Ephesians 6:10 tells believers to draw their strength from the Lord rather than from themselves, and to rely on his mighty power for everything they face. Paul wrote these words near the close of his letter to the church in Ephesus, a community of mostly Gentile Christians in the Roman province of Asia.
Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might.
Ephesians 6:10 (WEB)
What Ephesians 6:10 Means
The word “finally” signals that Paul is wrapping up his instructions, but the command that follows is anything but a closing afterthought. “Be strong” is a command in the present tense, which means this is an ongoing posture rather than a one-time burst of courage. Paul is asking his readers to keep choosing strength, day after day, as a way of living.
The phrase “in the Lord” tells us where that strength is located. It is not generated by personal discipline, temperament, or willpower alone. Paul then adds “in the strength of his might,” piling up words for power to make the point that God’s ability is vast and dependable. The verse is about receiving strength from God, not manufacturing it on our own.
What the verse does not promise is an absence of struggle. Paul does not say that believers will never be tired, afraid, or outmatched. He says that strength is available in God, which is a different claim. It offers a source to lean on, not a guarantee that the battle will be easy.
The Context of Ephesians 6:10
Ephesians is generally attributed to Paul, though some scholars debate whether he wrote it personally or whether a close associate wrote it in his name, and the letter is typically dated to the early 60s AD while Paul was imprisoned. Its first three chapters focus on the riches of God’s grace and the unity of Jew and Gentile in the church, and chapters four through six turn to how that new life should shape daily conduct in households, workplaces, and communities.
Just before verse 10, Paul addresses servants and masters, urging both to serve with integrity because they answer to the same Lord in heaven. Right after verse 10, he speaks of the “whole armor of God” and the spiritual conflict believers face. Read in this setting, the call to strength is not a generic pep talk. It is the foundation for enduring faithful, sometimes costly, obedience within ordinary relationships and against unseen opposition.
Key Phrases in Ephesians 6:10
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.
(WEB)
Paul’s words in Philippians connect closely to Ephesians 6:10 by showing that his confidence rested in Christ rather than in circumstances. Reading the two together reinforces that the strength he describes is a source for contentment and perseverance in every situation, whether abundant or lacking.
Isaiah 40:31
But those who wait for the LORD will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run, and not be weary. They will walk, and not faint.
(WEB)
This passage from Isaiah describes those who wait on the Lord receiving renewed strength, which parallels Paul’s call to draw power from God. Together the two texts show that God’s strength is both an immediate resource for the present moment and a sustaining power over the long run.
A Short Prayer From Ephesians 6:10
Lord, I confess that I often try to face my days in my own strength, and then I run out of it by midafternoon. Help me remember that you are the source of the power I need, not a backup plan for when I fail. Give me strength for the tasks in front of me, for the people I must love, and for the battles I cannot see. Let my weakness become a doorway for your might to show itself in quiet, faithful ways. Keep me rooted in you today, and let my reliance on your strength shape every word and choice. Amen.
