The ‘Armor of God’ Metaphor: Intertextual Echoes Between Isaiah 59:17 and Ephesians 6:10-20

Abstract

The Hebrew verb שׁבל “to wear” or “to put on,” plays a crucial role in understanding the depiction of the Divine Warrior in Isaiah’s prophetic narrative. Isaiah employs a unique sartorial metaphor to describe the warrior's armaments. In a significant example of biblical intertextuality, the Apostle Paul reinterprets these images from Isa within a new context in the New Testament—transforming them from martial to spiritual armor in Eph 6:10–17. This study explores the intertextual echoes between Isa 59:17 and Eph 6:10-20, focusing on how Paul metaphorically applies the imagery of divine armor to articulate the spiritual struggles faced by early Christians. 
The Greek term ενδυω, akin to the Hebrew שׁבל, further connects these texts, emphasizing the thematic continuity in the use of clothing metaphors. The analysis also considers the contextual significance of these passages, which is vital for understanding their message.