Ephesians 6:18

Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Paul to the Ephesian church, at the hinge between the armor of God and his specific requests for prayer (v.19), positioning prayer as the engine behind the whole spiritual defense.

The words — The Greek pairs προσευχή (proseuchē, "prayer") with δέησις (deēsis, "supplication"), distinguishing general communion from specific, urgent requests; the modifier πᾶση (pasē, "every kind") applies to both, demanding variety rather than rote repetition.

The thread — The "prayer and petition" pairing echoes Philippians 4:6; the unceasing, watchful posture aligns with 1 Thessalonians 5:17 and Colossians 4:2.

Why it lands — It asks for a sustained, varied, alert prayer life directed not only toward personal need but toward "all the saints" — endurance, not intensity, is the point.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Cross-references

1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
Colossians 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful,
Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
1 Timothy 2:1 First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone—
Jude 1:20 But you, beloved, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,
Romans 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words.
Mark 14:38 Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
Luke 21:36 So keep watch at all times, and pray that you may have the strength to escape all that is about to happen and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Luke 18:1 Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart:
Matthew 26:41 “Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”