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, be fair to your servants. Give them what is right. Remember that you also serve a master, and he is in heaven. 2Continue to pray seriously. Stay awake, like people who watch carefully. And remember to thank God. 3Also pray for us. Ask God to make it possible for us to tell people his message. We want people to understand the message about Christ that was a secret before. I am now in a prison because I taught people those things.

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 19:13You must not rob another person. You must not keep a slave's money until the morning.
• Leviticus 25:39If an Israelite becomes poor, he might sell himself to you. But he must not work for you as a slave. You must pay him to work as your servant.
• Deuteronomy 15:12You may buy another Israelite to be your servant, a man or a woman. Let that servant work for you for six years. Then in the seventh year, you must let him go free.
• Deuteronomy 24:14Do not be cruel to any poor or helpless person who works for you. Be kind to him, whether he is an Israelite or a foreigner who lives in one of your towns.
• Nehemiah 5:5Now we have to sell our sons and daughters as slaves so that we can pay back the money. But we are from the same human family as those other Jews. Our children are not different from their children. Already some of our daughters have become slaves. Our fields and vineyards now belong to other people, so we are helpless to do anything.’
• Job 24:11They squeeze oil from olives that grow in the fields of other people. They also make wine from other people's grapes. But they themselves are thirsty.
• Job 31:13When my servants complain against me, I have always been fair to them.
• Isaiah 58:3They say to me, “We have fasted to please you, but you do not see it. We make ourselves humble and you do not even look.” Listen to me! Yes you fast, but you do it to please yourselves. At the same time as you are fasting, you are being cruel to the people who work for you.
• Jeremiah 34:9Everyone in Judah who had a Hebrew slave must let their slave go free, both male and female slaves. Nobody should keep another Israelite person as their slave.
• Malachi 3:5At that time, I will come among you as your judge. I will speak clearly against those who have done wrong things. I will punish the magicians, the adulterers and those who tell lies against other people. I will punish those people who are cruel to their workers, or they deceive widows or children who have no family. And I will punish those who do not help foreigners who live among them. People who do those things show that they do not respect me.’ That is what the Lord Almighty says.
• James 2:13God will not forgive anyone who has not forgiven other people. But God is kind! He judges us, but even more than that, he forgives us!
• James 5:4But you have not paid the workers in your fields the money that you should have paid them. You have cheated them. Now they are shouting against you. The Lord of great power has heard them when they cry to him for help.
• Ecclesiastes 5:8You may see a place where poor people are suffering. Powerful people may be hurting them. Do not be surprised if you see that. The judges may not be doing what is right and fair. That happens because the government's officers have to obey people who are more important than them.
• Matthew 23:8You all belong to God's family. You have only one Teacher. So nobody should call another person, “Teacher”.
• Matthew 24:48But another servant might be bad. He might say to himself, “My master will not come yet.”
• Luke 16:1Jesus told another story to his disciples: ‘A rich man had a servant who worked for him. The servant took care of the money and things that belonged to the man. Then some people told the rich man that his servant was wasting his master's things.

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