Putting on the whole armor of God....

Let's put on the whole armor of ELOHIM today!

Ephesians 6:10. Finally, my Brothers, be strong in our Master (Y’shua), and; in the energy of his power: 11. And put on the whole armor of Elohim so that you may be able to stand against the strategies of the Accuser. 12. For our conflict is not with flesh and blood but with principalities and with those in authority, and with the possessors of this dark world, and with the evil spirits that are under[1] heaven.

13. Therefore put on the whole armor of Elohim that you may be able to meet the evil (one); and, being in all respects prepared, may stand firm. 14. Stand up therefore, and gird your loins with truth; and put on the breastplate of righteousness; 15. and defend your feet[2] with the preparation of the Good News of peace.[3]

16. And now take to you the confidence of faith by which you will have power to quench all the fiery darts of the evil (one). 17. and put on the helmet of salvation; and take hold of the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of Elohim. 18. And pray, with all prayers and supplications, in spirit, at all times: and in prayer be watchful at all seasons, praying constantly and interceding for all the Set Apart believers:

19. And also for me; that language may be given me, in the opening of my mouth; so that I may boldly preach the mystery[4] of the Good News 20. of which I am a messenger in chains; that I may utter it boldly, as I should utter it. (Aramaic English New Testament/AENT)

FOOTNOTES:

[1] ”Under” as in also “subject to heaven” or “ruled by heaven”; not just physically below heaven.

[2] Or legs which, given the fact that protective armor is being spoken, is also a possible reading.

[3] The Aramaic word for truth, “qoshta” (John 17:19) has a common synonym, shrara. Consider that: shrara = truth shrina = breastplate. Next we have tzedekaya (righteousness) to consider. This word has a very interesting synonym in the form of qadishta: qoshta = truth qadishta = set-apart. Paul is clearly making word choices that speak to a deeper message that is very well established in Hebrew tradition: “He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shalt thou take refuge; His truth is a shield and buckler.” (Psalm 91:4 (1955 JPS))

And most remarkably: “And he put on righteousness (tzedekah) like a coat of mail (or “breastplate”-- shiryone). And a helmet of salvation (kova d’yeshoowa) upon his head. And he put on the garments of vengeance for his clothing, and he was clad in zeal as a cloak.” (Isaiah 59:17 (1955 JPS))

Here is how the Hebrew Tanakh and the Aramaic Renewed Covenant match up in word choices and terminology: Shiryone/Breastplate (Isaiah) Shrina/Breastplate (Paul) Tzedekah/Righteousness (Isaiah) Tzedekaya/Righteousness (Paul). With very minor dialectical differences aside, these are the exact same words! An interesting departure is with this term: Kova d’yeshoowa/Helmet of Salvation (Isaiah) Sonorta d’ porqana/Helmet of Salvation (Paul).

Paul does this for two very special reasons. First, kova (helmet) is a Hebrew exclusive word that has no direct cognate in Aramaic. Paul therefore substitutes the more familiar sonorta where helmet appears in the Renewed Covenant; 1 Thessalonians 5:8 is the other verse where this is found. The second reason, however, holds the most powerful connection: Yeshoowa (Isaiah) = Y’shua HaMashiyach (Renewed Covenant) Porqana (Isaiah) = Paroqa (Aramaic for “The Savior” Renewed Covenant).

Rav Shaul is very well aware that the verse in the Tanakh he alludes to contains the name Y’shua, and Aramaic equivalents he uses in Ephesians contain Y’shua’s Title! Given these connections, no reasonable person would believe that these Aramaic and Hebrew patterns arrived here by accident. Rav Shaul is clearly using Semitic poetry to its full potential to reveal HaMashiyach.

[4] Here is a beautiful poetic phrase of akraz arza (preach mystery), a deliberate alliteration chosen by Paul for maximum impact on Aramaic readers beyond Ephesus whom he knew would catch this bit of cleverness.