What is the Armor of God? %

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil (Ephesians 6:11 KJV)

As a young Christian, I remember praying in church and making gestures to put on the armor of God, such as taking the sword of the Spirit or shield of faith. Sadly, such practices can erode our understanding of what the armor of God is if taken out of context. Although many Christians know about the armor of God, many do not understand what this armor truly means in everyday life.

The key to unlocking the practical meaning of the armor of God is recognizing the metaphor of clothing hidden in this verse. There are two clues to the idea of clothing. First is the verb “put on,” meaning to clothe ourselves or dress. The second clue is the term “armor.” An armor is military attire—it is clothing for war, combining the idea of clothing and that of a weapon.

So, what does clothing symbolize in this context? Clothes represent the first thing people notice when they look at us. Spiritually, God intends to use clothing here to convey the idea of character—an outward, visible aspect of us. This is why the Bible also uses the same metaphor of clothing for the body(2 Corinthians 5:1-3).

So, to put on the armor of God, we behave or act in the way God has directed us. Our armor is our character, the way we think, speak, and act.

With this foundational idea of clothing as character, we move on to the military aspect, the weapon. The armor is not just clothing but military clothing for war, not some party dress or sportswear. And here is a crucial truth: the idea of armor to fight against the enemy means God is saying the way you think, act, and speak has an effect on Satan and demons. This is so powerful that I encourage you to pause and think about it. The way we think can block Satan or allow him access to your life. What we say can hurt Satan like a sword that pierces someone.

So when God says, “Put on the whole armor of God,” He means we should live according to His instructions, which can destroy Satan’s activities or protect us from them.