Ephesians 6:10
in Ephesians 6Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might.
KJV
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
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This verse in Ephesians 6
Commentary
12 notes on this verseTo be "strong in the Lord" is to be strengthened in word and wisdom and the contemplation of truth. All these qualities are encompassed in the titles applying to Christ. The greatest of these is the strength of his might, which is stronger than all human virtues combined. Moral corruption lacks power in his presence. This one virtue, being strong in the Lord, is inconceivably powerful. Those who are wise in these matters call it the strength of his might. It has some analogy with bodily might but far exceeds it.
This site's exposition
be strong in the Lord
on Ephesians 6:10-12
The letter's last charge names the enemy: the rulers, the authorities, the powers of this world’s darkness, and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenlies, the letter's fifth use of that word. These are the same ranks named under Christ's feet at 1:21, real and organized, and the word behind struggle is the wrestler's word for close combat. The strength commanded is in the Lord and in His mighty power.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"Finally," saith he, "be strong in the Lord." Whenever the discourse is about to conclude, he always employs this turn. Said I not well from the first, that every man's house is a camp in itself? For look, having disposed of the several offices, he proceeds to arm them, and to lead them out to war. If no one usurps the other's office, but every one remains at his post, all will be well ordered. "Be strong," saith he, "in the Lord, and in the strength of His might." That is, in the hope which we have in Him, by means of His aid. For as he had enjoined many duties, which were necessary to be done, fear not, he seems to say, cast your hope upon the Lord, and He will make all easy. But now, when any one is going to the theater, or going off to the bath, he drags all his servants after him; but when he goes to church, not for a moment; nor does he compel them to attend and hear. Now how shall thy servant listen, when thou his master art attending to other things? Hast thou purchased, hast thou bought thy slave? Before all things enjoin him what God would have him do, to be gentle towards his fellow-servants, and to make much account of virtue. Every one's house is a city; and every man is a prince in his own house. That the house of the rich is of this character, is plain enough, where there are both lands, and stewards, and rulers over rulers. But I say that the house of the poor also is a city. Because here too there are offices of authority; for instance, the husband has authority over the wife, the wife over the servants, the servants again over their own wives; again the wives and the husbands over the children. Does he not seem to you to be, as it were, a sort of king, having so many authorities under his own authority? and that it were meet that he should be more skilled both in domestic and general government than all the rest? […]
A commentator
Fabian of RomeDecretals, Epistles of Pope Fabian, To Bishop Hilary, V · Written before 250.
proposed
"Finally, dearly beloved, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil; for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities …
The Medieval Church2 voices
The Apostle has previously written down many general and particular instructions aimed at destroying the old man of sin and encouraging the newness of grace (1:1 & 4:17). Now he speaks of the power by which we must carry out these precepts, for we must …
The household of each person is like an army: therefore, having already put all forces in order, he leads them out to war. For if each individual does not violate his own order, then military affairs will also be in good condition. And since he …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Brethren - This is the only place in this epistle where he uses this compellation. Soldiers frequently use it to each other in the field. Be strong - Nothing less will suffice for such a fight: to be weak, and remain so, is the way to perish.
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Finally, my brethren,....
Our natural courage is as perfect cowardice, and our natural strength as perfect weakness; but all our sufficiency is of God. In his strength we must go forth and go on. By the actings of faith, we must fetch in grace and help from heaven to enable us to do that which of ourselves we cannot do, in our Christian work and warfare.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
Finally - Having laid before you, your great and high calling, and all the doctrines and precepts of the Gospel, it is necessary that I should show you the enemies that will oppose you, and the strength which is requisite to enable you to repel them. Be strong in the Lord - You must have strength, and strength of a spiritual kind, and such strength too as the Lord himself can furnish; and you must have this strength through an indwelling God, the power of his might working in you.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Most of the oldest manuscripts for "finally," read, "henceforward," or "from henceforth" (Ga 6:17). be strong--Greek, "be strengthened." in the power of his might--Christ's might: as in Eph 1:19, it is the Father's might.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord - Paul had now stated to the Ephesians the duties which they were to perform. He had considered the various relations of life which they sustained, and the obligations resulting from them. He was not unaware that in the discharge of their duties they would need strength from above. He knew that they had great and mighty foes, and that to meet them, they needed to be clothed in the panoply of the Christian soldier. He closes, therefore, by exhorting them to put on all the strength which they could to meet the enemies with which they had to contend; and in the commencement of his exhortation he reminds them that it was only by the strength of the Lord that they could hope for victory. To be “strong in the Lord,” is: (1) To be strong or courageous in his cause; (2) To feel that he is our strength, and to rely on him and his promises.
The words behind it
12 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| λοιποῦ | loipou | Henceforth | G3064 → | |
| ἐνδυναμοῦσθε | endunamousthe | do be empowered | G1743 → | |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| κυρίῳ | kurio | [the] Lord | G2962 → | 711 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τῷ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κράτει | kratei | strength | G2904 → | |
| τῆς | tes | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἰσχύος | ischuos | might | G2479 → | |
| αὐτοῦ. | autou | of Him. | G846 → | 5565 times |
Τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
λοιποῦHenceforth
loipouG3064 →
ἐνδυναμοῦσθεdo be empowered
endunamoustheG1743 →
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
κυρίῳ[the] Lord
kurioG2962 →711 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
τῷthe
toG3588 →19766 times
κράτειstrength
krateiG2904 →
τῆςof the
tesG3588 →19766 times
ἰσχύοςmight
ischuosG2479 →
αὐτοῦ.of Him.
autouG846 →5565 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Philippians 4:13I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 12:9–10
But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of…
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- Isaiah 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand…
- Colossians 1:11
being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have full endurance and patience, and joyfully
- Isaiah 40:29–31
He gives power to the faint and increases the strength of the weak.
- Ephesians 3:16
I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being,
- 2 Corinthians 12:9–10
Through
Isaiah 40:31But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.
it leads to
- Lamentations 3:25–26
The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.
- 2 Corinthians 4:16
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day.
- Lamentations 3:25–26
Through
Joshua 1:9Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
it leads to
- Genesis 28:15
Look, I am with you, and I will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what…
- Genesis 28:15
Where this verse is studied
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About Ephesians
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Fabian of Rome, Decretals, Epistles of Pope Fabian, To Bishop Hilary, V; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Ephesians 22; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Origen of Alexandria, EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Ephesians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Ephesians.