Ephesians 6:1

Amplified Bible

Children, obey your parents in the Lord [that is, accept their guidance and discipline as His representatives], for this is right [for obedience teaches wisdom and self-discipline].

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
Children, obey your parents the way the Lord wants, because this is the right thing to do.

Revised Standard Version
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Chyldren obey youre fathers and mothers in the Lorde: for so is it right.

Hebrew Names Version
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

New American Standard Bible
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

New Century Version
Children, obey your parents as the Lord wants, because this is the right thing to do.

Update Bible Version
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

Webster's Bible Translation
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

English Standard Version
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

World English Bible
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Children, obey your parents in the Lord; for this is right. Honour

Weymouth's New Testament
Children, be obedient to your parents as a Christian duty, for it is a duty.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Sones, obeische ye to youre fadir and modir, in the Lord; for this thing is riytful.

English Revised Version
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

Berean Standard Bible
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

Contemporary English Version
Children, you belong to the Lord, and you do the right thing when you obey your parents. The first commandment with a promise says,

American Standard Version
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

Bible in Basic English
Children, do what is ordered by your fathers and mothers in the Lord: for this is right.

Complete Jewish Bible
Children, what you should do in union with the Lord is obey your parents, for this is right.

Darby Translation
Children, obey your parents in [the] Lord, for this is just.

International Standard Version
Children, obey your parents in the Lord,in the Lord">[fn] for this is the right thing to do.Proverbs 23:22; Colossians 3:20;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
Children, obey your parents in our Lord, for this is right; and this is the first commandment which promiseth.

Murdock Translation
Children, obey your parents in our Lord; for this is right.

King James Version (1611)
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

New Living Translation
Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do.

New Life Bible
Children, as Christians, obey your parents. This is the right thing to do.

New Revised Standard
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

George Lamsa Translation
CHILDREN, obey your parents in our LORD, for this is right.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Ye children, be obedient unto your parents in the Lord, for this is right:

Douay-Rheims Bible
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is just.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Chyldren, obey your fathers and mothers in the Lorde: for this is ryght.

Good News Translation
Children, it is your Christian duty to obey your parents, for this is the right thing to do.

Christian Standard Bible®
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, because this is right.

King James Version
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

Lexham English Bible
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

Literal Translation
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

Young's Literal Translation
The children! obey your parents in the Lord, for this is righteous;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Ye children, obey youre elders in the LORDE, for that is righte.

Mace New Testament (1729)
Children, obey your christian parents: for this is the law.

THE MESSAGE
Children, do what your parents tell you. This is only right. "Honor your father and mother" is the first commandment that has a promise attached to it, namely, "so you will live well and have a long life."

New English Translation
Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this is right.

New King James Version
Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16">[xr] Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

Simplified Cowboy Version
Kids, listen to your parents because you ride for the Lord. This is right in the eyes of God.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

Legacy Standard Bible
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

Contextual Overview

¹Children, obey your parents in the Lord [that is, accept their guidance and discipline as His representatives], for this is right [for obedience teaches wisdom and self-discipline].²HONOR [esteem, value as precious] YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER [and be respectful to them]—this is the first commandment with a promise— ³SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY HAVE A LONG LIFE ON THE EARTH. ⁴Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger [do not exasperate them to the point of resentment with demands that are trivial or unreasonable or humiliating or abusive; nor by showing favoritism or indifference to any of them], but bring them up [tenderly, with lovingkindness] in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. ⁵Slaves, be obedient to those who are your earthly masters, with respect for authority, and with a sincere heart [seeking to please them], as [service] to Christ— ⁶not in the way of eye-service [working only when someone is watching you and only] to please men, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart; ⁷rendering service with goodwill, as to the Lord, and not [only] to men, ⁸knowing that whatever good thing each one does, he will receive this back from the Lord, whether [he is] slave or free. ⁹You masters, do the same [showing goodwill] toward them, and give up threatening and abusive words, knowing that [He who is] both their true Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with Him [regardless of one's earthly status].

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

obey: Genesis 28:7, Genesis 37:13, Leviticus 19:3, Deuteronomy 21:18, 1 Samuel 17:20, Esther 2:20, Proverbs 1:8, Proverbs 6:20, Proverbs 23:22, Proverbs 30:11, Proverbs 30:17, Jeremiah 35:14, Luke 2:51, Colossians 3:20-25

in: Ephesians 6:5, Ephesians 6:6, Romans 16:2, 1 Corinthians 15:58, Colossians 3:16, Colossians 3:17, Colossians 3:23, Colossians 3:24, 1 Peter 2:13

for: Nehemiah 9:13, Job 33:27, Psalms 19:8, Psalms 119:75, Psalms 119:128, Hosea 14:9, Romans 7:12, Romans 12:2, 1 Timothy 5:4

Reciprocal: Genesis 27:8 - General Genesis 31:35 - my lord Genesis 48:12 - he bowed himself Genesis 50:12 - General Exodus 20:12 - Honour Numbers 30:5 - General Deuteronomy 5:16 - that thy days Ruth 2:23 - General 2 Kings 18:3 - right in the sight Esther 2:10 - for Mordecai Proverbs 3:2 - length Jeremiah 35:18 - Because Matthew 15:4 - Honour Matthew 19:19 - Honour Acts 4:19 - Whether Acts 26:20 - and do 1 Corinthians 9:21 - not Colossians 3:18 - as Hebrews 12:9 - we gave

Cross-References

Genesis 1:28
And God blessed them [granting them certain authority] and said to them, "Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, and subjugate it [putting it under your power]; and rule over (dominate) the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and every living thing that moves upon the earth."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Children, obey your parents in the Lord,.... The persons whose duty this is, "children", are such of every sex, male and female, and of every age, and of every state and condition; and though the true, legitimate, and immediate offspring of men may be chiefly respected, yet not exclusive of spurious children, and adopted ones, and of children-in-law; and the persons to whom obedience from them is due, are not only real and immediate parents, both father and mother, but such who are in the room of parents, as step-fathers, step-mothers, guardians, nurses, c. and all who are in the ascending line, as grandfathers, grandmothers, c. to these, children should be subject and obedient in all things lawful, just, and good in everything that is not sinful and unlawful, by the word of God and in things indifferent, as much as in them lies, and even in things which are difficult to perform: and this obedience should be hearty and sincere, and not merely verbal, and in show and appearance, nor mercenary; and should be joined with gratitude and thankfulness for past favours: and it should be "in the Lord"; which may be considered either as a limitation of the obedience, that it should be in things that are agreeable to the mind and will of the Lord; or as an argument to it, because it is the command of the Lord, and is wellpleasing in his sight, and makes for his glory, and therefore should be done for his sake:

for this is right; it appears to be right by the light of nature, by which the very Heathens have taught it; and it is equitable from reason that so it should be; and it is just by the law of God, which commands nothing but what is holy, just, and good.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Children - τέκνα tekna This word usually signifies those who are young; but it is used here, evidently, to denote those who were under the care and government of their parents, or those who were not of age.

Obey your parents - This is the first great duty which God has enjoined on children. It is, to do what their parents command them to do. The God of nature indicates that this is duty; for he has impressed it on the minds of all in every age; and the Author of revelation confirms it. It is particularly important:

(1) Because the good order of a family, and hence of the community, depends on it; no community or family being prosperous where there is not due subordination in the household.

(2) Because the welfare of the child depends on it; it being of the highest importance that a child should be early taught obedience to “law,” as no one can be prosperous or happy who is not thus obedient.

(3) Because the child is not competent as yet; to “reason” on what is right, or qualified to direct himself; and, while that is the case, he must be subject to the will of some other person.

(4) Because the parent, by his age and experience, is to be presumed to be qualified to direct and guide a child. The love which God has implanted in the heart of a parent for a child secures, in general, the administration of this domestic government in such a way as not to injure the child. A father will not, unless under strong passion or the excitement of intoxication, abuse his authority. He loves the child too much. He desires his welfare; and the placing of the child under the authority of the parent is about the same thing in regard to the welfare of the child, as it would be to endow the child at once with all the wisdom and experience of the parent himself.

(5) It is important, because the family government is designed to be an imitation of the government of God. The government of God is what a perfect family government would be; and to accustom a child to be obedient to a parent, is designed to be one method of leading him to be obedient to God. No child that is disobedient to a parent will be obedient to God; and that child that is most obedient to a father and mother will be most likely to become a Christian, and an heir of heaven. And it may be observed, in general, that no disobedient child is virtuous, prosperous, or happy. Everyone foresees the ruin of such a child; and most of the cases of crime that lead to the penitentiary, or the gallows, commence by disobedience to parents.

In the Lord - That is, as far as their commandments agree with those of God, and no further. No parent can have a right to require a child to steal, or lie, or cheat, or assist him in committing murder, or in doing any other wrong thing. No parent has a right to forbid a child to pray, to read the Bible, to worship God, or to make a profession of religion. The duties and rights of children in such cases are similar to those of wives (see the notes on Ephesians 5:22); and in all cases, God is to be obeyed rather than man. When a parent, however, is opposed to a child; when he expresses an unwillingness that a child should attend a particular church, or make a profession of religion, such opposition should in all cases be a sufficient reason for the child to pause and re-examine the subject. he should pray much, and think much, and inquire much, before, in any case, he acts contrary to the will of a father or mother; and, when he does do it, he should state to them, with great gentleness and kindness, that he believes he ought to love and serve God.

For this is right - It is right:

(1)Because it is so appointed by God as a duty;

(2)Because children owe a debt of gratitude to their parents for what they have done for them;

(3)Because it will be for the good of the children themselves, and for the welfare of society.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

CHAPTER VI.

Children should obey their parents, that they may live long

and be happy, 1-3.

Parents should be tender towards their children, 4.

Servants should show all obedience and fidelity to their

masters, 5-8.

And masters should treat their servants with humanity, 9.

All should be strong in the Lord, and be armed with his armour,

because of their wily, powerful, and numerous foes, 10-13.

The different parts of the Christian armour enumerated, 14-17.

The necessity of all kinds of prayer and watchfulness, 18-20.

Tychicus is commissioned to inform the Ephesians of the

apostle's affairs, 21, 22.

The apostolic benediction and farewell, 23, 24.

NOTES ON CHAP VI.

Verse Ephesians 6:1. Children, obey your parents — This is a duty with which God will never dispense; he commands it, and one might think that gratitude, from a sense of the highest obligations, would most strongly enforce the command.

In the Lord — This clause is wanting in several reputable MSS., and in same versions. In the Lord may mean, on account of the commandment of the Lord; or, as far as the parents commands are according to the will and word of God. For surely no child is called to obey any parent if he give unreasonable or unscriptural commands.