Armor

Armor for soldiers was usually made of leather coated with a thin layer of metal for added protection. Strips of the leather were fastened together to form a kind of vest tied at the back with leather strings. Sometimes soldiers wore a square of bronze over the chest under this armor as a kind of heart guard. Kings often had armor made with more metal. When armor is used in Ephesians 6:11, it refers to all the weapons a soldier used rather than just the leather covering for his body. Paul used armor as a word picture for the spiritual preparedness a Christian needs. This is called the armor of God.