Bible Strands
Ephesians 6:5
Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear and sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The apostle Paul addresses Christian slaves within a household instruction sequence, positioned between directives for fathers regarding children and a clarification on the motive for obedience.
The words — ὑπακούετε (hupakouete) translates to do obey, and δοῦλοι (douloi) specifies the addressed group as slaves.
The thread — The command aligns with 1 Peter 2:18 and Titus 2:9 on slave conduct, while Colossians 3:17 and Ephesians 6:6 provide the surrounding framework for doing work in the Lord's name and from the heart.
Why it lands — The verse commands slaves to obey their earthly masters with respect, fear, and sincerity of heart, stating the required behavior without explaining the social or theological grounds for the arrangement.
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
Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
Cross-references
- 1 Peter 2:18 Servants, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but even to those who are unreasonable.
- Titus 2:9 Slaves are to submit to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative,
- Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
- Psalms 86:11 Teach me Your way, O LORD, that I may walk in Your truth. Give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name.
- 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?’
- Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.
- Philippians 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.
- 1 Timothy 6:1 All who are under the yoke of slavery should regard their masters as fully worthy of honor, so that God’s name and our teaching will not be discredited.
- Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
- Philemon 1:16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a beloved brother. He is especially beloved to me, but even more so to you, both in person and in the Lord.