New International Version
Ephesians 6:9
9And 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.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Don’t threaten them; remember, you both have the same Master in heaven, and he has no favorites.
Context of Ephesians 6:9
7Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, 8because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free. 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. 10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
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“ ‘Do not defraud or rob your neighbor. “ ‘Do not hold back the wages of a hired worker overnight.
- Leviticus 25:39“ ‘If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and sell themselves to you, do not make them work as slaves.
- Deuteronomy 15:11There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.
- Deuteronomy 24:14Do not take advantage of a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether that worker is a fellow Israelite or a foreigner residing in one of your towns.
- Nehemiah 5:5Although we are of the same flesh and blood as our fellow Jews and though our children are as good as theirs, yet we have to subject our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but we are powerless, because our fields and our vineyards belong to others.”
- Job 24:10Lacking clothes, they go about naked; they carry the sheaves, but still go hungry.
- Job 31:13“If I have denied justice to any of my servants, whether male or female, when they had a grievance against me,
- Isaiah 47:6I was angry with my people and desecrated my inheritance; I gave them into your hand, and you showed them no mercy. Even on the aged you laid a very heavy yoke.
- Isaiah 58:3‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?’ “Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers.
- Amos 8:4Hear this, you who trample the needy and do away with the poor of the land,
- Malachi 3:5“So I will come to put you on trial. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive the foreigners among you of justice, but do not fear me,” says the Lord Almighty.
- Colossians 4:1Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
- James 5:4Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.
- Ephesians 6:5Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.
- Matthew 7:12So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
- Luke 6:31Do to others as you would have them do to 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
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