Colossians 4:1

Colossians 4:1 in other versions

• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)Masters, be just and fair to your slaves. Remember that you also have a Master—in heaven.

Context of Colossians 4:1

Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven. 2Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; 3Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:

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

• ·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 19:13Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning.
• Leviticus 25:39And if thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant:
• Deuteronomy 15:12And if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee.
• Deuteronomy 24:14Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates:
• Nehemiah 5:5Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards.
• Job 24:11Which make oil within their walls, and tread their winepresses, and suffer thirst.
• Job 31:13If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me;
• Isaiah 58:3Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.
• Jeremiah 34:9That every man should let his manservant, and every man his maidservant, being an Hebrew or an Hebrewess, go free; that none should serve himself of them, to wit, of a Jew his brother.
• Malachi 3:5And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the Lord of hosts.
• James 2:13For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
• James 5:4Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.
• Ecclesiastes 5:8If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.
• Matthew 23:8But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
• Matthew 24:48But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
• Luke 16:1And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.

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