Colossians 4:1
in Colossians 4Masters, supply your slaves with what is right and fair, since you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Masters, render unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye 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.
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This verse in Colossians 4
Commentary
10 notes on this verseThou shalt not enjoin aught in thy bitterness upon thy bondman or maidservant, who hope in the same God, lest ever they shall fear not God who is over both; for he cometh not to call according to the outward appearance, but unto them whom the Spirit hath prepared.
This site's exposition
Masters, supply your slaves
The household code's last word belongs to the masters: supply your slaves with what is right and fair, fair dealing owed to those Roman law said could be owed nothing. The ground is the same as Ephesians 6:9, you also have a Master in heaven, the owner himself owned. Onesimus, a runaway slave returning with this letter's courier (4:9), would hear the verse read in the assembly.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
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."
The Medieval Church2 voices
What does "due" mean? It means to reward them for their labors, to supply everything in abundance, and not to allow them to be in need of outside help. You should not, after having heard that they have a reward from God, deprive them on …
Next, Paul shows how masters should treat their slaves. He does two things: first, he gives his instructions, secondly, the reason for them. There are two ways a master can oppress his slaves. First, by acting unjustly against them by violating the laws, for according …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Knowing that your Master also is in heaven, neither is there respect of persons with him, " Eph. vi. 2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; 3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: 4 That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — odd-straight-quotes
Masters, give unto your servants,.... This verse properly belongs to the preceding chapter, with which it should have been concluded.
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Masters, give unto your servants ... - See the notes at Eph 6:9. That which is just and equal - What they ought to have; what is fairly their due. The apostle here, probably, refers to bondmen or slaves, and the propriety of this rule is apparent. Such persons were subject to their masters’ control; their time and services were at their disposal, and they could not enforce their just and equal claims by an appeal to the laws. They were, therefore, dependent on the equity and kindness of their masters.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
give--Greek "render": literally, "afford." equal--that is, as the slaves owe their duties to you, so you equally owe to them your duties as masters. Compare "ye masters do the same things" (see on Eph 6:9).
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
Masters, give unto your servants - This verse should have been added to the preceding, to which it properly belongs; and this chapter should have begun with Col 4:2. That which is just and equal - As they are bondmen or slaves of whom the apostle speaks, we may at once see with what propriety this exhortation is given. The condition of slaves among the Greeks and Romans was wretched in the extreme; they could appeal to no law; and they could neither expect justice nor equity. The apostle, therefore, informs the proprietors of these slaves that they should act towards them both according to justice and equity; for God, their Master, required this of them, and would at last call them to account for their conduct in this respect. Justice and equity required that they should have proper food, proper raiment, due rest, and no more than moderate work. This is a lesson that all masters throughout the universe should carefully learn. Do not treat your servants as if God had made them of an inferior blood to yours.
The words behind it
18 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Οἱ | hoi | you who [are] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κύριοι, | kurioi | Masters, | G2962 → | 711 times |
| τὸ | to | that which | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δίκαιον | dikaion | [is] righteous | G1342 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τὴν | ten | that which | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἰσότητα | isoteta | [is] equal | G2471 → | |
| τοῖς | tois | to the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δούλοις | doulois | slaves | G1401 → | 129 times |
| παρέχεσθε | parechesthe | do give | G3930 → | |
| εἰδότες | eidotes | knowing | ||
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| καὶ | kai | also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ὑμεῖς | humeis | you yourselves | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἔχετε | echete | have | G2192 → | 707 times |
| κύριον | kurion | a Master | G2962 → | 711 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| οὐρανῷ.¶ | ourano | heaven. | G3772 → | 272 times |
Οἱyou who [are]
hoiG3588 →19766 times
κύριοι,Masters,
kurioiG2962 →711 times
τὸthat which
toG3588 →19766 times
δίκαιον[is] righteous
dikaionG1342 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τὴνthat which
tenG3588 →19766 times
ἰσότητα[is] equal
isotetaG2471 →
τοῖςto the
toisG3588 →19766 times
δούλοιςslaves
douloisG1401 →129 times
παρέχεσθεdo give
parechestheG3930 →
εἰδότεςknowing
eidotes
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →1292 times
καὶalso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ὑμεῖςyou yourselves
humeisG4771 →2973 times
ἔχετεhave
echeteG2192 →707 times
κύριονa Master
kurionG2962 →711 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
οὐρανῷ.¶heaven.
ouranoG3772 →272 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
James 2:13For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
it leads to
- Matthew 5:7
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
- Proverbs 21:13
Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too shall cry out and receive no answer.
- Matthew 6:15
But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive yours.
- Luke 6:37
Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
- Ephesians 2:4–7
But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
- Matthew 5:7
Through
Revelation 17:14They will make war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will triumph over them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and He will be accompanied by His called and chosen…
it leads to
- Romans 8:30
And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.
- 1 Timothy 6:15
which the blessed and only Sovereign One—the King of kings and Lord of lords—will bring about in His own time.
- Matthew 22:14
For many are called, but few are chosen.”
- Romans 8:30
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Colossians
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Didache, The Didache, Chapter 4; J. B. Lightfoot, Saint Paul's Epistles to the Colossians and to Philemon; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Colossians 10; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Colossians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Colossians.