Ephesians 6:8
in Ephesians 6because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
knowing that whatsoever good thing each one doeth, the same shall he receive again from the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
KJV
Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
⋯
This verse in Ephesians 6
Commentary
14 notes on this verseA commentator
Theodoret of CyrusInterpretation of the Epistle to the Ephesians 6.8 · Written before 458.
He shows that slavery and mastery are categories that are confined to this present life. When we pass on from here, these distinctions will no longer apply. There nothing will be based on social status, such as slave or master, but on virtue and vice.
This site's exposition
obey your earthly masters
on Ephesians 6:5-8
The slave's service is relocated: just as you would obey Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. It is a standing the law refused the person and no master can touch.
This site's exposition
the Lord will reward each one
Jamieson, Fausset and Brown read the reward as what each will be found to have done at the Lord's coming, paid in heaven's currency. They cite Luke 17:10 to keep it within grace. Clarke defines the ranks: the slave bought with money, the free worker hiring himself out by choice.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
A commentator
CyprianTreatise XII Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews · Written before 258.
proposed
That servants, when they have believed, ought to serve their carnal masters the better. In the Epistle of Paul to the Ephesians: "Servants, obey your fleshly masters with fear and trembling, and ill simplicity of your heart. as to Christ; not serving for the eye, as if you were pleasing men; but as servants of God."
Thus then it is not husband only, nor wife, nor children, but virtuous servants also that contribute to the organization and protection of a house. Therefore the blessed Paul has not overlooked this department even. He comes to it, however, in the last place, because it is last in dignity and rank. Still he addresses much discourse also to them, no longer in the same tone as to children, but in a far more advanced way, inasmuch as he does not hold out to these the promise in this world, but in that which is to come. "Knowing," saith he, "that whatsoever good or evil thing each one doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord," and thus at once instructs them to love wisdom. For though they be inferior to the children in dignity, still in mind they are superior to them.
In the case of those who have sent Christian slaves to offer sacrifice for them, the slaves indeed as being in their master's hands, and in a manner themselves also in the custody of their masters, and being threatened by them, and from their fear …
The Medieval Church2 voices
Next, he mentions the reward, saying knowing—"These things I write to you that you may know" (1 Jn. 5:13)—that any man... whether he be bond or free is not favored because of his status. For there is no respect of persons with God. "There is …
Since probably many of the masters — being pagans and unbelievers — did no good toward the slaves who served them well, he says: if you do not receive a reward from your master according to the flesh, you will receive it from the Lord …
6 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Though his master on earth should neglect or abuse him, instead of rewarding him, he shall certainly be rewarded by the Lord Christ, whether he be bond or free, whether he be a poor bond-servant or a freeman or master. Christ regards not these differences of men at present; nor will he in the great and final judgment.
Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doth,.... According to the will of God, from right principles in his heart, and with a view to God's glory: the same shall he receive of the Lord; that is, he shall receive the fruit and advantage of it, in a way of grace, whether he be bond or free; a bondman or a free man, a master or a servant.
He exhorts and directs Christians how to behave themselves in the spiritual warfare with the enemies of their souls; and to the exercise of several Christian graces, which he proposes to them as so many pieces of spiritual armour, to preserve and defend them in the conflict,
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
Whatsoever good thing any man doeth - Though your masters should fail to give you the due reward of your fidelity and labor, yet, as ye have done your work as unto the Lord, he will take care to give you the proper recompense. Whether he be bond - A slave, bought with money; Or free - A person who has hired himself of his own free accord.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
any man doeth--Greek, "any man shall have done," that is, shall be found at the Lord's coming to have done. the same--in full payment, in heaven's currency. shall . . . receive-- (2Co 5:10; Col 3:25; but all of grace, Lu 17:10). bond or free-- (1Co 7:22; Christ does not regard such distinctions in His present dealings of grace, or in His future judgment.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase+unbalanced-parens
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Knowing that whatsoever good thing - Whatever a man does that is right, for that he shall be appropriately rewarded. No matter what his rank in life, if he discharges his duty to God and man, he will be accepted. A man in a state of servitude may so live as to honor God; and, so living, he should not be greatly solicitous about his condition. A master may fail to render suitable recompense to a slave. But, if the servant is faithful to God, he will recompense him in the future world. It is in this way that religion would make the evils of life tolerable, by teaching those who are oppressed to hear their trials in a patient spirit, and to look forward to the future world of reward. Religion does not approve of slavery. It is the friend of human rights. If it had full influence on earth, it would restore every man to freedom, and impart to each one his rights. Christianity nowhere requires its friends to make or to own a slave. No one under the proper influence of religion ever yet made a man a slave; there is no one under its proper influence who would not desire that all should be free; and just in proportion as true religion spreads over the world, will universal freedom be its attendant. But Christianity would lighten the evils of slavery even while it exists, and would comfort those who are doomed to so hard a lot, by assuring them that there they may render acceptable service to God, and that they soon will be admitted to a world where galling servitude will be known no more. If they may not have freedom here, they may have contentment if they feel that wrong is done them by men, they may feel that right will be done them by God; if their masters do not reward them for their services here, God will; and if they may not enjoy liberty here, they will soon be received into the world of perfect freedom - heaven.
The words behind it
15 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| εἰδότες | eidotes | knowing | ||
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| ἕκαστος | hekastos | each one | G1538 → | 81 times |
| ἐάν | ean | maybe | G1437 → | |
| τι | ti | whatever | G5100 → | 528 times |
| ποιήσῃ | poiese | he shall do | G4160 → | 569 times |
| ἀγαθὸν | agathon | good | G18 → | 102 times |
| τοῦτο | touto | this | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| κομίσεται | komisetai | he will receive [back] | G2865 → | |
| παρὰ | para | from | G3844 → | |
| κυρίου | kuriou | Lord | G2962 → | 711 times |
| εἴτε | eite | whether | G1535 → | |
| δοῦλος | doulos | slave | G1401 → | 129 times |
| εἴτε | eite | or | G1535 → | |
| ἐλεύθερος.¶ | eleutheros | free. | G1658 → |
εἰδότεςknowing
eidotes
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →1292 times
ἕκαστοςeach one
hekastosG1538 →81 times
ἐάνmaybe
eanG1437 →
τιwhatever
tiG5100 →528 times
ποιήσῃhe shall do
poieseG4160 →569 times
ἀγαθὸνgood
agathonG18 →102 times
τοῦτοthis
toutoG3778 →1381 times
κομίσεταιhe will receive [back]
komisetaiG2865 →
παρὰfrom
paraG3844 →
κυρίουLord
kuriouG2962 →711 times
εἴτεwhether
eiteG1535 →
δοῦλοςslave
doulosG1401 →129 times
εἴτεor
eiteG1535 →
ἐλεύθερος.¶free.
eleutherosG1658 →
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
2 Corinthians 5:10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.
it leads to
- Psalms 62:12
and loving devotion to You, O Lord. For You will repay each man according to his deeds.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Matthew 16:27
For the Son of Man will come in His Father’s glory with His angels, and then He will repay each one according to what he has done.
- Revelation 22:12
“Behold, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to what he has done.
- Ecclesiastes 12:14
For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil.
- Psalms 62:12
Through
Matthew 16:27For the Son of Man will come in His Father’s glory with His angels, and then He will repay each one according to what he has done.
it leads to
- Jeremiah 17:10
I, the LORD, search the heart; I examine the mind to reward a man according to his way, by what his deeds deserve.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 2 Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.
- Romans 2:6
God “will repay each one according to his deeds.”
- Romans 14:12
So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
- Jeremiah 17:10
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Ephesians
This page draws on 13 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); Cyprian, Treatise XII Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homilies on Ephesians; John Chrysostom, Homily on Ephesians 22; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Peter of Alexandria, Peter of Alexandria Canonical Epistle; Theodoret of Cyrus, Interpretation of the Epistle to the Ephesians 6.8; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Ephesians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Ephesians.