Prince of the power of the AIR

 Ephesians 2:2

King James Version

2 Wherein in time past 

ye walked according to the course of this world, 

according to the prince of the power of the air, 

the spirit that now worketh 

in the children of disobedience:

There is something strange going on in the "air" right now.

With the recent plane crashes and all in America.

Which reminded us of the verse above.

With the particular phrase, "prince of the power of the air".

Who is that referring to?

Let these Bible versions tell us more:

Ephesians 2:2

Amplified Bible

2 in which you once walked. You were following the ways of this world [influenced by this present age], in accordance with the prince of the power of the air (Satan), the spirit who is now at work in the disobedient [the unbelieving, who fight against the purposes of God].

Ephesians 2:2

Common English Bible

2 You used to live like people of this world. You followed the rule of a destructive spiritual power. This is the spirit of disobedience to God’s will that is now at work in persons whose lives are characterized by disobedience.

Ephesians 2:2

Contemporary English Version

2 You followed the ways of this world and obeyed the devil. He rules the world, and his spirit has power over everyone who doesn't obey God.

Ephesians 2:2

Easy-to-Read Version

2 Yes, in the past your lives were full of those sins. You lived the way the world lives, following the ruler of the evil powers[a] that are above the earth. That same spirit is now working in those who refuse to obey God.

Ephesians 2:2

EasyEnglish Bible

2 You lived in a bad way, like the people who belong to this world. You were obeying Satan, who rules the powerful spirits in the air. Those spirits are working now in everyone who refuses to obey God.

Ephesians 2:2

Expanded Bible

2 Yes, in the past you ·lived [walked] ·the way the world lives [L according to the course/ways/age of this world], following the ruler [C Satan] of the ·evil powers that are above the earth [L dominion/authority of the air; C probably demonic forces]. That same spirit is now working in ·those who refuse to obey God [L the children/sons of disobedience].

Ephesians 2:2

Good News Translation

2 At that time you followed the world's evil way; you obeyed the ruler of the spiritual powers in space, the spirit who now controls the people who disobey God.

Ephesians 2:2

Holman Christian Standard Bible

2 in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler who exercises authority over the lower heavens,[a] the spirit now working in the disobedient.

Ephesians 2:2

International Children’s Bible

2 Yes, in the past you lived the way the world lives. You followed the ruler of the evil powers that are above the earth. That same spirit is now working in those who refuse to obey God.

Ephesians 2:2

J.B. Phillips New Testament

We were all dead: God gave us life through Christ

2 1-2 To you, who were spiritually dead all the time that you drifted along on the stream of this world’s ideas of living, and obeyed its unseen ruler (who is still operating in those who do not respond to the truth of God), to you 

Ephesians 2:2

New International Reader's Version

2 You used to live as sinners when you followed the ways of this world. You served the one who rules over the spiritual forces of evil. He is the spirit who is now at work in those who don’t obey God.

Ephesians 2:2

New International Version

2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.

Ephesians 2:2

New Life Version

2 You followed the sinful ways of the world and obeyed the leader of the power of darkness. He is the devil who is now working in the people who do not obey God.

Ephesians 2:2

New Living Translation

2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world.[a] He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.

Ephesians 2:2

New Matthew Bible

2 in which you walked in time past according to the course of this world, and followed the prince that rules in the air – the spirit that now works in the children of unbelief,

Kehillah in Ephesus 2:2

Orthodox Jewish Bible

2 In which you amol (formerly) fier zich (comported oneself), according to the course of the Olam Hazeh, according to the Sar of the authority of the air [the Samekh Mem, Hasatan, teivel, the devil], the ruach now working in the bnei haMeri (sons of Rebellion).

Ephesians 2:2

Worldwide English (New Testament)

2 At one time you did those wrong things, just like the people around you. You obeyed the ruler who has the power over things in the air. That ruler is the spirit who is working now in the people who do not obey God.

In SUMMARY, "prince of the power of the air" refers to:

Satan

destructive spiritual power

the devil

the ruler of the evil powers[a] that are above the earth

Satan, who rules the powerful spirits in the air

the ruler [C Satan] of the ·evil powers that are above the earth [L dominion/authority of the air; C probably demonic forces]

the ruler of the spiritual powers in space

the ruler who exercises authority over the lower heavens

the ruler of the evil powers that are above the earth

unseen ruler

the one who rules over the spiritual forces of evil

the ruler of the kingdom of the air

the leader of the power of darkness. He is the devil

the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world

the prince that rules in the air

the Sar of the authority of the air [the Samekh Mem, Hasatan, teivel, the devil]

the ruler who has the power over things in the air

Now that we know "who" this prince is, we can now turn to his influence, and destructiveness.

Click here for the next post in this "plane crash" series.

Related material:

On Knowing the Enemy of Christ

JESUS and Satan

WORD study

GOD's regret

 Genesis 6:6

King James Version

6 And it repented the Lord 

that he had made man on the earth, 

and it grieved him at his heart.

What does "it repented the Lord" mean?

To be sure, we turn to other Bible versions for clarity.

Genesis 6:6

Easy-to-Read Version

6 The Lord was sorry that he had made people on the earth. It made him very sad in his heart.

Genesis 6:6

New International Reader's Version

6 The Lord was very sad that he had made human beings on the earth. His heart was filled with pain.

Genesis 6:6

New International Version

6 The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled.

Bereshis 6:6

Orthodox Jewish Bible

6 And Hashem relented that He had made HaAdam on ha’aretz, and He was hurt in His lev.

In SUMMARY, "it repented the Lord" means:

The Lord was sorry

The Lord was very sad

The Lord regretted

Hashem relented

What caused such sorrow in GOD?

Genesis 6:4-5

King James Version

4 There were giants in the earth in those days; 

and also after that, 

when the sons of God came in 

unto the daughters of men, 

and they bare children to them, 

the same became mighty men which were of old, 

men of renown.

5 And God saw 

that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, 

and that every imagination 

of the thoughts of his heart 

was only evil continually.

What did GOD do?

Genesis 6:7-8

King James Version

7 And the Lord said, 

I will destroy man whom I have created 

from the face of the earth; 

both man, and beast, 

and the creeping thing, 

and the fowls of the air; 

for it repenteth me that I have made them.

8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

You know what GOD asked Noah to do, because a flood was to come.

On DUMB idols

 1 Corinthians 12:2

King James Version

2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, 

carried away unto these dumb idols, 

even as ye were led.

What does "dumb idols" mean?

What was the King James Version referring to?

How do other Bible versions translate the word "dumb idols"?

1 Corinthians 12:2

Amplified Bible

2 You know that when you were pagans, you were led off after speechless idols; however you were led off [whether by impulse or habit].

1 Corinthians 12:2

Christian Standard Bible

2 You know that when you were pagans, you used to be enticed and led astray by mute idols.

1 Corinthians 12:2

Common English Bible

2 You know that when you were Gentiles you were often misled by false gods that can’t even speak.

1 Corinthians 12:2

Complete Jewish Bible

2 You know that when you were pagans, no matter how you felt you were being led, you were being led astray to idols, which can’t speak at all.

1 Corinthians 12:2

Contemporary English Version

2 I want you to remember that before you became followers of the Lord, you were led in all the wrong ways by idols that cannot even talk.

1 Corinthians 12:2

Easy-to-Read Version

2 You remember the lives you lived before you were believers. You let yourselves be influenced and led away to worship idols—things that have no life.

1 Corinthians 12:2

Expanded Bible

2 You know the way you lived ·before you were believers [L when you were pagans/Gentiles]. You let yourselves be influenced and led away to worship idols—things that could not speak.

1 Corinthians 12:2

GOD’S WORD Translation

2 You know that when you were unbelievers, every time you were led to worship false gods you were worshiping gods who couldn’t even speak.

1 Corinthians 12:2

Good News Translation

2 You know that while you were still heathen, you were led astray in many ways to the worship of lifeless idols.

1 Corinthians 12:2

Holman Christian Standard Bible

2 You know that when you were pagans, you used to be led off to the idols that could not speak.

1 Corinthians 12:2

International Children’s Bible

2 You remember the lives you lived before you were believers. You let yourselves be influenced and led away to worship idols—things that have no life.

1 Corinthians 12:2

International Standard Version

2 You know that when you were unbelievers,[a] you were enticed and led astray to worship[b] idols that couldn’t even speak.

1 Corinthians 12:2

Living Bible

2 You will remember that before you became Christians you went around from one idol to another, not one of which could speak a single word.

1 Corinthians 12:2

The Message

Spiritual Gifts

Remember how you were when you didn’t know God, led from one phony god to another, never knowing what you were doing, just doing it because everybody else did it?

1 Corinthians 12:2

Names of God Bible

2 You know that when you were unbelievers, every time you were led to worship false gods you were worshiping gods who couldn’t even speak.

1 Corinthians 12:2

New International Reader's Version

2 You know that at one time you were unbelievers. You were somehow drawn away to worship statues of gods that couldn’t even speak.

1 Corinthians 12:2

New Life Version

2 You know that before you were Christians you were led to worship false gods. None of these gods could speak.

Kehillah in Corinth I 12:2

Orthodox Jewish Bible

2 You have da’as that when you WERE Goyim [T.N. i.e., you are no longer heathen pagans], somehow you were influenced and led astray to the ELILIM ILLEMIM ("Dumb idols, idols incapable of speech" CHABAKUK 2:18-19).

1 Corinthians 12:2

Tree of Life Version

2 You know that when you were pagans, you were enticed by idols that cannot speak, and you got led astray.

1 Corinthians 12:2

The Voice

2 Remember the way you used to live when you were pagans apart from God? You were engrossed—enchanted with voiceless idols, led astray by mere images carved by human hands.

1 Corinthians 12:2

Worldwide English (New Testament)

2 You know that before you believed in God, you were led by other men to believe in idols that could not talk.

1 Corinthians 12:2

Wycliffe Bible

2 For ye know, that when ye were heathen men, how ye were led going to dumb maumets. [Soothly ye know, for when ye were heathen men, as ye were led going to dumb simulacra.]

In SUMMARY, "dumb idols" mean:

speechless idols

mute idols

false gods that can’t even speak

idols, which can’t speak at all

idols that cannot even talk

idols—things that have no life

idols—things that could not speak

gods who couldn’t even speak

lifeless idols

idols that could not speak

idols—things that have no life

idols that couldn’t even speak

from one idol to another, not one of which could speak a single word

one phony god to another

false gods who couldn’t even speak

statues of gods that couldn’t even speak

false gods. None of these gods could speak

ELILIM ILLEMIM ("Dumb idols, idols incapable of speech" 

idols that cannot speak

voiceless idols

mere images carved by human hands

idols that could not talk

dumb maumets

dumb simulacra

Why are statues "dumb idols"?

Habakkuk 2:18-19

King James Version

18 What profiteth the graven image 

that the maker thereof hath graven it; 

the molten image, 

and a teacher of lies, 

that the maker of his work trusteth therein, 

to make dumb idols?

19 Woe unto him that saith to the wood, 

Awake; 

to the dumb stone, 

Arise, it shall teach! 

Behold, 

it is laid over with gold and silver, 

and there is no breath at all in the midst of it.

Worshiping "dumb idols", gods who cannot speak, as in statues of deities or gods, and goddesses, is a TOTAL affront on the GOD who can speak.

You can talk to GOD ANY TIME.

And He will answer your prayers, or questions.

He always spoke through His prophets.

He spoke through His Son, JESUS.

He spoke through His SPIRIT.

Why does GOD hate idols?

Why does He hate idolatry?

Why is that His FIRST commandment?

Exodus 20:1-6

King James Version

20 And God spake all these words, saying,

2 I am the Lord thy God, 

which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, 

out of the house of bondage.

3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, 

or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, 

or that is in the earth beneath, 

or that is in the water under the earth.

5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: 

for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, 

visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children 

unto the third and fourth generation 

of them that hate me;

6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them 

that love me, 

and keep my commandments.

GOD gave man the BREATH of LIFE.

Genesis 2:7

King James Version

7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, 

and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; 

and man became a living soul.

GOD is a LIVING GOD.

Jeremiah 10:10

King James Version

10 But the Lord is the true God, 

he is the living God, 

and an everlasting king: 

at his wrath the earth shall tremble, 

and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.

JESUS is the SON of the LIVING GOD.

Matthew 16:15-17

King James Version

15 He saith unto them, 

But whom say ye that I am?

16 And Simon Peter answered and said, 

Thou art the Christ, 

the Son of the living God.

17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, 

Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: 

for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, 

but my Father which is in heaven.

Related material:

Idolatry

The LIVING GOD

LIVING WATERS

SPIRIT of GOD

JESUS

CREATURE worship

 Romans 1:25

King James Version

25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, 

and worshipped and served the creature 

more than the Creator, 

who is blessed for ever. 

Amen.

The Bible was clear:

WORSHIP GOD, not the creature.

But what does "creature" mean?

Let's turn to the Bible versions:

Romans 1:25

Christian Standard Bible

25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served what has been created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever. Amen.

Romans 1:25

Contemporary English Version

25 They gave up the truth about God for a lie, and they worshiped God's creation instead of God, who will be praised forever. Amen.

Romans 1:25

Easy-to-Read Version

25 They traded the truth of God for a lie. They bowed down and worshiped the things God made instead of worshiping the God who made those things. He is the one who should be praised forever. Amen.

Romans 1:25

Expanded Bible

25 They ·traded [exchanged] the truth of God for ·a lie [or the lie; see Gen. 3:4–5] and worshiped and served ·the creation [or the creature; or created things] instead of the Creator, who ·should be praised [or is blessed] forever. Amen.

Romans 1:25

GOD’S WORD Translation

25 These people have exchanged God’s truth for a lie. So they have become ungodly and serve what is created rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen!

Romans 1:25

Good News Translation

25 They exchange the truth about God for a lie; they worship and serve what God has created instead of the Creator himself, who is to be praised forever! Amen.

Romans 1:25

Holman Christian Standard Bible

25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served something created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever. Amen.

Romans 1:25

Living Bible

25 Instead of believing what they knew was the truth about God, they deliberately chose to believe lies. So they prayed to the things God made, but wouldn’t obey the blessed God who made these things.

Romans 1:25

New Century Version

25 They traded the truth of God for a lie. They worshiped and served what had been created instead of the God who created those things, who should be praised forever. Amen.

Romans 1:25

New International Version

25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

Romans 1:25

New Life Version

25 They traded the truth of God for a lie. They worshiped and cared for what God made instead of worshiping the God Who made it. He is the One Who is to receive honor and thanks forever. Let it be so.

Romans 1:25

New Living Translation

25 They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.

Kehillah in Rome 1:25

Orthodox Jewish Bible

25 They traded in HaEmes Hashem (the Truth of G-d) for sheker, for a lie, and worshiped and served HaBri’ah (the Creature, the Creation) rather than HaBo’re (the Creator), hamvorach l’olamim. Omein (who is blessed forever. Amen).

Romans 1:25

Worldwide English (New Testament)

25 They would not believe what was true about God. They believed a lie. They worshipped and worked for something that was made by God. They did not worship God - God who made all things. He is the one to worship for ever. Amen. May it be so!

In  SUMMARY, "creature" means:

what has been created

God's creation

things God made

the creature; or created things

what is created

what God has created

something created

the things God made

what had been created

what God made

things God created

HaBri’ah (the Creature, the Creation)

something that was made by God

Is man, then a "creature"?

Oh yes.

This verse says so:

2 Corinthians 5:17

King James Version

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, 

he is a new creature: 

old things are passed away; 

behold, all things are become new.

Thus, don't worship any man.

WORSHIP GOD alone.

The angel said so:

Revelation 19:10

King James Version

10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. 

And he said unto me, See thou do it not: 

I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren 

that have the testimony of Jesus: 

worship God: 

for the testimony of Jesus 

is the spirit of prophecy.

Related material:

Idolatry

Worship GOD alone

WORD study

BASIS for BIBLE versions

The mighty men

 

Genesis 6:2

King James Version

2 That the sons of God 

saw the daughters of men that they were fair; 

and they took them wives of all which they chose.

How earth had been corrupted in those days.

The pre-flood days.

"Mighty men" resulted from the union of the "sons of God" with the daughters of men.

And here's the result:

Genesis 6:4

King James Version

4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

Genesis 6:4

American Standard Version

4 The [a]Nephilim were in the earth in those days, and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them: the same were the mighty men that were of old, the men of renown.

Genesis 6:4

Amplified Bible

4 There were Nephilim (men of stature, notorious men) on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God lived with the daughters of men, and they gave birth to their children. These were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown (great reputation, fame).

Genesis 6:4

Christian Standard Bible

4 The Nephilim[a] were on the earth both in those days and afterward, when the sons of God came to the daughters of mankind, who bore children to them. They were the powerful men of old, the famous men.

Genesis 6:4

Complete Jewish Bible

4 The N’filim were on the earth in those days, and also afterwards, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them; these were the ancient heroes, men of renown.

Genesis 6:4

Contemporary English Version

4  The children of the supernatural beings who had married these women became famous heroes and warriors. They were called Nephilim and lived on the earth at that time and even later.

Genesis 6:4

Easy-to-Read Version

People Become Evil

6 The number of people on earth continued to increase. When these people had daughters, the sons of God saw how beautiful they were. So they chose the women they wanted. They married them, and the women had their children.

During this time and also later, the Nephilim people lived in the land. They have been famous as powerful soldiers since ancient times.

Genesis 6:4

Evangelical Heritage Version

4 The Nephilim[a] were on the earth in those days. After that, the sons of God went to the daughters of men, who bore children for them. Those became the powerful, famous men of ancient times.

Genesis 6:4

Good News Translation

4 In those days, and even later, there were giants on the earth who were descendants of human women and the heavenly beings. They were the great heroes and famous men of long ago.

Genesis 6:4

Holman Christian Standard Bible

4 The Nephilim[a] were on the earth both in those days and afterward, when the sons of God came to the daughters of mankind, who bore children to them. They were the powerful men of old, the famous men.

Genesis 6:4

International Children’s Bible

4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days and also later. That was when the sons of God had physical relations with the daughters of men. These women gave birth to children, who became famous. They were the mighty warriors of long ago.

Genesis 6:4

The Message

4 This was back in the days (and also later) when there were giants in the land. The giants came from the union of the sons of God and the daughters of men. These were the mighty men of ancient lore, the famous ones.

Genesis 6:4

New Catholic Bible

4 There were giants upon the earth at this time, as well as afterward. They were the children of the sons of God who married the daughters of men. These were the heroes of times past, men of renown.

Genesis 6:4

New International Reader's Version

4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days. That was when the sons of God went to the daughters of human beings. Children were born to them. The Nephilim were famous heroes who lived long ago. Nephilim were also on the earth later on.

Genesis 6:4

New International Version

4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown.

Genesis 6:4

New Life Version

4 Very large men were on the earth in those days, and later also, when the sons of God lived with the daughters of men, who gave birth to their children. These were the powerful men of long ago, men of much strength.

Genesis 6:4

New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised

4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterwards—when the sons of God went in to the daughters of humans, who bore children to them. These were the heroes that were of old, warriors of renown.

Bereshis 6:4

Orthodox Jewish Bible

4 HaNefilim were on ha’aretz in those yamim; and also after that, when the bnei HaElohim came in unto the banot HaAdam, and they bore children to them, the same became gibborim which were of old, men of renown.

Genesis 6:4

Wycliffe Bible

4 Soothly giants were on the earth in those days, forsooth after that the sons of God entered [in] to the daughters of men, and those daughters begat; these were mighty of the world and famous men (these were the mighty and famous men of the world).

Genesis 6:4

Young's Literal Translation

4 The fallen ones were in the earth in those days, and even afterwards when sons of God come in unto daughters of men, and they have borne to them -- they [are] the heroes, who, from of old, [are] the men of name.

In SUMMARY, the "mighty" men referred to these:

giants

mighty men which were of old, men of renown

Nephilim

mighty men that were of old, the men of renown

Nephilim (men of stature, notorious men)

mighty men who were of old, men of renown (great reputation, fame)

powerful men of old, the famous men

N’filim

ancient heroes, men of renown

children of the supernatural beings who had married these women

famous heroes and warriors

famous as powerful soldiers since ancient times

powerful, famous men of ancient times

descendants of human women and the heavenly beings

great heroes and famous men of long ago

powerful men of old, the famous men

mighty warriors of long ago

The giants came from the union of the sons of God and the daughters of men

mighty men of ancient lore, the famous ones

children of the sons of God who married the daughters of men

heroes of times past, men of renown

famous heroes who lived long ago

heroes of old, men of renown

Very large men

powerful men of long ago, men of much strength

heroes that were of old, warriors of renown

HaNefilim

bnei HaElohim came in unto the banot HaAdam, and they bore children to them

gibborim which were of old, men of renown

Soothly giants

mighty and famous men of the world

fallen ones

heroes, who, from of old, [are] the men of name

ancient heroes, famous men

Nephilim [L fallen ones

mighty warriors of long ago

These children were famous long ago

heroes and legendary figures of ancient times

great warrior race

mighty warriors

famous heroes, the kind people tell stories about

The "sons of God" were also called father of the "fallen ones", supernatural beings, evil beings from the spirit world, heavenly beings, divine beings, bnei HaElohim.

GOD's anger was so great.

But that's for a future post.

More WORD study here.

Related material:

On ANGELS

BASIS for BIBLE versions

Image: Clipart Library