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Colossians 3:20

Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.

KJV

τὰ τέκνα, ὑπακούετε τοῖς γονεῦσιν κατὰ πάντα, τοῦτο γὰρ εὐάρεστόν ἐστιν ἐν κυρίῳ.

Greek NT

Filii, obedite parentibus per omnia : hoc enim placitum est in Domino.

Vulgate

Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing in the Lord.

ASV

Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing to the Lord.

Douay-Rheims

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In the original Greek

12 distinct Greek words appear in this verse.

γάρ
gar
conjunction · 1036×
γονεύς
goneus
noun · 20×
εἰμί
eimi
verb · 2461×
εὐάρεστος
euarestos
adjective · 9×
κατά
kata
preposition · 470×
κύριος
kurios
noun · 717×
οὗτος
outos
demonstrative · 1380×
πᾶς
pas
adjective · 1226×
τέκνον
teknon
noun · 99×
ἐν
en
preposition · 2743×
o
article · 19778×
ὑπακούω
upakouo
verb · 21×

Intertextual echoes

This verse quotes or alludes to 1 earlier text.

  • Exod 20:12 · adapted
    "Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee."
    Exodus: honor your father — children obey your parents, this pleases the Lord

Textual variants

1 variant unit attested by manuscript witnesses and modern critical editions.

minor
SBLGNT: εὐάρεστόν ἐστιν | WH/Treg/NIV: εὐάρεστόν ἐστιν | RP: ἐστιν εὐάρεστον
  • εὐάρεστόν ἐστινSBLGNT
  • εὐάρεστόν ἐστινWestcott-Hort, Tregelles, Reader's GNT (NA27)
  • ἐστιν εὐάρεστονRobinson-Pierpont
source: sblgnt-apparatus

Themes

Historic Christian voices

7 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.

§2204"The Christian family constitutes a specific revelation and realization of ecclesial communion, and for this reason it can and should be called a domestic church."9 It is a community of faith, hope, and charity; it assumes singular importance in the Church, as is evident in the New Testament.10
§2217As long as a child lives at home with his parents, the child should obey his parents in all that they ask of him when it is for his good or that of the family. "Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord."22 Children should also obey the reasonable directions of their teachers and all to whom their parents have entrusted them. But if a child is convinc…
Thou shalt honor thy father and thy mother. To this estate of fatherhood and motherhood God has given the special distinction above all estates that are beneath it, that He commands us not merely to love our parents but to honor them. He distinguishes father and mother above all other persons upon earth, and places them next to Himself. For it is a far higher thing to honor tha…
Q. What is God's will for you in the fifth commandment? A. That I honor, love, and be loyal to my father and mother and all those in authority over me; that I obey and submit to them, as is proper, when they correct and punish me; and also that I be patient with their failings — for through them God chooses to rule us.

Cross-references

  • Col 1:10 — That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
  • Col 1:10 — That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
  • Col 3:22 — Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
  • Deut 5:16 — Honour thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
  • Deut 27:16 — Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.
  • Eph 5:24 — Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
  • Eph 5:24 — Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
  • Eph 6:1 — Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
  • Eph 6:1 — Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
  • Exod 20:12 — Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
  • Exod 20:12 — Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
  • Gen 28:7 — And that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to Padanaram;
  • Heb 13:21 — Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
  • Jer 35:8 — Thus have we obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab our father in all that he hath charged us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, nor our daughters;
  • Lev 19:3 — Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I am the LORD your God.
  • Mal 1:6 — 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
  • Matt 15:4 — For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
  • Matt 19:19 — Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
  • Prov 6:20 — My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
  • Prov 16:7 — When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
  • Prov 20:20 — Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
  • Prov 30:11 — There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.
  • Prov 30:17 — The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.
  • Ruth 3:5 — And she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I will do.
  • Titus 2:9 — Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;