Colossians 4:1

Colossians 4:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
• New International Version (NIV)Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

Context of Colossians 4:1

Masters, deal with your slaves justly and fairly, since you know that you too have a Master in heaven. 2Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving. 3At the same time, pray also for us that God may open a door to us for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains,

Colossians 4:1 word by word

Οἱ κύριοι, τὸ δίκαιον καὶ τὴν ἰσότητα τοῖς δούλοις παρέχεσθε εἰδότες ὅτι καὶ ὑμεῖς ἔχετε κύριον ἐν οὐρανῷ.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Mastersκύριοςkurios · lord: masterG2962
• giveπαρέχωparechō · to furnish occasionG3930
• untoδοῦλοςdoulos · slaveG1401
• that which is justδίκαιοςdikaios · justG1342
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• equalἰσότηςisotēs · equalityG2471
• knowingεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• yeσύsu · youG4771
• haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• heavenοὐρανόςouranos · heavenG3772

Cross-references for Colossians 4:1

• Leviticus 19:13“Do not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages due a hired worker must not remain with you until morning.
• Leviticus 25:39“If your brother among you becomes destitute and sells himself to you, you must not force him to do slave labor.
• Deuteronomy 15:12“If your fellow Hebrew, a man or woman, is sold to you and serves you six years, you must set him free in the seventh year.
• Deuteronomy 24:14“Do not oppress a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether one of your Israelite brothers or one of the resident aliens in a town in your land.
• Nehemiah 5:5We and our children are just like our countrymen and their children, yet we are subjecting our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters are already enslaved, but we are powerless because our fields and vineyards belong to others.”
• Job 24:11They crush olives in their presses; they tread the winepresses, but go thirsty.
• Job 31:13If I have dismissed the case of my male or female servants when they made a complaint against me,
• Isaiah 58:3“Why have we fasted, but you have not seen? We have denied ourselves, but you haven’t noticed!” “Look, you do as you please on the day of your fast, and oppress all your workers.
• Jeremiah 34:9As a result, each was to let his male and female Hebrew slaves go free, and no one was to enslave his fellow Judean.
• Malachi 3:5“I will come to you in judgment, and I will be ready to witness against sorcerers and adulterers; against those who swear falsely; against those who oppress the hired worker, the widow, and the fatherless; and against those who deny justice to the resident alien. They do not fear me,” says the Lord of Armies.
• James 2:13For judgment is without mercy to the one who has not shown mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
• James 5:4Look! The pay that you withheld from the workers who mowed your fields cries out, and the outcry of the harvesters has reached the ears of the Lord of Armies.
• Ecclesiastes 5:8If you see oppression of the poor and perversion of justice and righteousness in the province, don’t be astonished at the situation, because one official protects another official, and higher officials protect them.
• Matthew 23:8“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ because you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters.
• Matthew 24:48But if that wicked servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delayed,’
• Luke 16:1Now he said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who received an accusation that his manager was squandering his possessions.

Commentaries on Colossians 4:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Masters, give unto your servants - This verse should have been added to the preceding, to which it properly belongs; and this chapter should have begun with Colossians 4:2. That which is just and equal - As they are bondmen or slaves of whom the apostle speaks, we may at once see with what propriety this exhortation is given. The condition of slaves among the Greeks and Romans was wretched in the extreme; they could appeal to no law; and they could…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Masters, give unto your servants … - See the notes at Ephesians 6:9. That which is just and equal - What they ought to have; what is fairly their due. The apostle here, probably, refers to bondmen or slaves, and the propriety of this rule is apparent. Such persons were subject to their masters‘ control; their time and services were at their disposal, and they could not enforce their just and equal claims by an appeal to the laws. They were, therefore…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Masters to do their duty towards servants. (1) Persons of all ranks to persevere in prayer, and Christian prudence. (2-6) The apostle refers to others for an account of his affairs. (7-9) Sends greetings; and concludes with a blessing. (10-18) Verse 1 The apostle proceeds with the duty of masters to their servants. Not only justice is required of them, but strict equity and kindness. Let them deal with servants as they expect God should deal with…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1Masters: Christian slave owners needed to understand that they were also slaves who had to obey Jesus Christ, their Master in heaven. He treats everyone with dignity and kindness.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-181. give--Greek "render": literally, "afford." equal--that is, as the slaves owe their duties to you, so you equally owe to them your duties as masters. Compare "ye masters do the same things" (see on Ep 6:9). Alford translates, "fairness," "equity," which gives a large and liberal interpretation of justice in common matters (Phm 16). knowing--(Col 3:24). ye also--as well as they.Read the comment

Topics related to Colossians 4:1

• Employer
• Master
• Servant
• Wages

In the dictionaries

• Ephesians, Epistle to
• Fervently
• Greet
• Colossians, Epistle to the
• Ephesians, Epistle to the
• Give

Commentaries on Colossians 4

• 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
• 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