Ephesians 5:21
New International Version
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

New Living Translation
And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

English Standard Version
submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Berean Standard Bible
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Berean Literal Bible
Be submitting yourselves to one another in reverence of Christ:

King James Bible
Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

New King James Version
submitting to one another in the fear of God.

New American Standard Bible
and subject yourselves to one another in the fear of Christ.

NASB 1995
and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

NASB 1977
and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

Legacy Standard Bible
and being subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

Amplified Bible
being subject to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Christian Standard Bible
submitting to one another in the fear of Christ.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
submitting to one another in the fear of Christ.

American Standard Version
subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Christ.

Contemporary English Version
Honor Christ and put others first.

English Revised Version
subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Christ.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Place yourselves under each other's authority out of respect for Christ.

Good News Translation
Submit yourselves to one another because of your reverence for Christ.

International Standard Version
and you will submit to one another out of reverence for the Messiah.

Majority Standard Bible
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

NET Bible
and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

New Heart English Bible
subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Christ.

Webster's Bible Translation
Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

Weymouth New Testament
and submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

World English Bible
subjecting yourselves to one another in the fear of Christ.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
subjecting yourselves to one another in the fear of Christ.

Berean Literal Bible
Be submitting yourselves to one another in reverence of Christ:

Young's Literal Translation
subjecting yourselves to one another in the fear of God.

Smith's Literal Translation
Yielding obedience to one another in the fear of God.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Being subject one to another, in the fear of Christ.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

New American Bible
Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ.

New Revised Standard Version
Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Submit yourselves one to another in the love of Christ.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Be subject to one another in the love of The Messiah.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
being subject one to another in the fear of God.

Godbey New Testament
being submissive to one another in the fear of Christ.

Haweis New Testament
being subject one to another in the fear of God.

Mace New Testament
Be mutually obsequious with christian respect.

Weymouth New Testament
and submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Worrell New Testament
submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of Christ;

Worsley New Testament
submitting yourselves to each other in the fear of God.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Wives and Husbands
20always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 21Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. 22Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.…

Cross References
Philippians 2:3-4
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. / Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

1 Peter 5:5
Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

Colossians 3:18-19
Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. / Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

Romans 12:10
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.

1 Corinthians 16:16
to submit to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer.

Hebrews 13:17
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. To this end, allow them to lead with joy and not with grief, for that would be of no advantage to you.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13
But we ask you, brothers, to acknowledge those who work diligently among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. / In love, hold them in highest regard because of their work. Live in peace with one another.

Galatians 5:13
For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love.

James 4:6-7
But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” / Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Matthew 20:26-28
It shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, / and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave— / just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

John 13:14-15
So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. / I have set you an example so that you should do as I have done for you.

1 Corinthians 12:25
so that there should be no division in the body, but that its members should have mutual concern for one another.

1 Peter 3:8
Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and humble.

Romans 13:1-2
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God. / Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

1 Timothy 5:1-2
Do not rebuke an older man, but appeal to him as to a father. Treat younger men as brothers, / older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.


Treasury of Scripture

Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

submitting.

Ephesians 5:22,24
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord…

Genesis 16:9
And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.

1 Chronicles 29:24
And all the princes, and the mighty men, and all the sons likewise of king David, submitted themselves unto Solomon the king.

in.

2 Chronicles 19:7
Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.

Nehemiah 5:9,15
Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies? …

Proverbs 24:21
My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:

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Ephesians 5
1. After general exhortations to love;
3. to flee sexual immorality;
4. and all uncleanness;
7. not to converse with the wicked;
15. to walk carefully;
18. and to be filled with the Spirit;
22. he descends to the particular duties, how wives ought to obey their husbands;
25. and husbands ought to love their wives,
32. even as Christ does his church.














Submit to one another
The Greek word for "submit" is "hypotassō," which means to arrange under, to subordinate, or to subject oneself. In the context of Ephesians, this submission is not about inferiority but about a voluntary yielding in love. The early Christian community was counter-cultural, promoting mutual submission as a reflection of Christ's humility and service. This phrase calls believers to a lifestyle of humility and selflessness, echoing the teachings of Jesus who washed His disciples' feet (John 13:14-15). It challenges the modern reader to consider how they can serve others in their community, fostering unity and love.

out of reverence
The term "reverence" is translated from the Greek word "phobos," which can mean fear, respect, or awe. In this context, it implies a deep respect and awe for Christ. This reverence is not a fear of punishment but a profound respect for His authority and love. Historically, reverence for God was a central tenet of Jewish worship, and Paul extends this to include reverence for Christ. This phrase encourages believers to let their actions be motivated by their respect and love for Jesus, recognizing His lordship in their lives.

for Christ
The phrase "for Christ" centers the motivation for submission on the person and work of Jesus. In the Greek, "Christos" refers to the Anointed One, the Messiah. This highlights the theological foundation of Christian behavior: believers submit to one another because they are ultimately submitting to Christ. The early church understood that their relationships with one another were a reflection of their relationship with Jesus. This phrase serves as a reminder that all Christian conduct should be rooted in the example and teachings of Christ, who exemplified ultimate submission to the Father's will (Philippians 2:5-8). It calls believers to live in a way that honors and reflects the character of Jesus in every interaction.

(21) Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.--In grammatical construction this clause is connected with the preceding verses; in point of idea it leads on to the next section, which treats of the three-fold submission of wives to husbands, children to parents, slaves to masters. There is, however, a certain connection of idea with the preceding section also, and especially with the encouragement of a Christian enthusiasm in the last clause. The strong and frequent emphasis laid in the New Testament on subjection, whether (as in Romans 13:1-7; 1Peter 2:13-17) to the civil powers, or (as here, in Colossians 3:18 to Colossians 4:1, and 1Peter 2:18 to 1Peter 3:7) to domestic authority, or (as in 1Thessalonians 5:12-13; 2Thessalonians 3:6; 2Thessalonians 3:14-15) to ecclesiastical authority, probably indicates some tendency, in the first exuberance of Christian liberty and enthusiasm, to disregard the wholesome restraints, laws, and conventions of outward life. Hence St. Paul's general caution here, prefatory to the more detailed teaching of subjection which follows. . . . Verse 21. - Subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Christ. The last of the participial exhortations depending on the general exhortation of ver. 15 to walk strictly, Most commentators connect it with the three immediately preceding participles (speaking, singing, giving thanks), but are unable to find a link of connection. Better connect with ver. 15. Mutual subjection is part of a wise, circumspect walk, i.e. mutual recognition of each other's rights and of our obligations to serve them. In some sense we are all servants, i.e. we are bound to serve others; the very father is, in this sense, servant of his child. So in the Christian Church we are all in a sense servants ("By love serve one another," Galatians 5:15; comp. Matthew 20:26-28; John 13:15, 16). This view is in harmony with the humble spirit of the gospel. Pride leads us to demand rigorously from others what we fancy they owe to us; humility, to give to others what Christ teaches that we owe to them. The one feeling is to be discouraged, the other exercised and strengthened. In the verses following we have this precept split up into its constituent filaments. The reading of R.V., "in the fear of Christ," has more authority than A.V., "in the fear of God." It brings to our mind the wonderful example of Christ in this clement of character (comp. Luke 2:51; Hebrews 5:8). Reverential regard for him should inspire us with the same spirit (Philippians 2:5-8).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Submit
Ὑποτασσόμενοι (Hypotassomenoi)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 5293: From hupo and tasso; to subordinate; reflexively, to obey.

to one another
ἀλλήλοις (allēlois)
Personal / Reciprocal Pronoun - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 240: One another, each other. Genitive plural from allos reduplicated; one another.

out of
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

reverence
φόβῳ (phobō)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5401: (a) fear, terror, alarm, (b) the object or cause of fear, (c) reverence, respect. From a primary phebomai; alarm or fright.

for Christ.
Χριστοῦ (Christou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 5547: Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ. From chrio; Anointed One, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus.


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NT Letters: Ephesians 5:21 Subjecting yourselves one to another (Ephes. Eph. Ep)
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