A thoughtful guide for your walk of faith Read with context, practice with grace.
Pauline Letters · WORLD ENGLISH BIBLE

Ephesians 6

God unites all things in Christ and forms one new, holy, love-shaped people.

New Testament

Ephesians 6

1Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

2“Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with a promise:

3“that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth.”

4You fathers, don’t provoke your children to wrath, but nurture them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

5Servants, be obedient to those who according to the flesh are your masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as to Christ,

6not in the way of service only when eyes are on you, as men pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,

7with good will doing service as to the Lord and not to men,

8knowing that whatever good thing each one does, he will receive the same good again from the Lord, whether he is bound or free.

9You masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with him.

10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

11Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12For 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.

13Therefore put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

15and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace,

16above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will 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 and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints.

19Pray for me, that utterance may be given to me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the Good News,

20for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

21But that you also may know my affairs, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will make known to you all things.

22I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know our state and that he may comfort your hearts.

23Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

24Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love. Amen.

READ IN CONTEXT

Before applying this chapter

God unites all things in Christ and forms one new, holy, love-shaped people. Read Ephesians 6 within the complete Ephesians overview, and use the contextual Bible reading guide before forming a personal application. Chapter divisions aid navigation, but the literary unit may begin earlier or continue into the next chapter.

Observe first

Mark repeated words, changes of speaker, commands, promises, contrasts, questions, and the relationship between paragraphs.

Apply responsibly

Distinguish description from command and immediate audience from later readers before forming a personal application.

TEXT-DERIVED READING NOTES

What to notice in Ephesians 6

Ephesians 6 contains 24 verses and about 502 words in this translation. These observations come from the chapter itself; they are prompts for close reading, not claims about its only possible meaning.

The opening movement

Verse 1 begins: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” Ask what situation, voice, image, or argument this opening establishes for everything that follows.

The closing movement

Verse 24 closes: “Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love. Amen.” Compare the ending with the opening and note what changed, resolved, intensified, or remained open.

Vocabulary worth tracing

Recurring or prominent content words include will, good, christ, having, doing, able. Follow where each word appears and whether its meaning shifts with the speaker or setting.

COMMON QUESTIONS

About Ephesians 6

Which Bible translation is shown here?+

This page reproduces the World English Bible Protestant edition (WEBP), a modern-English translation dedicated to the public domain.

How should I cite a specific verse?+

Use the book, chapter, and verse—for example, Ephesians 6:1—and name the World English Bible if the wording matters. Each verse number above is a direct anchor link.

Does the chapter number define the complete literary unit?+

Not always. Chapter and verse numbers were added for navigation. Check the paragraphs, scenes, poetic stanzas, or argument before and after this chapter.

A SMALL NEXT STEP

You do not have to have everything figured out.

Begin with one honest question, one passage read carefully, and one faithful next step.

Start with prayer