Colossians 3 · Verse 23

Colossians 3:23

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
Colossians 3:23, King James Version

Colossians 3:23 in other translations

BSBWhatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men,
WEBAnd whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
ASVwhatsoever ye do, work heartily, as unto the Lord, and not unto men;
YLTand all, whatever ye may do--out of soul work--as to the Lord, and not to men,
DARBYWhatsoever ye do, labour at it heartily, as doing it to the Lord, and not to men;
BBEWhatever you do, do it readily, as to the Lord and not to men;
WebsterAnd whatever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not to men;

What does Colossians 3:23 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
23. And--omitted in the oldest manuscripts (compare Ep 6:7, 8). Compare the same principle in the case of all men, Hezekiah (2Ch 31:21; Ro 12:11). do, do it--two distinct Greek verbs, "Whatsoever ye do, work at it" (or "labor at" it). heartily--not from servile constraint, but with hearty good will.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 23. Col 3:22.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Colossians 3:18-25

The epistles most taken up in displaying the glory of the Divine grace, and magnifying the Lord Jesus, are the most particular in pressing the duties of the Christian life. We must never separate the privileges and duties of the gospel. Submission is the duty of wives. But it is submission, not to a severe lord or stern tyrant, but to her own husband, who is engaged to affectionate duty. And husbands must love their…

Read the full comment on Colossians 3:18-25 →

Colossians 3:23 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

πᾶνpaneverythingG3956
ὃhothatG3739
τιtiany [of]G5100
ἐὰνeanmaybeG1437
ποιῆτε,poiēteyou shall do,G4160
ἐκekfromG1537
ψυχῆςpsuchēs[the] soulG5590
ἐργάζεσθεergazesthedo workG2038
ὡςhōsasG5613
τῷtōto theG3588
κυρίῳkuriōLordG2962
καὶkaiandG2532
οὐκouknotG3756
ἀνθρώποις·anthrōpoisto men;G444

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Colossians 3:23

  • Colossians 3:17

    And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

  • Ephesians 6:6-7

    Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:

  • Romans 14:8

    For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.

  • 2 Chronicles 31:21

    And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.

  • Ecclesiastes 9:10

    Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

  • 1 Peter 2:15

    For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

  • 1 Peter 2:13

    Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;

  • Psalms 119:10

    With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.

  • Romans 14:6

    He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

  • 1 Peter 1:22

    Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

  • Psalms 119:34

    Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.

  • Jeremiah 3:10

    And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the Lord.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
whatsoever.
17; 2Ch 31:21; Ps 47:6,7; 103:1; 119:10,34,145; Ec 9:10; Jer 3:10
1Pe 1:22
as.
Zec 7:5-7; Mt 6:16; Ro 14:6,8; Eph 5:22; 6:6,7; 1Pe 2:13,15

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Colossians 3:22

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

  • Colossians 3:23

    And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

  • Colossians 3:24

    Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

Read all of Colossians 3

Colossians 3:23 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y todo lo que hagáis, hacedlo de ánimo, como al Señor, y no á los hombres;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Quoi que vous fassiez, faites-le de cœur, comme pour le Seigneur et non pour les hommes,
German
Elberfelder 1871		Was irgend ihr tut, arbeitet von Herzen, als dem Herrn und nicht den Menschen,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quodcumque facitis, ex animo operamini sicut Domino, et non hominibus: