Ephesians 6:12

Spiritual warfare Angels and the spiritual world

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.

¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make 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 world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

¹³ Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand.

¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed,

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
KJV: For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
WEB: For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
ASV: 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].
DARBY: because our struggle is not against blood and flesh, but against principalities, against authorities, against the universal lords of this darkness, against spiritual [power] of wickedness in the heavenlies.
BLB: because to us the wrestling is not against blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual [forces] of evil in the heavenly realms.

ÅB: for vi har ikke kamp mot blod og kjød, men mot makter, mot myndigheter, mot verdens herrer i dette mørke, mot ondskapens ånde-hær i himmelrommet.
OTB: For vår kamp er ikke mot bare menneskelige motstandere, men mot maktene, mot myndighetene, mot kreftene i denne mørke verden, og mot ondskapens åndelige krefter i himmelrommet.
B1930: for vi har ikke kamp mot blod og kjød, men mot makter, mot myndigheter, mot verdens herrer i dette mørke, mot ondskapens ånde-hær i himmelrummet.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Colossians 1:13
He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son,
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2 Corinthians 4:4
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Read in context
Ephesians 2:2
in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ways of this world and of the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience.
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Colossians 2:15
And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
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Acts 26:18
to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.’
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Ephesians 1:21
far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
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Romans 8:38
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
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1 Corinthians 9:25–27
Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable.
Read in context