Ephesians 5 · Verse 21

Ephesians 5:21

Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Ephesians 5:21, King James Version

Ephesians 5:21 in other translations

BSBSubmit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
WEBsubjecting yourselves to one another in the fear of Christ.
ASVsubjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Christ.
YLTsubjecting yourselves to one another in the fear of God.
DARBYsubmitting yourselves to one another in the fear of Christ.
BBELetting yourselves be ruled by one another in the fear of Christ.
WebsterSubmitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

What does Ephesians 5:21 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
21. (Php 2:3; 1Pe 5:5.) Here he passes from our relations to God, to those which concern our fellow men. in the fear of God--All the oldest manuscripts and authorities read, "in the fear of Christ." The believer passes from under the bondage of the law as a letter, to be "the servant of Christ" (1Co 7:22), which, through the instinct of love to Him, is really to be "the Lord's freeman"; for he is "under the law to Christ" (1Co 9:21; compare Joh 8:36). Christ, not the Father (Joh 5:22), is to be our judge. Thus reverential fear of displeasing Him is the motive for discharging our relative duties as Christians (1Co 10:22; 2Co 5:11; 1Pe 2:13).

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 21. Submitting yourselves one to another. Maintaining due subordination in the various relations of life. This general principle of religion the apostle proceeds now to illustrate in reference to wives, Eph 5:22-24; to children, Eph 6:1-3; and to servants, Eph 6:5-8. At the same time that he enforces this duty of submission, however, he enjoins on others to use their authority in a proper manner, and gives solemn injunctions that there should be no abuse of power. Particularly he enjoins on husbands the duty of loving their wives with all tenderness, Eph 5:25-33; on fathers, the duty of treating their children so that they might easily obey them, Eph 6:4; and on masters, the duty of treating their servants with kindness, remembering that they have a Master also in heaven, Eph 6:9. The general meaning here is, that Christianity does not break up the relations of life, and produce disorder, lawlessness, and insubordination; but that it will confirm every proper authority, and make every just yoke lighter. Infidelity is always disorganizing; Christianity never.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 21 Submitting - one to another - Let no man be so tenacious of his own will or his opinion in matters indifferent, as to disturb the peace of the Church; in all such matters give way to each other, and let love rule. In the fear of God - Setting him always before your eyes, and considering that he has commanded you to love one another, and to bear each other's burdens; and that what you do in this or any other commanded case, you do as unto the Lord. Instead of εν φοβῳ Θεου, in the fear of God, εν φοβω Χριστου, in the fear of Christ, is the reading of ABDEFG, with all others of most value; besides the Syriac, Coptic, Sahidic, Ethiopic, Armenian, Vulgate, and Itala; Basil the Great, and Chrysostom. Neither reading makes any difference in the sense.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ephesians 5:15-21

Another remedy against sin, is care, or caution, it being impossible else to maintain purity of heart and life. Time is a talent given us by God, and it is misspent and lost when not employed according to his design. If we have lost our time heretofore, we must double our diligence for the future. Of that time which thousands on a dying bed would gladly redeem at the price of the whole world, how little do men…

Read the full comment on Ephesians 5:15-21 →

Ephesians 5:21 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.

ὑποτασσόμενοιhupotassomenoiBe submitting yourselvesG5293
ἀλλήλοιςallēloisto one anotherG240
ἐνeninG1722
φόβῳphobōreverenceG5401
Χριστοῦ.¶Christouof Christ.G5547

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

Cross references for Ephesians 5:21

  • Philippians 2:3

    Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

  • Ephesians 5:24

    Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

  • Ephesians 5:22

    Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

  • Hebrews 13:17

    Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

  • 1 Peter 5:5

    Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

  • 1 Timothy 3:4

    One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

  • 1 Peter 2:17

    Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

  • Galatians 5:13

    For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

  • 1 Timothy 2:11

    Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.

  • 1 Corinthians 16:16

    That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.

  • Proverbs 24:21

    My son, fear thou the Lord and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:

  • Nehemiah 5:15

    But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
submitting.
22,24; Ge 16:9; 1Ch 29:24; Ro 13:1-5; 1Co 16:16; Php 2:3; 1Ti 2:11
1Ti 3:4; Heb 13:17; 1Pe 2:13; 5:5
in.
2Ch 19:7; Ne 5:9,15; Pr 24:21; 2Co 7:1; 1Pe 2:17

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

Context

  • Ephesians 5:20

    Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

  • Ephesians 5:21

    Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

  • Ephesians 5:22

    Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

Read all of Ephesians 5

Ephesians 5:21 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Sujetados los unos á los otros en el temor de Dios.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		étant soumis les uns aux autres dans la crainte de Christ.
German
Elberfelder 1871		einander unterwürfig in der Furcht Christi.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		subjecti invicem in timore Christi.