Colossians 3:22

Easy-to-Read Version

Servants, obey your masters in everything. Obey all the time, even when they can't see you. Don't just pretend to work hard so that they will treat you well. No, you must serve your masters honestly because you respect the Lord.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Slaves, obey your human masters in everything. Don’t work only while being watched, as people-pleasers, but work wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord.

King James Version (1611)
Seruants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh: not with eye seruice as men pleasers, but in singlenesse of heart, fearing God:

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;

English Standard Version
Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.

New American Standard Bible
Slaves, obey those who are your human masters in everything, not with eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.

New Century Version
Slaves, obey your masters in all things. Do not obey just when they are watching you, to gain their favor, but serve them honestly, because you respect the Lord.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.

Legacy Standard Bible
Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but with integrity of heart, fearing the Lord.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

Contemporary English Version
Slaves, you must always obey your earthly masters. Try to please them at all times, and not just when you think they are watching. Honor the Lord and serve your masters with your whole heart.

Complete Jewish Bible
Slaves, obey your human masters in everything, not serving only when they are watching you, to win their favor, but single-heartedly, fearing the Lord.

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.

Geneva Bible (1587)
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.

George Lamsa Translation
Servants, obey your human masters in all things, not with eyeservice, as men pleasers; but with a sincere heart, in fear of the LORD.

Good News Translation
Slaves, obey your human masters in all things, not only when they are watching you because you want to gain their approval; but do it with a sincere heart because of your reverence for the Lord.

Lexham English Bible
Slaves, obey your human masters in everything, not while being watched, as people pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.

Literal Translation
Slaves, obey the lords according to flesh in all respects, not with eye-service as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God.

Amplified Bible
Servants, in everything obey those who are your masters on earth, not only with external service, as those who merely please people, but with sincerity of heart because of your fear of the Lord.

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:

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:

Hebrew Names Version
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.

International Standard Version
Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only while being watched in order to please them, but with a sincere heart, fearing the Lord.Ephesians 6:5; Colossians 2:20; 1 Timothy 6:1; Titus 2:9; 1 Peter 2:18;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
Servants, obey in every thing your masters according to the flesh, not in the sight of the eye (only), as those who please men, but from a simple heart, and in the fear of the Lord.

Murdock Translation
Servants, obey in all things your bodily masters; not in the sight of the eye only, as those who please men, but with a simple heart, and in the fear of the Lord.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Seruauntes, obey in all thynges to your bodyly maisters: not with eye seruice, as men pleasers, but in singlenesse of heart, fearyng God.

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

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.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God.

Weymouth's New Testament
Slaves, be obedient in everything to your earthly masters; not in acts of eye service, as aiming only to please men, but with simplicity of purpose, because you fear the Lord.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Seruauntis, obeie ye bi alle thingis to fleischli lordis, not seruynge at iye, as plesynge to men, but in symplenesse of herte, dredinge the Lord.

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

Webster's Bible Translation
Servants, obey in all things [your] masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:

New English Translation
Slaves, obey your earthly masters in every respect, not only when they are watching—like those who are strictly people-pleasers—but with a sincere heart, fearing the Lord.

New King James Version
Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.

New Living Translation
Slaves, 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.

New Life Bible
You who are servants who are owned by someone, obey your owners. Work hard for them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Work for them as you would for the Lord because you honor God.

New Revised Standard
Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only while being watched and in order to please them, but wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Ye servants! be obedient, in all things, unto them who, according to the flesh, are your masters, - not with eye-service, as man-pleasers, but with singleness of heart, revering the Lord, -

Douay-Rheims Bible
Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh: not serving to the eye, as pleasing men: but in simplicity of heart, fearing God.

Revised Standard Version
Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing the Lord.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Servauntes be obedient vnto youre bodyly masters in all thynges: not with eye service as men pleasers but in synglenes of herte fearynge god.

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;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Ye seruauntes, be obedient vnto youre bodely masters in all thinges, not with eye seruyce as men pleasers, but in synglenes of hert, fearinge God.

Mace New Testament (1729)
servants, be entirely obedient to those, whom the laws have made your masters, and not meerly out of regard to their observation, as designing only to please men, but from a principle of integrity, as fearing God:

THE MESSAGE
Servants, do what you're told by your earthly masters. And don't just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you'll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you're serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn't cover up bad work.

Simplified Cowboy Version
Day hands, do everything the wagon boss tells you to do. Do the right thing whether or not they're watching you. Make a good impression in all you do, not for them, but out of your respect for God.

Contextual Overview

¹⁸ Wives, be willing to serve your husbands. This is the right thing to do in following the Lord. ¹⁹ Husbands, love your wives, and be gentle to them. ²⁰ Children, obey your parents in everything. This pleases the Lord. ²¹ Fathers, don't upset your children. If you are too hard to please, they might want to stop trying. ²² Servants, obey your masters in everything. Obey all the time, even when they can't see you. Don't just pretend to work hard so that they will treat you well. No, you must serve your masters honestly because you respect the Lord. ²³ In all the work you are given, do the best you can. Work as though you are working for the Lord, not any earthly master. ²⁴ Remember that you will receive your reward from the Lord, who will give you what he promised his people. Yes, you are serving Christ. He is your real Master. ²⁵ Remember that anyone who does wrong will be punished for that wrong. And the Lord treats everyone the same.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

obey: Colossians 3:20, Psalms 123:2, Malachi 1:6, Matthew 8:9, Luke 6:46, Luke 7:8, Ephesians 6:5-7, 1 Timothy 6:1, 1 Timothy 6:2, Titus 2:9, Titus 2:10, Philemon 1:16, 1 Peter 2:18, 1 Peter 2:19

menpleasers: Galatians 1:10, 1 Thessalonians 2:4

in singleness: Matthew 6:22, Acts 2:46, Ephesians 6:5

fearing: Genesis 42:18, Nehemiah 5:9, Nehemiah 5:15, Ecclesiastes 5:7, Ecclesiastes 8:12, Ecclesiastes 12:13, 2 Corinthians 7:1

Reciprocal: Genesis 30:29 - General Genesis 31:6 - General 2 Chronicles 30:8 - serve Psalms 86:11 - unite Psalms 116:6 - preserveth Psalms 119:10 - my whole Proverbs 27:18 - so Zechariah 14:20 - shall there Matthew 6:18 - appear Luke 7:2 - who Luke 11:34 - single Romans 12:8 - with simplicity Romans 12:11 - serving 1 Corinthians 7:22 - is the Ephesians 5:22 - as Ephesians 5:24 - in Ephesians 6:6 - eyeservice 1 Thessalonians 4:11 - and to do 1 Peter 3:2 - with

Cross-References

Genesis 1:26
Then God said, "Now let's make humans who will be like us. They will rule over all the fish in the sea and the birds in the air. They will rule over all the large animals and all the little things that crawl on the earth."

Genesis 2:9
Then the Lord God caused all the beautiful trees that were good for food to grow in the garden. In the middle of the garden, he put the tree of life and the tree that gives knowledge about good and evil.

Genesis 3:5
God knows that if you eat the fruit from that tree you will learn about good and evil, and then you will be like God!"

Genesis 3:6
The woman could see that the tree was beautiful and the fruit looked so good to eat. She also liked the idea that it would make her wise. So she took some of the fruit from the tree and ate it. Her husband was there with her, so she gave him some of the fruit, and he ate it.

Genesis 3:7
Then it was as if their eyes opened, and they saw things differently. They saw that they were naked. So they got some fig leaves, sewed them together, and wore them for clothes.

Genesis 3:12
The man said, "The woman you put here with me gave me fruit from that tree. So I ate it."

Genesis 3:13
Then the Lord God said to the woman, "What have you done?" She said, "The snake tricked me, so I ate the fruit."

Psalms 22:26
Poor people, come eat and be satisfied. You who have come looking for the Lord , praise him! May your hearts be happy forever.

Proverbs 3:18
Wisdom is like a life-giving tree to those who hold on to her; she is a blessing to those who keep her close.

Jeremiah 22:23
"King, you seem so safe in your palace of cedar. It's as if you live in Lebanon! But when your punishment comes, you will groan. You will be in pain like a woman giving birth!"

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Servants, obey in all things your masters,.... That is, in all things relating to the body, and bodily service; not to the conscience, and religious worship; in things worldly, and not spiritual; in all things that are within a master's power, and it is lawful for him to command; and in all things that are fitting and proper that a servant should do; and even in such things as may be difficult, troublesome, and disagreeable to the flesh unto them; see

Luke 17:7 who those servants are that are to obey, and who their masters, said to be according to the flesh, to whom they are to be subject, Luke 17:7- :.

not with eyeservice, as menpleasers, but in singleness of heart;

Luke 17:7- :,

Luke 17:7- :.

fearing God; who sees and knows all things, what servants do when their masters are absent from them, and to whom they are accountable; and a servant that fears God will make conscience of discharging his service faithfully, will not misspend his master's time, nor embezzle his goods, or waste his substance; but from a principle of reverential affection for God, and fear of him, with a concern for his name, and a view to his glory, will with all diligence, uprightness, faithfulness, and sincerity, do his duty, seek his master's good and interest, and cheerfully obey all his lawful commands. The Alexandrian copy reads, "fearing the Lord"; and so the Syriac version, "in the fear of the Lord".

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Servants, obey in all things ... - ; see the notes at Ephesians 6:5-8.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 22. Servants, obey — See on Ephesians 6:5-8.