, and what belongs to him, both in the spiritual and physical.

By putting on the full armour of God, we’re equipped to do this, and to stand up when needed against things that just aren’t right. It’s part of establishing God’s kingdom here on earth, bringing peace, justice and restoration. The word also means ​‘covenant’, a two-sided unbreakable promise. When we take a stand, we’re committing to overcoming evil with good – and so is God.

When buckling a belt, it’s important to check it’s both tight enough and well-fastened to make sure it stays in place. In the same way, to have the belt of truth buckled around your waist means having the truth of God’s character and promises for your life tightly and securely attached to you at all times.

This is something Jesus used against Satan (the enemy) in the wilderness. Although the enemy tried to distort the truth, Jesus had the real truth securely fastened in his spirit, and was able to fight back quickly, knowing he was being deceived.

What ​‘truth’ is it we’re meant to hold on to then? This isn’t some flimsy hope that God is who he says he is: this is a steadfast truth that is undeniable, and cannot be hidden. It’s authentic and real. It’s knowing God’s character, his goodness and mercy, his comfort and love, his strength and power.

It might also mean holding tightly to God’s promises, especially when the situation looks bleak. When we keep the truth of who God is and what he’s promised close to us, we can more easily bat away the chaos and half-truths (lies dressed up as truth) that try to deceive us into sin and hopelessness.

A breastplate typically protects a person’s chest. In this case, it’s important that the breastplate of righteousness protects our heart, which includes our morals, emotions and desires, as they influence our decisions. God has given us a conviction to know what is right and wrong, and with the breastplate of righteousness in place, this is protected, helping us to do the right thing even when it’s hard.

But what is a breastplate of righteousness? Of course, as humans, we all do things wrong, and that makes us ​‘unrighteous’. We’re broken, flawed and imperfect. However, in God’s eyes, we’re deemed righteous, holy and blameless. How? Through Jesus, and his sacrifice for us on the cross.

The breastplate of righteousness means receiving Jesus as our saviour, and with it, a verdict of approval from God. We are freed up to fully obey and follow our faith in God, knowing that we’re washed clean. The breastplate of righteousness reminds us of our right-standing with God, allowing us to hold on to what is right, keeping our hearts pure and choosing to become more like Jesus every day.

To ​‘fit your feet’ is the idea of binding something to (the soles of) your feet – which sounds a lot like putting on shoes, doesn’t it? Just as we put on shoes so we’re ready and prepared to go outside, we’re told to get ready and prepared using the gospel of peace. But what does that mean?

The gospel of peace is exactly what it sounds like – the gospel of Jesus Christ, the story of his being born and dying on a cross for our sins, then being resurrected and alive once more, offering us the gift of eternal life in heaven. By putting our faith in Jesus, we will find peace. But not just peace as in ​‘peace and quiet’, either. We’ll also find a deep sense of rest, wellbeing and wholeness that comes from God alone.

So, by making sure the gospel is the foundation we stand upon, we can find total wholeness and peace – wow. And by binding the gospel to ourselves in this way, we bring it with us wherever we go, helping others encounter that same peace and wholeness. What a gift we can experience, and offer to others, in a world filled with trouble and destruction.

We’re back to the phrase ​‘take up’ again. This one’s similar to verse 13, and refers to holding on to what we’ve already received, and doing so repetitively. But what is this ​‘shield’ we’re meant to be holding on to?

The Greek word used for ​‘shield’ is ​‘thura’, which actually means a door, portal or entrance. (Wait, what?) And the Greek word for ​‘faith’ here is ​‘peithó’, which means to persuade, convince, have trust and confidence in, to make friends, and obey and follow. In short, this means our faith, which grows through our friendship with God, is a gateway to trust (and obedience, or acting upon our faith and trust). 

According to Hebrews 11:1, ​‘faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see’, and that’s exactly what this verse is talking about. When we hold tightly to our faith, to what we know, and choose to trust God over and over again despite what we see around us, we find the strength to carry on and keep on hoping, because although we don’t see it yet, we know with certainty that we will be victorious.

Taking up the shield of faith is a recurring act, which means we’ll need to do it over and over again. Every time the enemy throws a missile to try and harm you, you can hold tight to your faith and trust in God’s goodness, and remain unharmed.

The shield also has a protective dynamic because it helps us build trust, friendship, confidence and obedience in God, and resist the devil. In James 4:7, it says that if we submit to God and resist the devil, he will flee. By picking up our shield of faith, choosing to trust God, we find our confidence in him builds, making it easier to avoid the arrows the enemy sends our way.

Another ​‘take’ here! This one means to ​‘receive’ or ​‘accept’, which means the helmet of salvation is given to us – we just need to receive and accept it. And if you’re a Christian, you’ll be familiar with the idea of salvation. The helmet of salvation simply means receiving Jesus’ deliverance from sin, into his safety. Jesus saved us by sacrificing his life on the cross. This weapon is one we simply receive for free. And by accepting this, we protect our minds – our thoughts, our desires, our hopes and dreams, and our knowledge of truth.

The word here for ​‘sword’ refers specifically to a short sword or dagger. Interestingly, small swords and daggers are only useful for close combat, so this one’s possibly a tool given to us against enemies that are in close proximity, about to attack – or perhaps already attacking.

‘The Spirit’ here is referring to the Holy Spirit, one part of the Trinity (Father (God), Son (Jesus) and Holy Spirit). The Spirit is often described as a breath or breeze, and also means ​‘to blow’ (fun fact: the original word for Jesus, Yhwh or Yahweh, is thought to sound just like a breath when spoken aloud, too). Similarly, use of ​‘the word’ here means to utter, speak or tell, which suggests this is a tool that involves speaking.

In the Bible, there are multiple words used to refer to the ​“word” of God. There’s ​‘logos’, which is the written word, or what we now come to know as the Bible. The logos word helps us understand God, his ways, and his plans. Then there’s the ​‘rhema’ word, which is a personal revelation of God speaking to you in your everyday life. Both of these are important, and the written word actually helps us identify when God is speaking a rhema word to us.

I think this verse is telling us something that Christians are often encouraged to do when struggling – to speak the word of God (both logos and rhema) out loud. 

Romans 10:17 (NKJV) says ​‘faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God’. To hear something, we must speak it out loud. With the breath of the Holy Spirit inside of us, we can exhale divine breath as a weapon to fight against evil. As we speak the word of God, or Bible verses and personal revelations we’ve had from God in our relationship with him, out loud, we find ourselves equipped with a deadly weapon that can defeat even the enemies who are close enough to stare us right in the face.

To pray on all occasions means to pray daily, thoroughly and wholly, ​‘one part at a time’. One of the prayers Jesus gave us to pray is the Lord’s Prayer, a well-known prayer found in Matthew and Luke​’s gospels, that offers us multiple ​‘parts’ to pray through. Perhaps praying through each section of the Lord’s Prayer is a good starting point if you’re unsure how or what to pray.

Similarly, ​‘all kinds of prayers and requests’, is talking about praying earnestly, requesting and petitioning, making an urgent appeal for specific, deep personal needs and desires. This means us getting real with God and asking him for the things you’ve never asked anyone, or dared to believe could happen. It’s praying for the lack and utter hopeless situations in yours and others’ lives, and asking God to do a miracle.

Something else that is absolutely fascinating to me is that the word used for ​‘pray’ here also refers to the idea of moving towards a goal, as well as a cycle of initiation and response. This confirms that prayer is a two-way conversation that, while spiritually leading you to feel closer to God, also physically leads you closer to what you’re praying for coming to pass.

Once again, to pray ​‘in the Spirit’ insinuates breath, which could mean speaking aloud or, when words fail, allowing your breath itself to become a prayer – allowing the breath of the Holy Spirit to pray on our behalf.

Being alert means being actively on the hunt. When an animal hunts, it is engaging all its senses, constantly on the lookout. In the same way, we must be actively looking for things and people to pray for at all times, using our discernment, our emotional radars, listening to what others are telling us, and seeing the need in front of us. God wants us to pray on behalf of these people.

Paul, who wrote this letter to the Ephesians, even asks in verses 19 and 20 that they’d be praying for him to have boldness in sharing the gospel, which shows just how much we all need prayer, from those yet to know God to those proclaiming the good news around the world. If Paul needed prayer, I think we could all do with some!

We must be diligent, devoting ourselves to praying continually and persevering with prayer, even if we don’t see an answer immediately, waiting on God at all times to move or speak. By giving everything to God as a regular habit, by acknowledging there’s so much we can’t fix and essentially begging him to step in, we give him full permission to take over and bring hope into even the most hopeless situations.

Thank you for coming on a deep dive with me, exploring what putting on the armour of God actually means. I pray you’d be encouraged to begin using some of these tools in your prayer life. May you find the peace and wholeness God promises as you step into more of his truth, exercise your faith and remember that Jesus has already won the victory.

And if you’d like to pray more with us, why not sign up to receive our prayer and reflection journal, which offers journal-style prompts to help you grow in your faith and allow God to speak to you.