Ephesians 6:6

Amplified Bible

not 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;

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
You must do this not just to please your masters while they are watching, but all the time. Since you are really slaves of Christ, you must do with all your heart what God wants.

Revised Standard Version
not in the way of eye-service, as men-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
not wt service in ye eye sight as men pleasars: but as the servautes of Christ doynge ye will of God fro the herte

Hebrew Names Version
not in the way of service only when eyes are on you, as men-pleasers; but as servants of Messiah, doing the will of God from the heart;

New American Standard Bible
not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.

New Century Version
You must do this not only while they are watching you, to please them. With all your heart you must do what God wants as people who are obeying Christ.

Update Bible Version
not in the way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers; but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

Webster's Bible Translation
Not with eye-service, as men-pleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

English Standard Version
not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,

World English Bible
not in the way of service only when eyes are on you, as men-pleasers; but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,

Weymouth's New Testament
Let it not be in acts of eye-service as if you had but to please men, but as Christ's bondservants who are doing God's will from the heart.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
not seruynge at the iye, as plesinge to men, but as seruauntis of Crist; doynge the wille of God bi discrecioun,

English Revised Version
not in the way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers; but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

Berean Standard Bible
And do this not only to please them while they are watching, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.

Contemporary English Version
Try to please them at all times, and not just when you think they are watching. You are slaves of Christ, so with your whole heart you must do what God wants you to do.

American Standard Version
not in the way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers; but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

Bible in Basic English
Not only under your master's eye, as pleasers of men; but as servants of Christ, doing the pleasure of God from the heart;

Complete Jewish Bible
Don't obey just to win their favor, serving only when they are watching you; but serve as slaves of the Messiah, doing what God wants with all your heart.

Darby Translation
not with eye-service as men-pleasers; but as bondmen of Christ, doing the will of God from [the] soul,

International Standard Version
Do not do this only while being watched in order to please them, but be like slaves of Christ who do God's will from the heart.Colossians 3:22-23;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
not in the sight of the eyes, as if you were pleasing men (only), but as the servants of Meshiha who do the will of Aloha.

Murdock Translation
Not in the sight of the eye, as if ye were pleasing men; but as the servants of the Messiah, who are doing the will of God.

King James Version (1611)
Not with eye seruice as men pleasers, but as the seruants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart:

New Living Translation
Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart.

New Life Bible
Do not work hard only when your owner sees you. You would be doing this just to please men. Work as you would work for Christ. Do what God wants you to do with all your heart.

New Revised Standard
not only while being watched, and in order to please them, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Not with seruice to the eye, as men pleasers, but as the seruants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,

George Lamsa Translation
Not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as the servants of Christ doing the will of God from the heart.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Not by way of eye-service as man-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God, from the soul,

Douay-Rheims Bible
Not serving to the eye, as it were pleasing men: but, as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Not with seruice vnto the eye, as men pleasers: but as the seruautes of Christ.

Good News Translation
Do this not only when they are watching you, because you want to gain their approval; but with all your heart do what God wants, as slaves of Christ.

Christian Standard Bible®
Don’t work only while being watched, as people-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, do God’s will from your heart.

King James Version
Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

Lexham English Bible
not while being watched, as people pleasers, but as slaves of Christ doing the will of God from the heart,

Literal Translation
not with eye-service as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ doing the will of God from the soul,

Young's Literal Translation
not with eye-service as men-pleasers, but as servants of the Christ, doing the will of God out of soul,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
not with seruyce onely in the eye sighte, as men pleasers: but as the seruauntes off Christ, doynge the wyll off God from the hert

Mace New Testament (1729)
not doing your work meerly out of regard to their presence or their pleasure, but as the servants of Christ, in hearty obedience to the will of God:

New English Translation
not like those who do their work only when someone is watching—as people-pleasers—but as slaves of Christ doing the will of God from the heart.

New King James Version
not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,

Simplified Cowboy Version
Do what you're supposed to do at all times, not just when they are keeping an eye on you. We are all slaves to Christ and should do this.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.

Legacy Standard Bible
not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,

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

eyeservice: Philippians 2:12, Colossians 3:22, 1 Thessalonians 2:4

doing: Ephesians 5:17, Matthew 7:21, Matthew 12:50, Colossians 1:9, Colossians 4:12, 1 Thessalonians 4:3, Hebrews 10:36, Hebrews 13:21, 1 Peter 2:15, 1 Peter 4:2, 1 John 2:17

from: Jeremiah 3:10, Jeremiah 24:7, Romans 6:17, Colossians 3:23

Reciprocal: Genesis 16:9 - submit Numbers 14:24 - followed me Matthew 6:10 - Thy will Matthew 8:9 - Do 1 Corinthians 7:22 - is the Galatians 1:10 - for if Ephesians 6:1 - in Ephesians 6:7 - as Colossians 3:24 - for 1 Peter 2:16 - but

Cross-References

Genesis 6:8
But Noah found favor and grace in the eyes of the LORD.

Genesis 6:10
Now Noah became the father of three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Genesis 6:17
"For behold, I, even I, will bring a flood of waters on the earth, to destroy all life under the heavens in which there is the breath and spirit of life; everything that is on the land shall die.

Genesis 6:18
"But I will establish My covenant (solemn promise, formal agreement) with you; and you shall come into the ark—you and your [three] sons and your wife, and your sons' wives with you.

Exodus 32:14
So the LORD changed His mind about the harm which He had said He would do to His people.

Numbers 23:19
"God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken and will He not make it good and fulfill it?

Deuteronomy 5:29
'Oh that they had such a heart in them, that they would fear [and worship Me with awe-filled reverence and profound respect] and keep all My commandments always, so that it may go well with them and with their children forever!

Deuteronomy 32:29
"O that they were wise, that they understood this, That they could discern their future and ultimate fate!

Deuteronomy 32:36
"For the LORD will vindicate His people, And will have compassion on His servants, When He sees that their strength (hand) is gone, And none remains, whether bond or free.

1 Samuel 15:11
"I regret that I made Saul king, for he has turned away from following Me and has not carried out My commands." Samuel was angry [over Saul's failure] and he cried out to the LORD all night.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers,.... Doing nothing but when under the master's eye, and then pretending a great deal of diligence and industry, in order to ingratiate themselves into his affections, and neglecting his business when he is absent; whereas they ought to attend his service in his absence, as well as in his presence, and so seek to please him, which is commendable.

But as the servants of Christ; acting in like manner as the servants of Christ, who are not menpleasers; or as if they themselves were serving Christ, as indeed they are, when they are doing that which is the will of Christ:

doing the will of God from the heart; meaning not the will of God in a religious, but in a civil sense, yielding a cheerful and hearty obedience to their own masters.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Nor with eye-service - That is, not with service rendered only under the eye of the master, or when his eye is fixed on you. The apostle has here adverted to one of the evils of involuntary servitude as it exists everywhere. It is, that the slave will usually obey only when the eye of the master is upon him. The freeman who agrees to labor for stipulated wages may be trusted when the master is out of sight; but not the slave. Hence the necessity where there are slaves of having “drivers” who shall attend them, and who shall compel them to work. This evil it is impossible to avoid, except where true religion prevails - and the extensive prevalence of true religion would set the slave at liberty. Yet as long as the relation exists, the apostle would enjoin on the servant the duty of performing his work conscientiously, as rendering service to the Lord. This direction, moreover, is one of great importance to all who are employed in the service of others. They are bound to perform their duty with as much fidelity as though the eye of the employer was always upon them, remembering that though the eye of man may be turned away, that of God never is.

As men-pleasers - As if it were the main object to please people. The object should be rather to please and honor God.

But as the servants of Christ - see the notes on 1 Corinthians 7:22.

Doing the will of God from the heart - That is, God requires industry, fidelity, conscientiousness, submission, and obedience in that rank of life. We render acceptable service to God when, from regard to his will, we perform the services which are demanded of us in the situation in life where we may be placed, however humble that may be.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Ephesians 6:6. Not with eye-service — Not merely in their presence, when their eye is upon you, as unfaithful and hypocritical servants do, without consulting conscience in any part of their work.

Doing the will of God — Seeing that you are in the state of servitude, it is the will of God that you should act conscientiously in it.