Ephesians 6:5

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

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

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Οἱ δοῦλοι, ὑπακούετε τοῖς κυρίοις κατὰ σάρκα, μετὰ φόβου καὶ τρόμου, ἐν ἁπλότητι τῆς καρδίας ὑμῶν, ὡς τῷ Χριστῷ·

Transliteration

The douloi, hypakouete to the kyriois kata sarka, with phobou and tromou, in haplotēti of the kardias of you, as to the Christō;

Grammar Details

• *douloi*: nominative, masculine, plural - slaves/servants
• *hypakouete*: present imperative, 2nd person plural - obey/be obedient [continuous command]
• *kyriois*: dative, masculine, plural - masters/lords
• *kata sarka*: preposition + accusative, feminine, singular - according to flesh [physical/earthly]
• *phobou*: genitive, masculine, singular - fear/reverence
• *tromou*: genitive, masculine, singular - trembling
• *haplotēti*: dative, feminine, singular - sincerity/simplicity
• *kardias*: genitive, feminine, singular - heart
• *Christō*: dative, masculine, singular - Christ/Anointed One

Word Meanings

• *douloi*: slaves/bondservants/servants
• *hypakouete*: obey/submit to/listen to
• *kyriois*: masters/lords/owners
• *kata sarka*: according to flesh/in the physical realm/earthly
• *phobou*: fear/reverence/respect
• *tromou*: trembling/awe/deep respect
• *haplotēti*: sincerity/simplicity/singleness/without duplicity
• *kardias*: heart/inner self/mind/will
• *Christō*: Christ/Messiah/Anointed One

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  Servants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of your heart, as to Christ;

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  Servants,{G1401} be obedient unto{G5219} them that according to{G5219} the flesh{G4561} are{G3588} your masters,{G2962} with{G3326} fear{G5401} and{G2532} trembling,{G5156} in{G1722} singleness{G572} of your{G5216} heart,{G2588} as{G5613} unto Christ;{G5547}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Servants{G1401}, be obedient{G5219}{(G5720)} to them that are your masters{G2962} according to{G2596} the flesh{G4561}, with{G3326} fear{G5401} and{G2532} trembling{G5156}, in{G1722} singleness{G572} of your{G5216} heart{G2588}, as{G5613} unto Christ{G5547};

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  Servautes be obedient vnto youre carnall masters with feare and trimblinge in singlenes of youre hertes as vnto Christ:

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Ye seruauntes, obey youre bodely masters, with feare and tremblynge, in synglenes of youre hert, euen as vnto Christ,

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Seruants, be obedient vnto them that are your masters, according to the flesh, with feare & trembling in singlenesse of your hearts as vnto Christ,

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Seruauntes obey them that are your bodyly maisters, with feare and tremblyng, in singlenesse of your heart, as vnto Christe.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  Servants, be obedient to them that are [your] masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  Servants, be obedient to those who according to the flesh are your masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as to Christ;

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  The servants! obey the masters according to the flesh with fear and trembling, in the simplicity of your heart, as to the Christ;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Servants, be obedient unto them that according to the flesh are your masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Servants, be obedient unto them that according to the flesh are your masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Servants, do what is ordered by those who are your natural masters, having respect and fear for them, with all your heart, as to Christ;

• World English Bible (2000)

  Servants, be obedient to those who according to the flesh are your masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as to Christ;

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ,

Referenced Verses

• Eph 5:22 : 22 Wives, submit to your own husbands as to the Lord.
• 1 Pet 2:18-21 : 18 Servants, submit yourselves with all respect to your masters, not only to those who are good and gentle but also to those who are harsh. 19 For this is commendable: if someone endures grief, suffering unjustly because of their conscience toward God. 20 What credit is it if you sin and are beaten for it, and you endure? But if you do good and suffer for it, and you endure, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example to follow in His footsteps.
• Col 3:17-24 : 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. 18 Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they won’t become discouraged. 22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only while being watched, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord and not for people. 24 Knowing that you will receive the reward of your inheritance from the Lord, serve the Lord Christ.
• Mal 1:6 : 6 A son honors his father, and a servant respects his master. If I am a father, where is the honor I deserve? If I am a master, where is the respect due me? says the LORD of Hosts to you priests who despise my name. But you ask, 'How have we despised your name?'
• Eph 6:24 : 24 Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love. Amen.
• Phil 2:12 : 12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
• 2 Cor 11:2-3 : 2 For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 3 But I am afraid that, just as the serpent deceived Eve by its cunning, your minds may be led astray from sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
• Eph 1:1-9 : 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence in love. 5 He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, 8 which He lavished on us in all wisdom and understanding. 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, 10 for the administration of the fullness of the times, to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth—in Him. 11 In Him we have also obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of the One who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 so that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory. 15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 I never stop giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. This power is according to the working of His mighty strength, 20 which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And He put all things under His feet and made Him head over all things for the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
• Josh 24:14 : 14 Now, fear the LORD and serve Him with sincerity and truth. Put away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.
• Ps 86:11 : 11 Teach me Your ways, O Lord, that I may walk in Your truth; give me an undivided heart to fear Your name.
• Ps 123:2 : 2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, until He shows us mercy.
• 1 Tim 6:1-3 : 1 All who are under the yoke of slavery should regard their own masters as worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching are not slandered. 2 Those who have believing masters should not disregard them because they are brothers; instead, they should serve them even more, since those who benefit from their service are believers and dearly loved. Teach and encourage these things. 3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness,
• Titus 2:9-9 : 9 Slaves are to submit to their own masters in everything, aiming to be well-pleasing and not argumentative. 10 They must not pilfer but must demonstrate complete faithfulness, so that they may make the teaching of God our Savior attractive in every way.
• Phlm 1:16 : 16 No longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dearly loved brother. He is especially so to me, but even more to you, both in the physical relationship and in the Lord.
• 1 Pet 3:2 : 2 When they observe your pure and reverent behavior.
• 1 Chr 29:17 : 17 I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. In the uprightness of my heart, I have freely offered all these things; and now I have seen your people, who are present here, joyfully and willingly give to you.
• Matt 6:22 : 22 The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light.
• Matt 6:24 : 24 No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
• Matt 8:9 : 9 'For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and I tell my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.'
• Acts 2:46 : 46 Day by day, they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,
• Acts 10:7-8 : 7 When the angel who spoke to Cornelius had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. 8 After describing everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
• 1 Cor 2:3 : 3 I came to you in weakness, fear, and great trembling.
• 1 Cor 7:22 : 22 For the one who was called as a slave in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person; in the same way, the one who was called while free is Christ’s slave.
• 2 Cor 1:12 : 12 For this is our boast: The testimony of our conscience is that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity, not relying on worldly wisdom but on God's grace.
• 2 Cor 7:15 : 15 And his affection for you is all the greater when he remembers your obedience, how you received him with fear and trembling.
• Gen 16:9 : 9 Then the angel of the LORD said to her, "Return to your mistress and submit to her authority."