Ephesians 6
1599 Geneva Bible
6 1 He showeth the duties of children, 5 servants, 9 and masters: 10 Then he speaketh of the fierce battle that the faithful have, 12 and what weapons we must use in the same: 21 In the end he commendeth Tychicus.
1 Children, (A)[a]obey your parents [b]in the [c]Lord: [d]for this is right.
2 (B)[e]Honor thy father and mother ([f]which is the first commandment with [g]promise)
3 That it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest live long on earth.
4 [h]And ye, fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in instruction and [i]information of the Lord.
5 (C)[j]Servants, be obedient unto them that are your masters, [k]according to the flesh, with [l]fear and trembling in singleness of your hearts, as unto Christ,
6 Not with service to the eye, as men pleasers, but as the servants of Christ, [m]doing the will of God from the heart.
7 With good will, serving the [n]Lord, and not men.
8 [o]And know ye that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, that same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free,
9 [p]And ye masters, do the same things unto them, putting away threatening: and know that even your master also is in heaven, neither is there (D)[q]respect of person with him.
10 ¶ [r]Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the assaults of the devil.
12 [s]For we wrestle not against flesh and [t]blood, but against (E)[u]principalities, against powers, and against the worldly governors, the princes of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness, which are in the high places.
13 [v]For this cause take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to resist in the [w]evil day, and having finished all things, stand fast.
14 Stand therefore, and your loins girded about with verity, and having on the breastplate of righteousness,
15 And your feet shod with the [x]preparation of the Gospel of peace.
16 Above all, take the shield of Faith, wherewith ye may quench all the fiery darts of the wicked,
17 And take the helmet of Salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 And pray always with all manner prayer and supplication in the [y]spirit: and watch thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all Saints,
19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly to publish the secret of the Gospel,
20 Whereof I am the ambassador in bonds, that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
21 ¶ [z]But that ye may also know mine affairs, and what I do, Tychicus my dear brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall show you of all things.
22 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know mine affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.
23 Peace be with the brethren, and love with faith from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Grace be with all them which love our Lord Jesus Christ, to their [aa]immortality, Amen.
¶ Written from Rome unto the Ephesians, and sent by Tychicus.
Footnotes
- Ephesians 6:1 He cometh to another part of a family, and showeth that the duty of the children toward their parents, consisteth in obedience unto them.
- Ephesians 6:1 The first argument: because God hath so appointed: whereupon it followeth also, that children are so far forth bound to obey their parents, as they may not swerve from the true worship of God.
- Ephesians 6:1 For the Lord is author of all fatherhood, and therefore we must yield such obedience as he will have us.
- Ephesians 6:1 The second argument: because this obedience is most just.
- Ephesians 6:2 A proof of the first argument.
- Ephesians 6:2 The third argument, taken of the profit that ensueth thereby: because the Lord vouchsafed this commandment amongst the rest, of a special blessing.
- Ephesians 6:2 With a special promise: for otherwise the second commandment hath a promise of mercy to a thousand generations, but that promise is general.
- Ephesians 6:4 It is the duty of fathers to use their fatherly authority moderately, and to God’s glory.
- Ephesians 6:4 Such information and precepts, as being taken out of God’s book are holy and acceptable to him.
- Ephesians 6:5 Now he ascendeth to the third part of a family, to wit, to the duty both of the masters and of the servants. And he showeth that the duty of servants consisteth in a hearty love and reverence to their master.
- Ephesians 6:5 He mitigateth the sharpness of service, in that they are spiritually free, notwithstanding the same, and yet that spiritual freedom taketh not away corporal service, insomuch that they cannot be Christ’s, unless they serve their masters willingly and faithfully, so far forth as they may with safe conscience.
- Ephesians 6:5 With careful reverence: for slavish fear is not allowable, much less in Christian servants.
- Ephesians 6:6 To cut off occasion of all pretences, he teacheth us that it is God’s will that some are either born or made servants, and therefore they must respect God’s will, although their service be never so hard.
- Ephesians 6:7 Being moved with a reverence so Godward, as though ye served God himself.
- Ephesians 6:8 Although they serve unkind and cruel masters, yet the obedience of servants is no less acceptable to God, than the obedience of them that are free.
- Ephesians 6:9 It is the duty of masters to use the authority that they have over their servants modestly, and holily, seeing that they in another respect have a common master, which is in heaven, who will judge both the bond and the free.
- Ephesians 6:9 Either of freedom or bondage.
- Ephesians 6:10 He concludeth the other part of this Epistle with a grave exhortation, that all be ready, and fight constantly, trusting to spiritual weapons, until their enemies be clean put to flight. And first of all, he warneth us to take the armor of God, whereby only our enemy may be dispatched.
- Ephesians 6:12 Secondly he declareth that our chiefest and mightiest enemies are invisible, that we may not think that our chiefest conflict is with men.
- Ephesians 6:12 Against men, which are of a frail and brittle nature, against which are set spiritual subtleties, more mighty than the other by a thousand parts.
- Ephesians 6:12 He giveth these names to the evil angels, reason of the effects which they work: not that they are able to do the same of themselves, but because God giveth them the bridle.
- Ephesians 6:13 He showeth that these enemies are put to flight with the only armor of God, to wit, with uprightness of conscience, a godly and holy life, knowledge of the Gospel, faith, and to be short, with the word of God, and using daily earnest prayer for the health of the Church, and especially, for the constance of the true, godly, and valiant ministers of the word.
- Ephesians 6:13 See Eph. 5:16.
- Ephesians 6:15 That the preparation of the Gospel may be as it were shoes to you: and it is very fitly called the Gospel of peace, for that, seeing we have to go to God through most dangerous ranks of enemies, this may encourage us to go on manfully, in that we know by the doctrine of the Gospel, that we take our journey to God, who is at peace with us.
- Ephesians 6:18 That holy prayers may proceed from the holy Spirit.
- Ephesians 6:21 A familiar and very amiable declaration of his state, together with a solemn prayer, wherewith Paul is wont to end his Epistles.
- Ephesians 6:24 To life everlasting.
Ephesians 6
New King James Version
Children and Parents(A)
6 Children, (B)obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 (C)“Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: 3 “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”
4 And (D)you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but (E)bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
Bondservants and Masters
5 (F)Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, (G)with fear and trembling, (H)in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; 6 (I)not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, 8 (J)knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.
9 And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that [a]your own (K)Master also is in heaven, and (L)there is no partiality with Him.
The Whole Armor of God
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 (M)Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the [b]wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against (N)principalities, against powers, against (O)the rulers of [c]the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 (P)Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand (Q)in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, (R)having girded your waist with truth, (S)having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 (T)and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking (U)the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And (V)take the helmet of salvation, and (W)the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 (X)praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, (Y)being watchful to this end with all perseverance and (Z)supplication for all the saints— 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, (AA)that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which (AB)I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
A Gracious Greeting
21 But that you also may know my affairs and how I am doing, (AC)Tychicus, a beloved brother and (AD)faithful minister in the Lord, will make all things known to you; 22 (AE)whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know our affairs, and that he may (AF)comfort your hearts.
23 Peace to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.
Footnotes
- Ephesians 6:9 NU He who is both their Master and yours is
- Ephesians 6:11 schemings
- Ephesians 6:12 NU this darkness,
Ephesians 6
English Standard Version
Children and Parents
6 (A)Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 (B)“Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, (C)but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Bondservants and Masters
5 (D)Bondservants,[a] obey your earthly masters[b] with fear and trembling, (E)with a sincere heart, (F)as you would Christ, 6 not by the way of eye-service, as (G)people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, 8 (H)knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, (I)whether he is a bondservant or is free. 9 Masters, do the same to them, (J)and stop your threatening, knowing that (K)he who is both their Master[c] and yours is in heaven, and that (L)there is no partiality with him.
The Whole Armor of God
10 Finally, (M)be strong in the Lord and in (N)the strength of his might. 11 (O)Put on (P)the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against (Q)the schemes of the devil. 12 For (R)we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against (S)the rulers, against the authorities, against (T)the cosmic powers over (U)this present darkness, against (V)the spiritual forces of evil (W)in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore (X)take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in (Y)the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, (Z)having fastened on the belt of truth, and (AA)having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, (AB)as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up (AC)the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all (AD)the flaming darts of (AE)the evil one; 17 and take (AF)the helmet of salvation, and (AG)the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying (AH)at all times (AI)in the Spirit, (AJ)with all prayer and supplication. To that end, (AK)keep alert with all perseverance, making (AL)supplication for all the saints, 19 and (AM)also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth (AN)boldly to proclaim (AO)the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I (AP)am an ambassador (AQ)in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
Final Greetings
21 (AR)So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, (AS)Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. 22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may (AT)encourage your hearts.
23 (AU)Peace be to the brothers,[d] and (AV)love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all who (AW)love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.
Footnotes
- Ephesians 6:5 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; also verse 6; likewise for bondservant in verse 8
- Ephesians 6:5 Or your masters according to the flesh
- Ephesians 6:9 Greek Lord
- Ephesians 6:23 Or brothers and sisters
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
