Ephesians 6:5

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;

📖 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

Referenced Verses

• Eph 5:22 : 22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
• 1 Pet 2:18-21 : 18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. 19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
• Col 3:17-24 : 17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. 18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. 20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. 21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. 22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: 23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
• Mal 1:6 : 6 A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?
• Eph 6:24 : 24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. Written from Rome unto the esians by Tychicus.
• Phil 2:12 : 12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, 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 over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
• Eph 1:1-9 : 1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at esus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. 15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, 16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; 17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
• Josh 24:14 : 14 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.
• Ps 86:11 : 11 Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.
• Ps 123:2 : 2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us.
• 1 Tim 6:1-3 : 1 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. 2 And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort. 3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
• Titus 2:9-9 : 9 Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; 10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
• Phlm 1:16 : 16 Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?
• 1 Pet 3:2 : 2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.
• 1 Chr 29:17 : 17 I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee.
• Matt 6:22 : 22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
• Matt 6:24 : 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
• Matt 8:9 : 9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
• Acts 2:46 : 46 And they, continuing daily with one cord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
• Acts 10:7-8 : 7 And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually; 8 And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.
• 1 Cor 2:3 : 3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
• 1 Cor 7:22 : 22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.
• 2 Cor 1:12 : 12 For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
• 2 Cor 7:15 : 15 And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.
• Gen 16:9 : 9 And the anl of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.