"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power."
— Ephesians 6:10 (NIV)
Ephesians 6:10 is the "be strong in the Lord" verse, the line that opens Paul's description of the armor of God. This page gives the verse, what the key words mean, where it sits in Ephesians 6, and a plain reading. For more on the theme, see Bible verses about strength, Bible verses about the armor of God, and Philippians 4:13.
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The verse
The King James reads: "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might."
"Be strong" is endynamoo (G1743), to be made strong or empowered. The form is passive, so the sense is "let yourselves be strengthened." "Mighty" (KJV "power") is kratos (G2904), dominion or ruling power. "Power" (KJV "might") is ischys (G2479), strength or ability.
Where it sits in Ephesians 6
"Finally" marks the last section of the letter. The next verse continues: "Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes" (Ephesians 6:11). Paul then explains why: "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" (Ephesians 6:12).
Paul used the same pair of words, kratos and ischys, in chapter 1, where he prays that believers would know God's "incomparably great power" for them, the same power that raised Christ from the dead (Ephesians 1:19-20).
What the verse is saying
Paul is not giving a pep talk about trying harder. The strength he names is "in the Lord" and comes from "his mighty power," the power Ephesians 1 ties to the resurrection. Believers are strengthened; they do not generate it.
The rest of the passage shows what that strength is for: to "stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand" (Ephesians 6:13). The same idea runs through other well-known verses: "I can do all this through him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13), "those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength" (Isaiah 40:31), and "Be strong and courageous" (Joshua 1:9).
Questions people ask
What does Ephesians 6:10 say?
In the NIV it says, "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power." The KJV reads, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might."
What does "be strong in the Lord" mean?
The Greek verb endynamoo is passive, so it means to be made strong. Paul is telling believers to draw their strength from God rather than from themselves.
What comes after Ephesians 6:10?
Ephesians 6:11: "Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes." Verses 14-17 then list the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit.
Who was Ephesians written to?
Paul wrote it to believers in Ephesus, a major city on the west coast of what is now Turkey, and it may have circulated among nearby churches as well.
What verses go with Ephesians 6:10?
Philippians 4:13 (strength through Christ), Isaiah 40:31 (renewed strength), and Joshua 1:9 (be strong and courageous) are close companions.
