Matthew Henry · Verse 1
The apostle proceeds with the duty of masters to their servants. Not only justice is required of them, but strict equity and kindness. Let them deal with servants as they expect God should deal with themselves.
Colossians 4:1
Masters, give to your servants that which is just and equal, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
World English Bible
Your notes
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Other translations
WEBBE
Masters, give to your servants that which is just and equal, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
BSB
Masters, supply your slaves with what is right and fair, since you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
KJV
Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
ASV
Masters, render unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
BBE
Masters, give your servants what is right and equal, conscious that you have a Master in heaven.
Original Greek
Look up a wordTap a word to see what it means and everywhere else it's used.
Οἱ
Hoi
you who [are]
G3588
κύριοι
kurioi
Masters
G2962
τὸ
to
that which
G3588
δίκαιον
dikaion
[is] righteous
G1342
καὶ
kai
and
G2532
τὴν
tēn
that which
G3588
ἰσότητα
isotēta
[is] equal
G2471
τοῖς
tois
to the
G3588
δούλοις
doulois
slaves
G1401
παρέχεσθε
parechesthe
do give
G3930
εἰδότες
eidotes
knowing
G6063
ὅτι
hoti
that
G3754
καὶ
kai
also
G2532
ὑμεῖς
humeis
you yourselves
G4771
ἔχετε
echete
have
G2192
κύριον
kurion
a Master
G2962
ἐν
en
in
G1722
οὐρανῷ.¶
ouranō
heaven
G3772
The early church
What is "just"? What is "equal"? To place them in plenty of everything, and not allow them to stand in need of others, but to recompense them for their labors. For, because I have said that they have their reward from God, do not thou therefore deprive them of it. And in another place he saith, "forbearing threatening" (Eph. vi. 9), wishing to make them more gentle; for those were perfect men; that is, "with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured unto you." (Matt. vii. 2.) And the words, "there is no respect of persons," are spoken with a view to these, but they are assigned to the others, in order that these may receive them. For when we have said to one person what is applicable to another, we have not corrected him so much, as the one who is in fault. "Ye also," along with them, he saith. He has here made the service common, for he saith, "knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven."
Commentary
Read Matthew Henry on Colossians 4 →
Cross-references
23Topics
Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.