The Meaning of Ephesians 6:8 Explained

Ephesians 6:8

KJV: Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.

YLT: having known that whatever good thing each one may do, this he shall receive from the Lord, whether servant or freeman.

Darby: knowing that whatever good each shall do, this he shall receive of the Lord, whether bond or free.

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 Reverse Interlinear

Knowing  that  whatsoever  good thing  any man  doeth,  the same  shall he receive  of  the Lord,  whether  [he be] bond  or  free. 

What does Ephesians 6:8 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Paul reminded faithful slaves that they would receive a reward from Jesus Christ in the future whether their masters on earth acknowledged their good service or not. This reward would come at the judgment seat of Christ if not earlier.
"Like Jesus himself, Paul does not shrink from referring to rewards." [1]
This principle of reward for faithful service applies to all who serve the Lord, whether slave or free.
". . . although the numerous slaves who had come into the Christian fold were in the apostle"s mind as he wrote these words, the principles of the whole section apply to employees and employers in every age, whether in the home, in business, or in the state." [2]

Context Summary

Ephesians 6:1-12 - Children And Parents Servants And Masters
Where our religion is true, it will affect every relationship in life. The love of Christ must find its manifestation in nursery and in kitchen, in workshop and in municipal chamber. But notice that its duties are reciprocal. We must give on our side, just as we expect others to give on theirs.
The first duty of children is obedience. They must be taught to obey because it is right, and their conscience bears witness to the rightness. Never plead with a child to do what is right, nor bribe it by a reward. Take your stand on that primeval sense of right and wrong, which is the foundation of morals and will be the stay of the child's whole after-life, when once its supremacy is established. But parents should help their children by removing irritation or passion from their own speech. Slaves formed a large proportion of the early Church. Their obedience must be explicit, and they were taught to believe that Christ took their faithful service to their earthly owner as service to Himself. But masters must ever deal with their servants as liable to be called to account by the great Master of all. The center of all authority is Christ, and He will demand an account of our treatment of every servant He has sent into our homes. [source]

Chapter Summary: Ephesians 6

1  The duty of children toward their parents;
5  of servants toward their masters
10  Our life is a warfare, not only against flesh and blood, but also spiritual enemies
13  The complete armor of a Christian;
18  and how it ought to be used
21  Tychicus is commended

Greek Commentary for Ephesians 6:8

Whatsoever good thing each one doeth [εκαστος εαν τι ποιησηι αγατον]
Literally, “each one if he do anything good.” Condition of third class, undetermined, but with prospect. Note use here of αγατον — agathon rather than αδικον — adikon (one doing wrong) in Colossians 3:25. So it is a reward (κομισεται — komisetai) for good, not a penalty for wrong, though both are true, “whether he be bond or free” (ειτε δουλος ειτε ελευτερος — eite doulos eite eleutheros). [source]
Shall he receive [κομίσεται]
See on 1 Peter 1:8; compare Colossians 3:25. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Ephesians 6:8

2 Corinthians 5:10 May receive [κομίσηται]
See on 1 Peter 1:8. Compare Ephesians 6:8; Colossians 3:25. [source]
Colossians 3:25 Shall receive [κομίσεται]
See on 1 Peter 1:8. Compare Ephesians 6:8. [source]
1 Peter 1:9 Receiving [κομιζόμενοι]
The verb originally means to take care of or provide for; thence to receive hospitably or entertain; to bring home with a view to entertaining or taking care of. Hence, to carry away so as to preserve, to save, rescue, and so to carry away as a prize or booty. Generally, to receive or acquire. Paul uses it of receiving the awards of judgment (2 Corinthians 5:10; Ephesians 6:8; Colossians 3:25). In Hebrews it is used of receiving the promise (Hebrews 10:36; Hebrews 11:39), and of Abraham receiving back Isaac (Hebrews 11:19). Peter uses it thrice, and in each case of receiving the rewards of righteousness or of iniquity. See 1 Peter 5:4; 2 Peter 2:13. [source]

What do the individual words in Ephesians 6:8 mean?

knowing that each one if whatever he might have done good this he will receive [back] from [the] Lord whether slave or free
εἰδότες ὅτι ἕκαστος ἐάν τι ποιήσῃ ἀγαθόν τοῦτο κομίσεται παρὰ Κυρίου εἴτε δοῦλος εἴτε ἐλεύθερος

εἰδότες  knowing 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: οἶδα  
Sense: to see.
ὅτι  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
ἕκαστος  each  one 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἕκαστος  
Sense: each, every.
τι  whatever 
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: τὶς  
Sense: a certain, a certain one.
ποιήσῃ  he  might  have  done 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ποιέω  
Sense: to make.
ἀγαθόν  good 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: ἀγαθός 
Sense: of good constitution or nature.
τοῦτο  this 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
κομίσεται  he  will  receive  [back] 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Middle, 3rd Person Singular
Root: κομίζω  
Sense: to care for, take care of, provide for.
Κυρίου  [the]  Lord 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: κύριος  
Sense: he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord.
εἴτε  whether 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: εἴτε  
Sense: if … if.
δοῦλος  slave 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: δοῦλοσ1 
Sense: a slave, bondman, man of servile condition.
ἐλεύθερος  free 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἐλεύθερος  
Sense: freeborn.