Colossians 3:22 “Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only to please th…”

Colossians 3:22

Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only to please them while they are watching, but with sincerity of heart and fear of the Lord.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:

World English Bible

Servants, obey in all things those who are your masters according to the flesh, not just when they are looking, as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God.

American Standard Version

Servants, obey in all things them that are your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing the Lord:

Geneva Bible 1599

Seruants, be obedient vnto them that are your masters according to the flesh, in all things, not with eye seruice as men pleasers, but in singlenes of heart, fearing God.

Darby Translation

Bondmen, obey in all things your masters according to flesh; not with eye-services, as men-pleasers, but in simplicity of heart, fearing the Lord.

Young's Literal Translation

The servants! obey in all things those who are masters according to the flesh, not in eye-service as men-pleasers, but in simplicity of heart, fearing God;

Bible in Basic English

Servants, in all things do the orders of your natural masters; not only when their eyes are on you, as pleasers of men, but with all your heart, fearing the Lord:

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Cross references

“obey”

Ephesians 6:5–7 Colossians 3:20 Luke 6:46 Psalm 123:2 Malachi 1:6 Matthew 8:9

Ephesians 6:5–7 · BSB

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear and sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.

Colossians 3:20 · BSB

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord.

Luke 6:46 · BSB

Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ but do not do what I say?

Psalm 123:2 · BSB

As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes are on the LORD our God until He shows us mercy.

Malachi 1:6 · BSB

“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. But if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is your fear of Me?” says the LORD of Hosts to you priests who despise My name. “But you ask, ‘How…

Matthew 8:9 · BSB

For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell one to go, and he goes, and another to come, and he comes. I tell my servant to do something, and he does it.”

“menpleasers”

Galatians 1:10 1 Thessalonians 2:4

Galatians 1:10 · BSB

Am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

1 Thessalonians 2:4 · BSB

Instead, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, not in order to please men but God, who examines our hearts.

“in singleness”

Matthew 6:22 Acts 2:46 Ephesians 6:5

Matthew 6:22 · BSB

The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.

Acts 2:46 · BSB

With one accord they continued to meet daily in the temple courts and to break bread from house to house, sharing their meals with gladness and sincerity of heart,

Ephesians 6:5 · BSB

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear and sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.

“fearing”

Ecclesiastes 5:7 Genesis 42:18 Nehemiah 5:15 Ecclesiastes 12:13 2 Corinthians 7:1 Nehemiah 5:9

Ecclesiastes 5:7 · BSB

For as many dreams bring futility, so do many words. Therefore, fear God.

Genesis 42:18 · BSB

and on the third day he said to them, “I fear God. So do this and you will live:

Nehemiah 5:15 · BSB

The governors before me had heavily burdened the people, taking from them bread and wine plus forty shekels of silver. Their servants also oppressed the people. But I did not do this, because of my fear of God.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 · BSB

When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.

2 Corinthians 7:1 · BSB

Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Nehemiah 5:9 · BSB

So I continued, “What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our foreign enemies?

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

21Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they will not become discouraged.

23Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, as for the Lord and not for men,

Read Colossians 3