COL 3:22 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed for doing comparisons of different translations. Click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object, magenta:vocative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT Slaves, obey your masters according to the flesh in all things, not with eyeservice as people pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.

UST Slaves must obey those who are their masters in this world in every circumstance. They should obey not just when their masters are watching, which is how those who want to please only humans behave. Instead, they should obey their masters sincerely because they treat the Lord with reverence.

BSB § Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only to please them while they are watching, but with sincerity of heart and fear of the Lord.

BLB Slaves, obey the earthly masters in all things, not with eye-services as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.

AICNT Slaves[fn] obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eye-service as people-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing {the Lord}.[fn]

3:22, Slaves: Servant in normal usage at the present time. i.e., one who works for another (employee).

3:22, the Lord: Later manuscripts read “God.” BYZ TR

OEB Slaves, always obey your earthly masters, not only when their eyes are on you, as if you had but to please people alone, but giving them ungrudging service, in your respect for the Master.

WEBBE Servants, obey in all things those who are your masters according to the flesh, not just when they are looking, as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God.

WMBB (Same as above)

MSG ^(22-25)Servants, do what you’re told by your earthly masters. And don’t just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn’t cover up bad work.

NET Slaves, obey your earthly masters in every respect, not only when they are watching – like those who are strictly people-pleasers – but with a sincere heart, fearing the Lord.

LSV the servants: obey those who are masters in all things according to the flesh, not in eye-service as men-pleasers, but in simplicity of heart, fearing God;

FBV Those of you who are servants, do everything your human masters tell you, not with just an eye to please them, but honestly and sincerely, respecting the Lord.

TCNT Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything. Do not try to please them only when they are watching you, but obey with sincerity of heart, fearing [fn]God.

3:22 God ¦ the Lord CT

T4T You slaves, obey your earthly masters in every circumstance. Do not obey your masters only when they are watching [MTY] you, like those who merely want to impress their masters favorably. Instead, obey your masters sincerely. Do this because you reverence the Lord Jesus (OR, God).

LEB Slaves, obey your human[fn] masters in everything, not while being watched[fn], as people pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.

3:22 Literally “according to the flesh”

3:22 Literally “with eye-service”

BBE Servants, in all things do the orders of your natural masters; not only when their eyes are on you, as pleasers of men, but with all your heart, fearing the Lord:

Moff No Moff COL book available

Wymth Slaves, be obedient in everything to your earthly masters; not in acts of eye service, as aiming only to please men, but with simplicity of purpose, because you fear the Lord.

ASV Servants, obey in all things them that are your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing the Lord:

DRA Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not serving to the eye, as pleasing men, but in simplicity of heart, fearing God.

YLT The servants! obey in all things those who are masters according to the flesh, not in eye-service as men-pleasers, but in simplicity of heart, fearing God;

Drby Bondmen, obey in all things your masters according to flesh; not with eye-services, as men-pleasers, but in simplicity of heart, fearing the Lord.

RV Servants, obey in all things them that are your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing the Lord:

Wbstr Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:

KJB-1769 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:

KJB-1611 Seruants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh: not with eye seruice as men pleasers, but in singlenesse of heart, fearing God:
(Seruants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh: not with eye service as men pleasers, but in singlenesse of heart, fearing God:)

Bshps Seruauntes, obey in all thynges to your bodyly maisters: not with eye seruice, as men pleasers, but in singlenesse of heart, fearyng God.
(Seruauntes, obey in all things to your bodyly masters: not with eye seruice, as men pleasers, but in singlenesse of heart, fearyng God.)

Gnva Seruants, be obedient vnto them that are your masters according to the flesh, in all things, not with eye seruice as men pleasers, but in singlenes of heart, fearing God.
(Seruants, be obedient unto them that are your masters according to the flesh, in all things, not with eye service as men pleasers, but in singlenes of heart, fearing God. )

Cvdl Ye seruauntes, be obedient vnto youre bodely masters in all thinges, not with eye seruyce as men pleasers, but in synglenes of hert, fearinge God.
(Ye/You_all servants, be obedient unto your(pl) bodely masters in all things, not with eye service as men pleasers, but in synglenes of heart, fearinge God.)

TNT Servauntes be obedient vnto youre bodyly masters in all thynges: not with eye service as men pleasers but in synglenes of herte fearynge god.
(Servauntes be obedient unto your(pl) bodyly masters in all things: not with eye service as men pleasers but in synglenes of heart fearynge god. )

Wycl Seruauntis, obeie ye bi alle thingis to fleischli lordis, not seruynge at iye, as plesynge to men, but in symplenesse of herte, dredinge the Lord.
(Seruauntis, obey ye/you_all by all things to fleshly lords, not serving at iye, as plesynge to men, but in symplenesse of heart, dredinge the Lord.)

Luth Ihr Knechte, seid gehorsam in allen Dingen euren leiblichen Herren, nicht mit Dienst vor Augen, als den Menschen zu gefallen, sondern mit Einfältigkeit des Herzens und mit Gottesfurcht.
(You servant(s), seid obedient/submissive in all Dingen yours leiblichen Lorden, not with service before/in_front_of Augen, als the Menschen to gefallen, rather with Einfältigkeit the heartss and with God’sfurcht.)

ClVg Servi, obedite per omnia dominis carnalibus, non ad oculum servientes, quasi hominibus placentes, sed in simplicitate cordis, timentes Deum.
(Servi, obedite through everything dominis carnalibus, not/no to oculum servientes, as_if hominibus placentes, but in simplicitate cordis, timentes God. )

UGNT οἱ δοῦλοι, ὑπακούετε κατὰ πάντα τοῖς κατὰ σάρκα κυρίοις, μὴ ἐν ὀφθαλμοδουλεία, ὡς ἀνθρωπάρεσκοι, ἀλλ’ ἐν ἁπλότητι καρδίας, φοβούμενοι τὸν Κύριον.
(hoi douloi, hupakouete kata panta tois kata sarka kuriois, maʸ en ofthalmodouleia, hōs anthrōpareskoi, all’ en haplotaʸti kardias, foboumenoi ton Kurion.)

SBL-GNT οἱ δοῦλοι, ὑπακούετε κατὰ πάντα τοῖς κατὰ σάρκα κυρίοις, μὴ ἐν ⸀ὀφθαλμοδουλίαις, ὡς ἀνθρωπάρεσκοι, ἀλλʼ ἐν ἁπλότητι καρδίας, φοβούμενοι τὸν ⸀κύριον.
(hoi douloi, hupakouete kata panta tois kata sarka kuriois, maʸ en ⸀ofthalmodouliais, hōs anthrōpareskoi, allʼ en haplotaʸti kardias, foboumenoi ton ⸀kurion.)

TC-GNT Οἱ δοῦλοι, ὑπακούετε κατὰ πάντα τοῖς κατὰ σάρκα κυρίοις, μὴ ἐν [fn]ὀφθαλμοδουλείαις ὡς ἀνθρωπάρεσκοι, ἀλλ᾽ ἐν ἁπλότητι καρδίας, φοβούμενοι τὸν [fn]Θεόν·
(Hoi douloi, hupakouete kata panta tois kata sarka kuriois, maʸ en ofthalmodouleiais hōs anthrōpareskoi, all en haplotaʸti kardias, foboumenoi ton Theon; )

3:22 οφθαλμοδουλειαις ¦ οφθαλμοδουλιαις ANT PCK SBL WH ¦ οφθαλμοδουλια NA

3:22 θεον ¦ κυριον CT

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

UTN uW Translation Notes:

οἱ δοῦλοι

¬The slaves

Here Paul directly addresses the Slaves in the audience. Use a form in your language that indicates that the speaker is singling out a specific group of people as the intended audience of the following words. Alternate translation: [You slaves]

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

τοῖς κατὰ σάρκα κυρίοις

˱to˲_your according_to flesh masters

The phrase according to the flesh describes the masters as humans on this earth. Paul uses this phrase to describe these masters because he is already setting up a contrast with the “Master” over these masters: Jesus (See: 4:1). If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable idiom or express the idea with an adjective such as “human” or “earthly.” Alternate translation: [your earthly masters] or [your human masters]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τοῖς & κυρίοις

˱to˲_your & masters

Here Paul does not explicitly state that slaves must obey “their own” masters. However, Paul writes this sentence in such a way that the Colossians would have understood him to mean this. The ULT includes your because this is an essential part of what Paul is saying. Use a form in your language that specifies that Paul has each slave’s master in mind. Alternate translation: [your own masters]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

κατὰ πάντα

in all_‹things›

Just as in 3:20, the phrase in all things is an idiom that indicates that slaves should obey “everything their masters command” or “in every situation.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable idiom or indicate what the things are. Alternate translation: [in everything they tell you to do]

Note 4 topic: translate-unknown

μὴ ἐν ὀφθαλμοδουλεία

not with (Some words not found in SR-GNT: οἱ δοῦλοι ὑπακούετε κατὰ πάντα τοῖς κατὰ σάρκα κυρίοις μὴ ἐν ὀφθαλμοδουλείᾳ ὡς ἀνθρωπάρεσκοι ἀλλʼ ἐν ἁπλότητι καρδίας φοβούμενοι τὸν Κύριον)

The word eyeservice describes how people sometimes behave to look good more than to do the right thing. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable expression or a short phrase such as “wanting to look impressive.” Alternate translation: [not focusing on how you appear to others]

Note 5 topic: translate-unknown

ὡς ἀνθρωπάρεσκοι

as men_pleasing

The phrase people pleasers describes the kind of people who care about “eyeservice.” Here, people pleasers are those who focus on impressing humans rather than doing what God desires. If it would be helpful in your language, you could emphasize that people pleasers want to please humans only, not God. Alternate translation: [as people who want to please humans rather than God]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

ἐν ἁπλότητι καρδίας

with in sincerity ˱of˲_heart

Paul here uses the possessive form to describe a heart that is characterized by its sincerity. If your language would not use the possessive form to express that idea, you could express the idea by translating sincerity with an adjective such as “sincere.” Alternate translation: [with a sincere heart]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἐν ἁπλότητι καρδίας

with in sincerity ˱of˲_heart

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind sincerity, you could express the idea by using an adjective such as “sincere” or and adverb such as “sincerely.” Alternate translation: [sincerely in your heart] or [with a sincere heart]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

καρδίας

˱of˲_heart

In Paul’s culture, the heart is the place where a person thinks and desires. If it would be helpful in your language, you could refer to the place where humans think in your culture or express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: [of mind] or [of desire]

Note 9 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

φοβούμενοι τὸν Κύριον

revering the Lord

The phrase fearing the Lord could describe: (1) the reason why the slaves should obey their masters. Alternate translation: [because you fear the Lord] (2) the way or manner in which the slaves should obey their masters. Alternate translation: [showing fear for the Lord] or [in a way that shows that you fear the Lord]

Parallel COL 3:22