Bible Strands
Colossians 3:20
Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul writes to the Colossian church, addressing children within a household code that runs from wives through fathers (3:18–21).
The words — ὑπακούω (hupakouō) literally means "to hear under," i.e., to place oneself under another's authority; πάντα (panta) closes the scope with "all things," leaving no room for selective compliance.
The thread — Ephesians 6:1 pairs the same command with "in the Lord" and calls it "right"; Exodus 20:12 grounds it in the Decalogue with a land-blessing rationale; Proverbs 6:20 frames it as keeping a parent's commandment.
Why it lands — The verse asks for unconditional obedience, not a negotiated arrangement, and grounds the duty in what pleases God rather than in any earthly reward.
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
Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
Cross-references
- Exodus 20:12 Honor your father and mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.
- Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
- Proverbs 6:20 My son, keep your father’s commandment, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
- Matthew 15:4 For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’
- Matthew 19:19 honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.’”
- Leviticus 19:3 Each of you must respect his mother and father, and you must keep My Sabbaths. I am the LORD your God.
- Deuteronomy 27:16 ‘Cursed is he who dishonors his father or mother.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’
- Proverbs 30:17 As for the eye that mocks a father and scorns obedience to a mother, may the ravens of the valley pluck it out and young vultures devour it.
- Proverbs 30:11 There is a generation of those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.
- Malachi 1:6 “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. But if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is your fear of Me?” says the LORD of Hosts to you priests who despise My name. “But you ask, ‘How have we despised Your name?’