World - Rulers only here. Compare John xiv. Lit., the spiritual things of wickedness . Rev., spiritual hosts of wickedness . The phrase is collective, of the evil powers viewed as a body.
Wickedness is active evil , mischief .
Hence Satan is called oJ ponhrov the wicked one. See on Luke iii. Rev., more literally, in the heavenly places. Used in the general sense of the sky or air . See on ch.