God’s Word Translation
Ephesians 6:1
1Children, obey your parents because you are Christians. This is the right thing to do.
Ephesians 6:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
- New International Version (NIV)Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
Context of Ephesians 6:1
Children, obey your parents because you are Christians. This is the right thing to do. 2“Honor your father and mother 3that everything may go well for you, and you may have a long life on earth.” This is an important commandment with a promise.
Read all of Ephesians 6Ephesians 6:1 word by word
Τὰ τέκνα, ὑπακούετε τοῖς γονεῦσιν ὑμῶν ἐν κυρίῳ· τοῦτο γάρ ἐστιν δίκαιον.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Childrenὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Childrenτέκνονteknon · childG5043
- obeyὑπακούωhupakouō · to obeyG5219
- yourσύsu · youG4771
- parentsγονεύςgoneus · parentG1118
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
- forγάρgar · forG1063
- thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- rightδίκαιοςdikaios · justG1342
Cross-references for Ephesians 6:1
- Genesis 28:7He also learned that Jacob had obeyed his father and mother and had left for Paddan Aram.
- Genesis 37:13Israel then said to Joseph, “Your brothers are taking care of the flocks at Shechem. I’m going to send you to them.” Joseph responded, “I’ll go.”
- Leviticus 19:3“Respect your mother and father. Observe my days of rest as holy days. I am the Lord your God.
- Deuteronomy 21:18Parents might have a stubborn and rebellious son who doesn’t obey them. Even though they punish him, he still won’t listen to them.
- 1 Samuel 17:20David got up early in the morning and had someone else watch ⌞the sheep⌟. He took ⌞the food⌟ and went, as Jesse ordered him. He went to the camp as the army was going out to the battle line shouting their war cry.
- Esther 2:20Esther still had not revealed her family background or nationality, as Mordecai had ordered her. Esther always did whatever Mordecai told her, as she did when she was a child.
- Proverbs 1:8My son, listen to your father’s discipline, and do not neglect your mother’s teachings,
- Proverbs 6:20My son, obey the command of your father, and do not disregard the teachings of your mother.
- Proverbs 23:22Listen to your father since you are his son, and do not despise your mother because she is old.
- Proverbs 30:11A certain kind of person curses his father and does not bless his mother.
- Jeremiah 35:14Jonadab, Rechab’s son, ordered his descendants not to drink wine. This order has been carried out. His descendants have not drunk any wine to this day, because they have obeyed their ancestor’s order. I have spoken to you again and again, but you have refused to listen to me.
- Luke 2:51Then he returned with them to Nazareth and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart.
- Colossians 3:20Children, always obey your parents. This is pleasing to the Lord.
- Ephesians 6:5Slaves, obey your earthly masters with proper respect. Be as sincere as you are when you obey Christ.
- Romans 16:2Give her a Christian welcome that shows you are God’s holy people. Provide her with anything she may need, because she has provided help to many people, including me.
- 1 Corinthians 15:58So, then, brothers and sisters, don’t let anyone move you off the foundation ⌞of your faith⌟. Always excel in the work you do for the Lord. You know that the hard work you do for the Lord is not pointless.
Commentaries on Ephesians 6:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Children, obey your parents - This is a duty with which God will never dispense; he commands it, and one might think that gratitude, from a sense of the highest obligations, would most strongly enforce the command. In the Lord - This clause is wanting in several reputable MSS., and in same versions. In the Lord may mean, on account of the commandment of the Lord; or, as far as the parents commands are according to the will and word of God. For surely no…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Children - ́ teknaThis word usually signifies those who are young; but it is used here, evidently, to denote those who were under the care and government of their parents, or those who were not of age. Obey your parents - This is the first great duty which God has enjoined on children. It is, to do what their parents command them to do. The God of nature indicates that this is duty; for he has impressed it on the minds of all in every age; and the Author…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The duties of children and parents. (1-4) Of servants and masters. (5-9) All Christians are to put on spiritual armour against the enemies of their souls. (10-18) The apostle desires their prayers, and ends with his apostolic blessing. (19-24) Verses 1-4 The great duty of children is, to obey their parents. That obedience includes inward reverence, as well as outward acts, and in every age prosperity has attended those distinguished for obedience to…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-4The relationship between parents and children should reflect their devotion to the Lord. Christian children should obey their parents, and Christian parents should discipline their children gently (see Colossians 3:20–21).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-241. obey--stronger than the expression as to wives, "submitting," or "being subject" (Ep 5:21). Obedience is more unreasoning and implicit; submission is the willing subjection of an inferior in point of order to one who has a right to command. in the Lord--Both parents and children being Christians "in the Lord," expresses the element in which the obedience is to take place, and the motive to obedience. In Col 3:20, it is, "Children, obey your parents in…Read the comment
Topics related to Ephesians 6:1
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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