Ephesians 6:5

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;

📖 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

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

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

• 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;

• 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, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. 19 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer for it, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
• Col 3:17-24 : 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. 18 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and do not be bitter against them. 20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, lest they become discouraged. 22 Servants, obey in all things your earthly masters, not with eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing God. 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not to men. 24 Knowing that from the Lord you shall receive the reward of the inheritance, for you serve the Lord Christ.
• Mal 1:6 : 6 A son honors his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is my honor? and if I be a master, where is my fear? says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests, that despise my name. And you say, How have we despised your name?
• Eph 6:24 : 24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.
• Phil 2:12 : 12 Therefore, my beloved, as you 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 for you with godly jealousy: for I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve through his craftiness, so your minds might be corrupted from the simplicity that is in 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 to the 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 with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as He has chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love: 5 Having predestined us to 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, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace; 8 Which He has lavished on us in all wisdom and understanding; 9 Having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself: 10 That in the dispensation of the fullness 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 Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His own will: 12 That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 Who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. 15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and love for all the saints, 16 Do not cease 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 to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, and what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, 20 Which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His 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 He put all things under His feet and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 Which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills 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 river, and in Egypt; and serve the LORD.
• Ps 86:11 : 11 Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; unite my 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 maiden to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, until he has mercy upon us.
• 1 Tim 6:1-3 : 1 Let as many servants as are under the yoke consider their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and His doctrine be not blasphemed. 2 And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather serve them, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort. 3 If anyone teaches otherwise, and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness;
• Titus 2:9-9 : 9 Exhort servants to be obedient to their own masters, and to please them well in all things, not answering back; 10 Not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.
• Phlm 1:16 : 16 No longer as a servant, but more than a servant, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord?
• 1 Pet 3:2 : 2 While they observe your pure conduct with reverence.
• 1 Chr 29:17 : 17 I know also, my God, that You test the heart, and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now I have seen with joy Your people, who are present here, to offer willingly to You.
• Matt 6:22 : 22 The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light.
• Matt 6:24 : 24 No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You 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 one, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my servant, Do this, and he does it.
• Acts 2:46 : 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,
• Acts 10:7-8 : 7 And when the angel who spoke to Cornelius had departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier who waited on him continually; 8 And when he had declared all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa.
• 1 Cor 2:3 : 3 And I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.
• 1 Cor 7:22 : 22 For he who is called in the Lord while a servant is the Lord's freedman. Likewise, he who is called while 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 conducted ourselves in the world, and more abundantly toward you.
• 2 Cor 7:15 : 15 And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, while he remembers the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling you received him.
• Gen 16:9 : 9 And the angel of the LORD said to her, Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hands.