Colossians 4:1
What does Colossians 4:1 mean?
A plain-English look at Colossians 4:1 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Colossians 4:1 means
Paul directs Christian masters to treat their servants with justice and fairness. He does not endorse cruelty or exploitation but calls for equity that reflects God’s character. The reason is theological: masters themselves have a Master in heaven who sees, judges, and rewards impartially. Earthly authority is temporary and accountable. This command reframes social power under Christ’s lordship. Those who wield authority must mirror the righteousness and mercy of their heavenly Master. The gospel does not abolish responsibility; it deepens it. By calling masters to equity, Paul addresses the heart, aiming to transform household relationships from within by the fear of the Lord and the recognition that all believers ultimately serve Christ.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Masters, render unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Masters, render unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Masters, give your servants what is right and equal, conscious that you have a Master in heaven.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862The masters! that which is righteous and equal to the servants give ye, having known that ye also have a Master in the heavens.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Masters, do to your servants that which is just and equal: knowing that you also have a master in heaven.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Masters, give to bondmen what is just and fair, knowing that ye also have a Master in [the] heavens.
Context
This instruction completes Paul’s “household code” that began in the previous chapter with wives, husbands, children, and servants. Having spoken to servants, he now addresses masters to ensure balance and mutual responsibility. The theme of Christ’s lordship over every relationship remains central. From here, Paul turns from household life to communal Christian practices—especially prayer and witness (verses 2–6). The flow moves from private spheres of authority to public and communal devotion, showing how the lordship of Christ governs both home and church.
v.1This passage
v.2Continue stedfastly in prayer, watching therein with thanksgiving;
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Malachi 3:5
And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against the false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the sojourner from his right, and fear not me, saith Jehovah of hosts.
- Deuteronomy 24:14
Thou shalt not oppress a hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy sojourners that are in thy land within thy gates:
- Ecclesiastes 5:8
If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in a province, marvel not at the matter: for one higher than the high regardeth; and there are higher than they.
- Matthew 23:8
But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your teacher, and all ye are brethren.
- Nehemiah 5:5
Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought into bondage already: neither is it in our power to help it; for other men have our fields and our vineyards.
- Leviticus 19:13
Thou shalt not oppress thy neighbor, nor rob him: the wages of a hired servant shall not abide with thee all night until the morning.
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