Amplified Bible
Ephesians 6:4
4Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger [do not exasperate them to the point of resentment with demands that are trivial or unreasonable or humiliating or abusive; nor by showing favoritism or indifference to any of them], but bring them up [tenderly, with lovingkindness] in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Ephesians 6:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
- New International Version (NIV)Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
Context of Ephesians 6:4
2Honor [esteem, value as precious] your father and your mother [and be respectful to them]—this is the first commandment with a promise— 3so that it may be well with you, and that you may have a long life on the earth. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger [do not exasperate them to the point of resentment with demands that are trivial or unreasonable or humiliating or abusive; nor by showing favoritism or indifference to any of them], but bring them up [tenderly, with lovingkindness] in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. 5Slaves, be obedient to those who are your earthly masters, with respect for authority, and with a sincere heart [seeking to please them], as [service] to Christ— 6not in the way of eye-service [working only when someone is watching you and only] to please men, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart;
Read all of Ephesians 6Ephesians 6:4 word by word
Καὶ οἱ πατέρες, μὴ παροργίζετε τὰ τέκνα ὑμῶν, ἀλλ᾽ ἐκτρέφετε αὐτὰ ἐν παιδείᾳ καὶ νουθεσίᾳ κυρίου.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- yeὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- fathersπατήρpatēr · fatherG3962
- provokeπαροργίζωparorgizō · to angerG3949
- notμήmē · notG3361
- yourσύsu · youG4771
- childrenτέκνονteknon · childG5043
- butἀλλάalla · butG235
- bringἐκτρέφωektrephō · to nourish/rearG1625
- themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- the nurtureπαιδείαpaideia · disciplineG3809
- admonitionνουθεσίαnouthesia · admonitionG3559
- of the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
Cross-references for Ephesians 6:4
- Genesis 31:14Rachel and Leah answered him, “Is there still any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house?
- 1 Samuel 20:30Then Saul’s anger burned against Jonathan and he said to him, “You son of a wayward, rebellious woman! Do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse [over me] to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother’s nakedness?
- Colossians 3:21Fathers, do not provoke or irritate or exasperate your children [with demands that are trivial or unreasonable or humiliating or abusive; nor by favoritism or indifference; treat them tenderly with lovingkindness], so they will not lose heart and become discouraged or unmotivated [with their spirits broken].
- Genesis 18:19For I have known (chosen, acknowledged) him [as My own], so that he may teach and command his children and [the sons of] his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is righteous and just, so that the Lord may bring upon Abraham what He has promised him.”
- Exodus 12:26When your children say to you, ‘What does this service mean to you?’
- Exodus 13:14And it shall be when your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What does this mean?’ you shall say to him, ‘With a strong and powerful hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, from the house of bondage and slavery.
- Deuteronomy 4:9“Only pay attention and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your grandchildren [impressing these things on their mind and penetrating their heart with these truths]—
- Deuteronomy 6:7You shall teach them diligently to your children [impressing God’s precepts on their minds and penetrating their hearts with His truths] and shall speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road and when you lie down and when you get up.
- Deuteronomy 11:19You shall teach them [diligently] to your children [impressing God’s precepts on their minds and penetrating their hearts with His truths], speaking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up.
- Joshua 4:6so that this may be a sign among you; when your children ask later, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’
- Joshua 4:21He said to the sons of Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, ‘What do these stones mean?’
- Joshua 24:15If it is unacceptable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
- 1 Chronicles 22:10He shall build a house for My Name (Presence). He shall be My son and I will be his father; and I will establish his royal throne over Israel forever.’
- 1 Chronicles 28:9“As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father [have personal knowledge of Him, be acquainted with, and understand Him; appreciate, heed, and cherish Him] and serve Him with a blameless heart and a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and minds, and understands every intent and inclination of the thoughts. If you seek Him [inquiring for and of Him and requiring Him as your first and vital necessity] He will let you find Him; but if you abandon (turn away from) Him, He will reject you forever.
- 1 Chronicles 29:19and give to my son Solomon a perfect heart to keep Your commandments, Your testimonies, and Your statutes, and to do all [that is necessary] to build the temple [for You], for which I have made provision.”
- Psalms 71:17O God, You have taught me from my youth, And I still declare Your wondrous works and miraculous deeds.
Commentaries on Ephesians 6:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Fathers, provoke not your children to wrath - Avoid all severity; this will hurt your own souls, and do them no good; on the contrary, if punished with severity or cruelty, they will be only hardened and made desperate in their sins. Cruel parents generally have bad children. He who corrects his children according to God and reason will feel every blow on his own heart more sensibly than his child feels it on his body. Parents are called to correct; not…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4And ye fathers - A command addressed particularly to “fathers,” because they are at the head of the family, and its government is especially committed to them. The object of the apostle here is, to show parents that their commands should be such that they can be easily obeyed, or such as are entirely reasonable and proper. If children are required to “obey,” it is but reasonable that the commands of the parent should be such that they can be obeyed, or…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath: Fathers can make their children angry by being harsh or unfair (see Colossians 3:21). bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord: Parents should teach their children discipline and lessons from the Lord so they learn a good way of living that pleases God. This discipline should be loving and gentle. It should not be excessive, so that children are not turned away from the Lord but are drawn…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. fathers--including mothers; the fathers are specified as being the fountains of domestic authority. Fathers are more prone to passion in relation to their children than mothers, whose fault is rather over-indulgence. provoke not--irritate not, by vexatious commands, unreasonable blame, and uncertain temper [Alford]. Col 3:21, "lest they be discouraged." nurture--Greek, "discipline," namely, training by chastening in act where needed (Job 5:17; He…Read the comment
Topics related to Ephesians 6:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ephesians 6
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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