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

2God's Law says: ‘Always respect your father and your mother.’ That is the first rule of God's Law that also has a promise. 3The promise is this: ‘As a result, you will be happy and you will live for a long time on the earth.’ Fathers, do not do things that make your children angry. Instead, teach them carefully as they grow up. Help them to understand the message of the Lord, and help them to obey it. 5You who are slaves, obey your human masters. Respect them and be afraid of them. Work well to help them, as if you were working for Christ as your master. 6Do not do good work only when they can see you. Some people only work to make other people like them. Instead, work well all the time, as slaves who serve Christ. Work in the way that God wants you to work.

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

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 replied, ‘Our father will not give us anything more when he dies.
• 1 Samuel 20:30Saul became very angry with Jonathan. He said, ‘You stupid man! I see that you have turned against me! You have become a friend of that son of Jesse. You have brought shame on yourself. Your mother should be ashamed that she gave birth to you!
• Colossians 3:21Fathers, do not cause your children to be upset. If you do, they might think that they never do anything that is good.
• Genesis 18:19I have chosen him so that he will teach my message to his children and their families. He will teach them to do what is right and what is fair. Then I, the Lord, will do for Abraham everything that I have promised to him.’
• Exodus 12:26Your children may say to you, “What does this feast mean?”
• Exodus 13:14One day, your son may ask you, “What does this mean?” Then you must say to him, “The Lord brought us out of Egypt with his powerful authority. He took us away from the place where we were slaves.
• Deuteronomy 4:9But be very careful! Never forget the things that you yourselves have seen. Remember these things for as long as you live. Tell your children and your grandchildren about all the things that God has done.
• Deuteronomy 6:7Teach them to your children at all times. Talk about them when you sit together at home. Talk about them as you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
• Deuteronomy 11:19Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you sit together at home. Talk about them as you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
• Joshua 4:6The heap of stones will help you to remember what happened today. In future years, your children will ask you, “What do these stones mean?”
• Joshua 4:21He said to the Israelite people, ‘In future years, your children will ask you, “What do these stones mean?”
• Joshua 24:15But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then you should choose another god to worship. Decide today! Will you serve the gods that your ancestors worshipped across the river? Will you serve the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are now living? You choose! But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.’
• 1 Chronicles 22:10He will build a temple to give honour to my name. He will become my son and I will become his father. I will give him descendants to rule Israel as kings for ever.”
• 1 Chronicles 28:9As for you, Solomon, my son, keep near to your father's God. Be happy to serve him faithfully in every way. The Lord knows what you are thinking. He understands all your thoughts. If you turn to him, you will find him. But if you turn away from him, he will leave you alone for ever.
• 1 Chronicles 29:19Please help my son Solomon to want to obey you. Help him to obey all your commands, rules and laws. Help him to work well to build your temple. I have prepared the things that he will need to do that.’
• Psalms 71:17God, you have taught me since I was young. I still tell people about the great things that you have done.

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