6:13a
Therefore: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Therefore connects 6:12 as a reason for 6:13. We are fighting against spiritual forces (6:12). So, as a result, you should put on the armor of God.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
For this reason (God’s Word)
-or-
That is why (New Century Version)
take up the full armor of God: Paul repeated here almost the same words he used in 6:11. In 6:11 in the Greek text, Paul used a verb that means, “put on.” Here, he used a different verb that means, “pick up” or “take.” But these verbs mean almost the same thing, and you can translate it here using the same verb that you used in 6:11.
6:13b
so that when the day of evil comes: The phrase day of evil is a figure of speech. It refers to a time when suffering, trouble and bad things happen. This is any time that the Christian has to fight against evil. It is not the final battle between God and the forces of evil. It does not refer to a literal, single day.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
these evil days (God’s Word)
-or-
in the time of evil (New Living Translation (2004))
you will be able to stand your ground: The phrase you will be able here does not suggest potential or the possibility of doubt.
stand your ground: The phrase stand your ground is a figure of speech. The verb stand is the same verb as in 6:11b. It means “to oppose,” “to resist,” or “to fight back and not give in.”
Here are some other ways to translate stand your ground :
standing firm (New Living Translation (2004), Contemporary English Version)
-or-
stand strong (New Century Version)
6:13c
and having done everything: There is an interpretation issue here. There are at least two ways to understand the Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as having done. It can mean:
(1) after accomplishing or doing everything to prepare for battle and resist an attack. For example:
and after you have done everything (New International Version)
(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Revised Standard Version, NET Bible, Revised English Bible, New American Standard Bible, King James Version, New Jerusalem Bible)
(2) after overcoming, that is, after fighting the whole battle. For example:
And when you have finished the whole fight (New Century Version)
(Good News Translation, New Century Version, New Living Translation (2004), Contemporary English Version)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This is the normal meaning of the verb and has good commentary support.
everything: Many English versions do not specify what is included in the word everything. Commentators differ as to the exact details of what everything includes. It probably includes all the things a soldier must do before a battle to prepare himself. Perhaps it also includes the things he would do during the battle. If possible, your translation should not be too specific. If you need to make it specific, you can say:
After you have done everything ⌊to prepare for battle⌋
to stand: As in 6:11b and 6:13b, to stand means “to oppose,” “to resist,” or “to fight back and not give in.” This phrase is a restatement of the overall goal of putting on the full armor of God. After having done everything necessary to prepare for the battles, at the end of the battles he will be left still standing victorious.
General Comment on 6:13
Here is a way to translate 6:13 using an “if-then” clause:
Therefore, put on/wear all the fight clothes God gives us. If you do, then when the bad time comes, you will stand strong and when the fight is over, you will still be standing strong.
© 1999, 2019 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.