New Living Translation
Colossians 3:20
20Children, always obey your parents, for this pleases the Lord.
Colossians 3:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
- New International Version (NIV)Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.
Context of Colossians 3:20
18Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord. 19Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly. Children, always obey your parents, for this pleases the Lord. 21Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged. 22Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear of the Lord.
Read all of Colossians 3Colossians 3:20 word by word
Τὰ τέκνα, ὑπακούετε τοῖς γονεῦσιν κατὰ πάντα· τοῦτο γὰρ εὐάρεστόν ἐστιν ἐν κυρίῳ.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Childrenὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Childrenτέκνονteknon · childG5043
- obeyὑπακούωhupakouō · to obeyG5219
- parentsγονεύςgoneus · parentG1118
- inκατάkata · according toG2596
- all thingsπᾶςpas · allG3956
- forγάρgar · forG1063
- thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- well pleasingεὐάρεστοςeuarestos · well-pleasingG2101
- unto the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
Cross-references for Colossians 3:20
- Genesis 28:7He also knew that Jacob had obeyed his parents and gone to Paddan-aram.
- Exodus 20:12“Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
- Leviticus 19:3“Each of you must show great respect for your mother and father, and you must always observe my Sabbath days of rest. I am the Lord your God.
- Deuteronomy 21:18“Suppose a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey his father or mother, even though they discipline him.
- Deuteronomy 27:16‘Cursed is anyone who dishonors father or mother.’ And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’
- Proverbs 6:20My son, obey your father’s commands, and don’t neglect your mother’s instruction.
- Proverbs 20:20If you insult your father or mother, your light will be snuffed out in total darkness.
- Proverbs 30:11Some people curse their father and do not thank their mother.
- Ezekiel 22:7Fathers and mothers are treated with contempt. Foreigners are forced to pay for protection. Orphans and widows are wronged and oppressed among you.
- Malachi 1:6The Lord of Heaven’s Armies says to the priests: “A son honors his father, and a servant respects his master. If I am your father and master, where are the honor and respect I deserve? You have shown contempt for my name! “But you ask, ‘How have we ever shown contempt for your name?’
- Matthew 15:4For instance, God says, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and ‘Anyone who speaks disrespectfully of father or mother must be put to death.’
- Matthew 19:19Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
- Ephesians 6:1Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do.
- Colossians 3:22Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear of the Lord.
- Ephesians 5:24As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything.
- Colossians 1:10Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.
Commentaries on Colossians 3:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20Children, obey - in all things - That is, in the Lord - in every thing that your parents command you, which is not contrary to the will or word of God.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20Children, obey your parents - Notes, Ephesians 6:1-4.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-25Verses 18-25 The epistles most taken up in displaying the glory of the Divine grace, and magnifying the Lord Jesus, are the most particular in pressing the duties of the Christian life. We must never separate the privileges and duties of the gospel. Submission is the duty of wives. But it is submission, not to a severe lord or stern tyrant, but to her own husband, who is engaged to affectionate duty. And husbands must love their wives with tender and…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18-25This series of teachings is called a household code. Paul instructs wives (3:18), husbands (3:19), children (3:20), fathers (3:21), slaves (3:22–25), and masters (4:1). Similar codes are found in Greco-Roman writings and other parts of the New Testament (see Ephesians 5:22–6:9; 1 Peter 2:18–3:7).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. (Ep 6:1.) unto the Lord--The oldest manuscripts read, "IN the Lord," that is, this is acceptable to God when it is done in the Lord, namely, from the principle of faith, and as disciples in union with the Lord.Read the comment
Topics related to Colossians 3:20
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Colossians 3
- 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
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New Living Translation — © 1996, 2004, 2015 Tyndale House Foundation
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