God’s Word Translation
Ephesians 6:9
9Masters, treat your slaves with respect. Don’t threaten a slave. You know that there is one master in heaven who has authority over both of you, and he doesn’t play favorites.
Ephesians 6:9 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.
- New International Version (NIV)And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.
Context of Ephesians 6:9
7Serve eagerly as if you were serving your heavenly master and not merely serving human masters. 8You know that your heavenly master will reward all of us for whatever good we do, whether we’re slaves or free people. Masters, treat your slaves with respect. Don’t threaten a slave. You know that there is one master in heaven who has authority over both of you, and he doesn’t play favorites. 10Finally, receive your power from the Lord and from his mighty strength. 11Put on all the armor that God supplies. In this way you can take a stand against the devil’s strategies.
Read all of Ephesians 6Ephesians 6:9 word by word
Καὶ οἱ κύριοι, τὰ αὐτὰ ποιεῖτε πρὸς αὐτοὺς ἀνιέντες τὴν ἀπειλήν, εἰδότες ὅτι καὶ αὐτῶν καὶ ὑμῶν ὁ κύριός ἐστιν ἐν οὐρανοῖς καὶ προσωπολημψία οὐκ ἔστιν παρ᾽ αὐτῷ.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- yeποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
- mastersκύριοςkurios · lord: masterG2962
- the same thingsαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- untoπρόςpros · to/withG4314
- forbearingἀνίημιaniēmi · to loosen/leaveG447
- threateningἀπειλήapeilē · threatG547
- knowingεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
- thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
- yourσύsu · youG4771
- isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- heavenοὐρανόςouranos · heavenG3772
- neitherοὐou · noG3756
- respect of personsπροσωποληψίαprosōpolēpsia · favoritismG4382
- withπαράpara · from/with/besideG3844
Cross-references for Ephesians 6:9
- Leviticus 19:13“Never oppress or rob your neighbor. Never keep the pay you owe a hired worker overnight.
- Leviticus 25:39“If an Israelite becomes poor and sells himself to you, don’t work him like a slave.
- Deuteronomy 15:11There will always be poor people in the land. That’s why I command you to be generous to other Israelites who are poor and needy.
- Deuteronomy 24:14Don’t withhold pay from hired workers who are poor and needy, whether they are Israelites or foreigners living in one of your cities.
- Nehemiah 5:5We have the same flesh and blood as our relatives. Our children are just like theirs. Yet, we have to force our sons and daughters to become slaves. Some of our daughters have already become slaves. But we can’t do anything else when our fields and vineyards belong to others.”
- Job 24:10⌞That is why⌟ the poor go around naked. They are hungry, yet they carry bundles of grain.
- Job 31:13“If I have abused the rights of my servants, male or female, when they have disagreed with me,
- Isaiah 47:6I was angry with my people. I dishonored those who belong to me. I put them under your control. You showed them no mercy. You placed a heavy burden on old people.
- Isaiah 58:3Why have we fasted if you are not aware of it? Why have we inflicted pain on ourselves if you don’t pay attention? Don’t you see that on the days you fast, you do what you want to do? You mistreat all your workers.
- Amos 8:4Listen to this, those who trample on the needy and ruin those who are oppressed in the world.
- Malachi 3:5“I will come to judge you. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers, lying witnesses, and those who cheat workers out of their wages and oppress widows and orphans. I will also testify against those who deprive foreigners of their rights. None of them fear me,” says the Lord of Armies.
- Colossians 4:1Masters, be just and fair to your slaves because you know that you also have a master in heaven.
- James 5:4The wages you refused to pay the people who harvested your fields shout ⌞to God⌟ against you. The Lord of Armies has heard the cries of those who gather the crops.
- Ephesians 6:5Slaves, obey your earthly masters with proper respect. Be as sincere as you are when you obey Christ.
- Matthew 7:12“Always do for other people everything you want them to do for you. That is ⌞the meaning of⌟ Moses’ Teachings and the Prophets.
- Luke 6:31“Do for other people everything you want them to do for you.
Commentaries on Ephesians 6:9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9Ye masters, do the same things unto them - Act in the same affectionate, conscientious manner towards your slaves and servants, as they do towards you. Forbearing threatening - If they should transgress at any time, lean more to the side of mercy than justice; and when ye are obliged to punish, let it be as light and as moderate as possible; and let revenge have no part in the chastisement, for that is of the devil, and not of God. The words, forbearing…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9And, ye masters - The object of this is, to secure for servants a proper treatment. It is evident, from this, that there were in the Christian church those who were “masters;” and the most obvious interpretation is, that they were the owners of slaves. Some such persons would be converted, as such are now. Paul did not say that they could not be Christians. He did not say that they should he excluded at once from the communion. He did not hold them up to…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-9Verses 5-9 The duty of servants is summed up in one word, obedience. The servants of old were generally slaves. The apostles were to teach servants and masters their duties, in doing which evils would be lessened, till slavery should be rooted out by the influence of Christianity. Servants are to reverence those over them. They are to be sincere; not pretending obedience when they mean to disobey, but serving faithfully. And they must serve their masters…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9do the same: Act with integrity and care for the well-being of others (see Colossians 4:1). Give up your use of threats: Christian masters will also answer to the same Master in heaven for their actions on earth. Pleasing God means treating their slaves humanely and kindly. there is no favoritism with Him: God judges everyone by the same standard (see Deuteronomy 10:17; Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11; Colossians 3:25). God’s justice affirms the dignity of all…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. the same things--Mutatis mutandis. Show the same regard to God's will, and to your servants' well-being, in your relation to them, as they ought to have in their relation to you. Love regulates the duties both of servants and masters, as one and the same light attempers various colors. Equality of nature and faith is superior to distinctions of rank [Bengel]. Christianity makes all men brothers: compare Le 25:42, 43; De 15:12; Jr 34:14 as to how the…Read the comment
Topics related to Ephesians 6:9
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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