Ephesians 6:4

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

2“Honor your father and mother” (which is the first commandment with a promise), 3“that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life on the earth.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath; instead, bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. 5Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear and sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6And do this not only to please them while they are watching, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.

Ephesians 6:4 word by word

Καὶ οἱ πατέρες, μὴ παροργίζετε τὰ τέκνα ὑμῶν, ἀλλ᾽ ἐκτρέφετε αὐτὰ ἐν παιδείᾳ καὶ νουθεσίᾳ κυρίου.¶Read the interlinear

• ·καίkai · andG2532
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Fathersπατήρpatēr · fatherG3962
• do notμήmē · notG3361
• provokeπαροργίζωparorgizō · to angerG3949
• yourσύsu · youG4771
• children to wrathτέκνονteknon · childG5043
• insteadἀλλάalla · butG235
• bring them upἐκτρέφωektrephō · to nourish/rearG1625
• bring them upαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• disciplineπαιδείαpaideia · disciplineG3809
• instructionνουθεσίαnouthesia · admonitionG3559
• of the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962

Cross-references for Ephesians 6:4

• Genesis 31:14And Rachel and Leah replied, “Do we have any portion or inheritance left in our father’s house?
• 1 Samuel 20:30Then Saul’s anger burned against Jonathan, and he said to him, “You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of the mother who bore you?
• Colossians 3:21Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they will not become discouraged.
• Genesis 18:19For I have chosen him, so that he will command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, in order that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has promised.”
• Exodus 12:26When your children ask you, ‘What does this service mean to you?’
• Exodus 13:14In the future, when your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ you are to tell him, ‘With a mighty hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
• Deuteronomy 4:9Only be on your guard and diligently watch yourselves, so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen, and so that they do not slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and grandchildren.
• Deuteronomy 6:7And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
• Deuteronomy 11:19Teach them to your children, speaking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
• Joshua 4:6to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’
• Joshua 4:21Then Joshua said to the Israelites, “In the future, when your children ask their fathers, ‘What is the meaning of these stones?’
• Joshua 24:15But if it is unpleasing in your sight to serve the LORD, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!”
• 1 Chronicles 22:10He is the one who will build a house for My Name. He will be My son, and I will be his Father. And I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’
• 1 Chronicles 28:9As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve Him wholeheartedly and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands the intent of every thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.
• 1 Chronicles 29:19And give my son Solomon a whole heart to keep and carry out all Your commandments, decrees, and statutes, and to build Your palace for which I have made provision.”
• Psalms 71:17O God, You have taught me from my youth, and to this day I proclaim Your marvelous 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

• Children
• Instruction
• Parents

In the dictionaries

• Ephesians, Epistle to
• Nurture
• Obey
• Provoke
• Wrestle
• Baptismal Regeneration
• Bring
• Chastening; Chastisement
• Ephesians, Epistle to the
• Father

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