Bible Strands
Ephesians 6:1
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul writes to the Ephesian church, opening the household-commands section (Eph 5:22–6:9) with a direct address to believers who are children under their parents' authority.
The words — ὑπακούετε (hupakouete) is a present active imperative: continuous, habitual obedience, not a single act. ἐν κυρίῳ (en kuriō) qualifies the whole command, tethering the child's submission to their identity in Christ rather than to the parents' merit.
The thread — Colossians 3:20 restates the same duty with "in everything" and "pleasing to the Lord." Proverbs 6:20 and 23:22 supply the OT warrant: keep the father's commandment, do not despise the mother.
Why it lands — The verse gives no conditional clause; obedience is framed as a matter of right (ἄδικον), not of the parents' goodness. The "in the Lord" qualifier means the submission is bounded by allegiance to Christ, not by blind acquiescence to any demand.
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 the Lord: for this is right.
Cross-references
- Colossians 3:20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord.
- Proverbs 23:22 Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
- Proverbs 6:20 My son, keep your father’s commandment, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
- Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
- Proverbs 1:8 Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother.
- Deuteronomy 21:18 If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father and mother and does not listen to them when disciplined,
- Leviticus 19:3 Each of you must respect his mother and father, and you must keep My Sabbaths. I am the LORD your God.
- Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
- 1 Timothy 5:4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to show godliness to their own family and repay their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.
- Ephesians 6:5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear and sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.