Ephesians 6:9

And masters, do the same for your slaves. Give up your use of threats, because you know that He who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with Him.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Paul addresses household masters directly, shifting the audience from the slaves discussed in verses 5–8. He places this instruction immediately before the final exhortation to spiritual strength in verse 10.

The words — The Greek οἱ κύριοι (hoi kurioi) identifies the audience as "you who are masters," while ποιεῖτε (poieite) commands them to "do" or "perform" the same conduct. The text explicitly pairs this command with the directive to "give up your use of threats."

The thread — The declaration that God shows "no favoritism" appears in Romans 2:11, Acts 10:34, and Colossians 3:25. These passages consistently state that divine judgment operates without partiality regardless of human social status.

Why it lands — The verse requires masters to abandon threatening behavior because their authority is subordinate to a heavenly Lord who evaluates all people equally. It demands practical fairness grounded in the factual reality of divine impartiality.

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

And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.

Cross-references

Acts 10:34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism,
Colossians 3:25 Whoever does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.
Romans 2:11 For God does not show favoritism.
Job 31:13 If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or maidservant when they made a complaint against me,
Deuteronomy 10:17 For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty, and awesome God, showing no partiality and accepting no bribe.
Luke 6:31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Matthew 7:12 In everything, then, do to others as you would have them do to you. For this is the essence of the Law and the Prophets.
Leviticus 25:39 If a countryman among you becomes destitute and sells himself to you, then you must not force him into slave labor.
Deuteronomy 24:14 Do not oppress a hired hand who is poor and needy, whether he is a brother or a foreigner residing in one of your towns.
John 13:13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, because I am.