Bible Strands
Ephesians 5:21
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The author addresses a Christian community, positioning this command between an exhortation to give thanks (Ephesians 5:20) and specific marital instructions (Ephesians 5:22).
The words — ὑποτασσόμενοι (hupotassomenoi) translates as "be submitting yourselves," directly modified by ἀλλήλοις (allēlois), "to one another," and ἐν φόβῳ Χριστοῦ (en phobō Christou), "in reverence of Christ."
The thread — The text establishes mutual submission as the governing principle for Philippians 2:3, Ephesians 5:22, and Ephesians 5:24.
Why it lands — The verse commands reciprocal submission among believers, explicitly tethering this conduct to reverence for Christ rather than social status or personal inclination.
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
Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Cross-references
- Philippians 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.
- Ephesians 5:24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
- Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.
- Hebrews 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. To this end, allow them to lead with joy and not with grief, for that would be of no advantage to you.
- 1 Peter 5:5 Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
- 1 Timothy 3:4 An overseer must manage his own household well and keep his children under control, with complete dignity.
- 1 Peter 2:17 Treat everyone with high regard: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
- Galatians 5:13 For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love.
- 1 Timothy 2:11 A woman must learn in quietness and full submissiveness.
- 1 Corinthians 16:16 to submit to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer.