Ephesians 5:21

Ephesians 5:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
• New International Version (NIV)Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
• English Standard Version (ESV)submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
• New King James Version (NKJV)submitting to one another in the fear of God.

Context of Ephesians 5:21

19Speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, [offering praise by] singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20always giving thanks to God the Father for all things, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; being subject to one another out of reverence for Christ. 22Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as [a service] to the Lord. 23For the husband is head of the wife, as Christ is head of the church, Himself being the Savior of the body.

Ephesians 5:21 word by word

ὑποτασσόμενοι ἀλλήλοις ἐν φόβῳ Χριστοῦ.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Submittingὑποτάσσωhupotassō · to subjectG5293
• yourselves one to anotherἀλλήλωνallēlōn · one anotherG240
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• the fearφόβοςphobos · fearG5401
• of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316

Cross-references for Ephesians 5:21

• Ephesians 5:22Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as [a service] to the Lord.
• Genesis 16:9The Angel of the Lord said to her, “Go back to your mistress, and submit humbly to her authority.”
• 1 Chronicles 29:24All of the leaders and warriors, and also all the sons of King David, pledged allegiance to King Solomon.
• Romans 13:1Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God [granted by His permission and sanction], and those which exist have been put in place by God.
• 1 Corinthians 16:16to be subject to such leaders [treating them with courtesy and respect], and to everyone who helps in the work and labors [for the benefit of yourselves and the church].
• Philippians 2:3Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit [through factional motives, or strife], but with [an attitude of] humility [being neither arrogant nor self-righteous], regard others as more important than yourselves.
• 1 Timothy 2:11A woman must quietly receive instruction with all submissiveness.
• 1 Timothy 3:4He must manage his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity [keeping them respectful and well-behaved]
• Hebrews 13:17Obey your [spiritual] leaders and submit to them [recognizing their authority over you], for they are keeping watch over your souls and continually guarding your spiritual welfare as those who will give an account [of their stewardship of you]. Let them do this with joy and not with grief and groans, for this would be of no benefit to you.
• 1 Peter 2:13Submit yourselves to [the authority of] every human institution for the sake of the Lord [to honor His name], whether it is to a king as one in a position of power,
• 1 Peter 5:5Likewise, you younger men [of lesser rank and experience], be subject to your elders [seek their counsel]; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another [tie on the servant’s apron], for God is opposed to the proud [the disdainful, the presumptuous, and He defeats them], but He gives grace to the humble.
• 2 Chronicles 19:7So now let the fear (reverent awe) of the Lord be on you [to keep you from making unjust decisions]; be careful in what you do, for there is no injustice with the Lord our God, or partiality, or acceptance of a bribe.”
• Nehemiah 5:9So I said, “What you are doing is not good. Should you not walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunting by the [pagan] nations, our enemies?
• Proverbs 24:21My son, fear the Lord and the king; And do not associate with those who are given to change [of allegiance, and are revolutionary],
• 2 Corinthians 7:1Therefore, since we have these [great and wonderful] promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, completing holiness [living a consecrated life—a life set apart for God’s purpose] in the fear of God.
• 1 Peter 2:17Show respect for all people [treat them honorably], love the brotherhood [of believers], fear God, honor the king.

Commentaries on Ephesians 5:21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21Submitting - one to another - Let no man be so tenacious of his own will or his opinion in matters indifferent, as to disturb the peace of the Church; in all such matters give way to each other, and let love rule. In the fear of God - Setting him always before your eyes, and considering that he has commanded you to love one another, and to bear each other's burdens; and that what you do in this or any other commanded case, you do as unto the Lord. Instead…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21Submitting yourselves one to another - Maintaining due subordination in the various relations of life. This general principle of religion, the apostle proceeds now to illustrate in reference to wives Ephesians 5:22-24; to children Ephesians 6:1-3; and to servants, Ephesians 6:5-8. At the same time that he enforces this duty of submission, however, he enjoins on others to use their authority in a proper manner, and gives solemn injunctions that there…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-21Verses 15-21 Another remedy against sin, is care, or caution, it being impossible else to maintain purity of heart and life. Time is a talent given us by God, and it is misspent and lost when not employed according to his design. If we have lost our time heretofore, we must double our diligence for the future. Of that time which thousands on a dying bed would gladly redeem at the price of the whole world, how little do men think, and to what trifles they…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21Submit to one another: The verb form connects it with the command to be filled (5:18). This general instruction (compare Philippians 2:3) applies to all three relationships Paul discusses: wives and husbands (Ephesians 5:22–33), children and parents (6:1–4), and slaves and masters (6:5–9). Believers express submission not out of fear or personal gain, but out of respect for Christ.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. (Php 2:3; 1Pe 5:5.) Here he passes from our relations to God, to those which concern our fellow men. in the fear of God--All the oldest manuscripts and authorities read, "in the fear of Christ." The believer passes from under the bondage of the law as a letter, to be "the servant of Christ" (1Co 7:22), which, through the instinct of love to Him, is really to be "the Lord's freeman"; for he is "under the law to Christ" (1Co 9:21; compare Joh 8:36)…Read the comment

Topics related to Ephesians 5:21

• Commandments
• Fear of God
• Humility

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Arise
• Awake
• Dear
• Fear of the Lord the
• Fellowship
• Flesh
• Fruit
• Light

Commentaries on Ephesians 5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings