Colossians 3:22

²⁰ Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord.

²¹ Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they will not become discouraged.

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.

²³ Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men,

²⁴ because you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

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.
KJV: Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
WEB: 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.
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:
DARBY: 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.
BLB: Slaves, obey according to all things the masters according to flesh, not with eye-services as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.

ÅB: Dere tjenere! vær lydige i alle ting imot deres herrer etter kjødet, ikke med øyentjeneste, som de som vil tekkes mennesker, men i hjertets enfold, idet dere frykter Herren!
OTB: Slaver, adlyd deres jordiske herrer i alt, ikke bare når deres øye er på dere og for å vinne deres gunst, men med hjertets oppriktighet, i frykt for Herren.
B1930: I tjenere! vær lydige i alle ting imot eders herrer efter kjødet, ikke med øientjeneste, som de som vil tekkes mennesker, men i hjertets enfold, idet I frykter Herren!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Ephesians 6:5–7
Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear and sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.
Read in context
Galatians 1:10
Am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Read in context
1 Timothy 6:1–2
All who are under the yoke of slavery should regard their masters as fully worthy of honor, so that God’s name and our teaching will not be discredited.
Read in context
1 Peter 2:18–19
Servants, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but even to those who are unreasonable.
Read in context
Titus 2:9–10
Slaves are to submit to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative,
Read in context
1 Thessalonians 2:4
Instead, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, not in order to please men but God, who examines our hearts.
Read in context
Colossians 3:20
Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord.
Read in context
Luke 6:46
Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ but not do what I say?
Read in context