Colossians 3:24

Colossians 3:24 in Multiple Translations

Berean Standard Bible BSB

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

King James Version KJV

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

American Standard Version ASV

knowing that from the Lord ye shall receive the recompense of the inheritance: ye serve the Lord Christ.

Bible in Basic English BBE

Being certain that the Lord will give you the reward of the heritage: for you are the servants of the Lord Christ.

Free Bible Version FBV

because you know that the Lord will give you your reward—an inheritance! You're serving Christ the Lord!

Geneva Bible 1599 GNV

Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receiue the reward of the inheritance: for ye serue the Lord Christ.

Young's Literal Translation YLT

having known that from the Lord ye shall receive the recompense of the inheritance — for the Lord Christ ye serve;

World English Bible WEB

knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

Noah Webster Bible WBS

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

Douay-Rheims 1899 DRV

Knowing that you shall receive of the Lord the reward of inheritance. Serve ye the Lord Christ.

Translation for Translators T4T

because you know that it is the Lord who will properly/justly repay you. That is, you will receive what God has promised. Remember that it is Christ who is the real master whom you are serving.

Plain English Version PEV

Yes, you are working for our leader, Jesus Christ, and remember that later on he will pay you properly, just like he promised us.

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Berean Amplified Bible — Colossians 3:24

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Word Study

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Colossians 3:24 Interlinear (Deep Study)

BIB

GRK ειδοτες οτι απο κυριου ληψεσθε την ανταποδοσιν της κληρονομιας τω γαρ κυριω χριστω δουλευετε

ειδοτες eidō G1492 to perceive: see Verb-RAP-NPM

οτι hoti G3754 that/since: that Conj

απο apo G575 away from Prep

κυριου kurios G2962 lord: God Noun-GSM

ληψεσθε lambanō G2983 to take Verb-FDI-2P

την ho G3588 the/this/who Art-ASF

ανταποδοσιν antapodosis G469 reward Noun-ASF

της ho G3588 the/this/who Art-GSF

κληρονομιας klēronomia G2817 inheritance Noun-GSF

τω ho G3588 the/this/who Art-DSM

γαρ gar G1063 for Conj

κυριω kurios G2962 lord: God Noun-DSM

χριστω Christos G5547 Christ Noun-DSM

δουλευετε douleuō G1398 be a slave Verb-PAI-2P

Greek Word Study

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Greek Word Reference — Colossians 3:24

ειδοτες eidō G1492 "to perceive: see" Verb-RAP-NPM

This verb means to see or perceive, used in the Bible to describe spiritual awareness or insight. In Matthew 25:13 and John 10:4, it refers to recognizing God's presence or will. The verb is often used to encourage believers to seek spiritual understanding and discernment.

Definition: οἶδα, (from same root as εἶδον, which see), [in LXX chiefly for ידע ;] pf. with present meaning (plpf. as impf.; on irregular tense-forms, see App.), to have seen or perceived, hence, to know, have knowledge of: with accusative of thing(s), Mat.25:13, Mrk.10:19, Jhn.10:4, Rom.7:7, al.; with accusative of person(s), Mat.26:72, Jhn.1:31, Act.3:16, al.; τ. θεόν, 1Th.4:5, Tit.1:16, al.; with accusative and inf., Luk.4:41, al.; before ὅτι, Mat.9:6, Luk.20:21, Jhn.3:2, Rom.2:2 11:2, al.; before quaest. indir., Mat.26:70, Jhn.9:21, Eph.1:18, al.; with inf., to know how (cl.), Mat.7:11, Luk.11:13, Php.4:12, 1Th.4:4, al.; in unique sense of respect, appreciate: 1Th.5:12 (but see also ICC on 1Th.4:4). SYN.: see: γινώσκω. (AS)

Usage: Occurs in 295 NT verses. KJV: be aware, behold, X can (+ not tell), consider, (have) know(-ledge), look (on), perceive, see, be sure, tell, understand, wish, wot See also: 1 Corinthians 1:16; Acts 26:27; 1 Peter 1:8.

οτι hoti G3754 "that/since: that" Conj

This Greek word means 'that' or 'because', used to introduce a reason or explanation. It appears in the New Testament, such as in Matthew 3:9 and Romans 8:38. It helps to show cause and effect in sentences.

Definition: ὅτι, conjc. (prop. neut. of ὅστις). __I. As conjc, introducing an objective clause, that; __1. after verbs of seeing, knowing, thinking, saying, feeling: Mat.3:9 6:32 11:25, Mrk.3:28, Luk.2:49, Jhn.2:22, Act.4:13, Rom.1:13 8:38 10:9, Php.4:15, Jas.2:24, al.; elliptically, Jhn.6:46, Php.3:12, al. __2. After εἶναι (γίνεσθαι): defining a demonstr. or of person(s) pron., Jhn.3:19 16:19, Rom.9:6, 1Jn.3:16 al.; with pron. interrog., Mat.8:27, Mrk.4:41, Luk.4:36, Jhn.4:22 al.; id. elliptically, Luk.2:49, Act.5:4, 9, al.; __3. Untranslatable, before direct discourse (ὅτι recitantis): Mat.7:23, Mrk.2:16, Luk.1:61, Jhn.1:20, Act.15:1, Heb.11:18, al. (on the pleonastic ὡς ὅτι, see: ὡς). __II. As causal particle, for that, because: Mat.5:4-12, Luk.6:20, 21, J0 1:30 5:27, Act.1:5, 1Jn.4:18, Rev.3:10, al. mult.; διὰ τοῦτο ὅτι, Jhn.8:47 10:17, al.; answering a question (διὰ τί), Rom.9:32, al.; οὐκ ὅτι . . . ἀλλ᾽ ὅτι, Jhn.6:26 12:6. (AS)

Usage: Occurs in 1185 NT verses. KJV: as concerning that, as though, because (that), for (that), how (that), (in) that, though, why See also: 1 Corinthians 1:5; 1 John 5:2; 1 Peter 1:12.

απο apo G575 "away from" Prep

This word means moving away from something, like a place or a time. It's used in many parts of the Bible, like Matthew 5:29 and Luke 5:2, to show movement or separation. It can also mean because of something.

Definition: ἀπό (on the frequently neglect of elision bef. vowels, see Tdf., Pr., 94, WH, App., 146), prep. with genitive (WM, 462ff.; on its relation to ἐκ, παρά, ὑπό, ib. 456f.), [in LXX for לְ ,בְּ ,מִן ;] from (i.e. from the exterior). __1. Of separation and cessation; __(1) of motion from a place: Mat.5:29, 30 7:23, Luk.5:2 22:41, al.; __(2) in partitive sense (M, Pr., 72, 102, 245; MM, see word; Bl., §40, 2), Mat.9:16 27:21, Jhn.21:10, Act.5:2, al.; also after verbs of eating, etc.; __(3) of alienation (cl. genitive of separation), after such verbs as λούω (Deiss., BS, 227), λύω, σώζω, παύω, etc.; ἀνάθεμα ἀ., Rom.9:3; ἀποθνήσκειν ἀ., Col.2:20; σαλευθῆναι, 2Th.2:2, καθαρός, -ίζειν, ἀ. (Deiss., BS, 196, 216), Act.20:26, 2Co.7:1, Heb.9:14; __(4) of position, Mat.23:34 24:31, al.; after μακράν, Mat.8:30; transposed before measures of distance, Jhn.10:18 21:8, Rev.14:20 (Abbott, JG, 227); __(5) of time, ἀπὸ τ. ὥρας, ἡμέρας, etc., Mat.9:22, Jhn.19:27, Act.20:18, Php.1:5, al.; ἀπ᾽ αἰῶνος, Luk.1:70, al.; ἀπ᾽ ἀρχῆς, etc., Mat.19:4, Rom.1:20; ἀπὸ βρέφους, 2Ti.3:15; ἀφ᾽ ἧς, since, Luk.7:45, al.; ἀπὸ τ. νῦν, Luk.1:48, al.; ἀπὸ τότε, Mat.4:17, al.; ἀπὸ πέρυσι, a year ago, 2Co.8:10 9:2; ἀπὸ πρωΐ, Act.28:23; __(6) of order or rank, ἀπὸ διετοῦς, Mat.2:16; ἀπὸ Ἀβραάμ, Mat.1:17; ἐβδομος ἀπὸ Ἀδάμ, Ju 14; ἀπὸ μικροῦ ἕως μεγάλου, Act.8:10, Heb.8:11; ἄρχεσθαι ἀπό, Mat.20:8, Jhn.8:9, Act.8:35, al. __2. Of origin; __(1) of birth, extraction, and hence, in late writers, __(a) of local extraction (cl. ἐξ; Abbott, JG, 227ff.), Mat.21:11, Mrk.15:43, Jhn.1:45, Act.10:38, al.; οἱ ἀπὸ Ἰταλίας (WM, §66, 6; M, Pr., 237; Westc, Rendall, in l.), Heb.13:24; __(b) of membership in a community or society (BL, §40, 2), Act.12:1, al.; __(with) of material (= cl. genitive; Bl. l.with; M, Pr., 102), Mat.3:4 27:21; __(d) after verbs of asking, seeking, etc., Luk.11:50, 51 1Th.2:6 (Milligan, in l.); __(2) of the cause, instrument, means or occasion (frequently = ὑπό, παρά, and after verbs of learning, hearing, knowing, etc.; Bl., §40, 3), Mat.7:16 11:29, Luk.22:45, Act.2:22 4:36 9:13 12:14, 1Co.11:23, Gal.3:2, al.; ἀπὸ τ. ὄχλου, Luk.19:3 (cf. Jhn.21:6, Act.22:11); ἀπὸ τ. φόβου, Mat.14:26, al. (cf. Mat.10:26 13:44). __3. Noteworthy Hellenistic phrases: φοβεῖσθαι ἀπό (M, Pr., 102, 107); προσέχειν ἀπό (M, Pr., 11. with; Milligan, NTD, 50); ἀπὸ νότου (Heb. מִגֶּנֶב), Rev.21:13; ἀπὸ προσώπου (מִפְּנֵי), 2Th.1:9 (Bl., §40, 9); ἀπὸ τ. καρδιῶν (בְּלֵב), Mat.18:35; ἀπὸ ὁ ὤν (WM, §10, 2; M, Pr., 9), Rev.1:4. __4. In composition, ἀπό denotes separation, departure, origin, etc. (ἀπολύω, ἀπέρχομαι, ἀπογράφω); it also has a perfective force (M, Pr., 112, 247), as in ἀφικνεῖσθαι, which see (AS)

Usage: Occurs in 600 NT verses. KJV: (X here-)after, ago, at, because of, before, by (the space of), for(-th), from, in, (out) of, off, (up-)on(-ce), since, with See also: 1 Corinthians 1:3; Acts 8:10; 1 Peter 1:12.

κυριου kurios G2962 "lord: God" Noun-GSM

The Greek word for lord or master, used to address God or a person in authority, showing respect and power. In the New Testament, it appears in Matthew 9:38 and Mark 12:9. It signifies a controller or ruler.

Definition: κύριος, -α, -ον (also -ος, -ον), [in LXX (subst.) chiefly for יהוה, also for בַּעַל ,אָדוֹן, etc. ;] having power (κῦρος) or authority; as subst., ὁ κ., lord, master; __1. in general: with genitive of thing(s), Mat.9:38 20:8, Mrk.12:9 13:35, Luk.19:33; τ. σαββάτου, Mat.12:8, Mrk.2:28, Luk.6:5; with genitive of person(s), δούλου, etc., Mat.10:24, Luk.14:21, Act.16:16, al.; absol, opposite to οἱ δοῦλοι, Eph.6:5, 9 al.; of the Emperor (Deiss., LAE, 161), Act.25:26; θεοὶ πολλοὶ καὶ κ. πολλοί, 1Co.8:5; of a husband, 1Pe.3:6; in voc, as a title of respect to masters, teachers, magistrates, etc., Mat.13:27 16:22 27:63, Mrk.7:28, Luk.5:12, Jhn.4:11, Act.9:5, al. __2. As a divine title (frequently in π.; Deiss., LAE, 353 ff.); in NT, __(a) of God: ὁ κ., Mat.5:33, Mrk.5:19, Luk.1:6, Act.7:33, Heb.8:2, Jas.4:15, al.; anarth. (Bl., §46, 6), Mat.21:9, Mrk.13:20, Luk.1:17, Heb.7:21, 1Pe.1:25, al.; κ. τ. οὐρανοῦ καὶ τ. γῆς, Mat.11:25; τ. κυριευόντων, 1Ti.6:15; κ. ὁ θεός, Mat.4:7, 10 al.; id. before παντοκράτωρ, Rev.4:8; κ. σαβαώθ, Rom.9:29; (ὁ) ἄγγελος κυρίου, Mat.1:20 2:13, Luk.1:11, al.; πνεῦμα κυρίου, Luk.4:18, Act.8:39; __(b) of the Christ: Mat.21:3, Mrk.11:3, Luk.1:43 20:44, al.; of Jesus after his resurrection (Dalman, Words, 330), Act.10:36, Rom.14:8, 1Co.7:22, Eph.4:5, al.; ὁ κ. μου, Jhn.20:28; ὁ κ. Ἰησοῦς, Act.1:21, 1Co.11:23, al.; id. before Χριστός, Eph.1:2, al.; ὁ κ. ἡμῶν, 1Ti.1:14, Heb.7:14, al.; id. before Ἰησοῦς, 1Th.3:11, Heb.13:20, al.; Χριστός, Rom.16:18; Ἰ Χ., 1Co.1:2, 1Th.1:3, al.; Ἰ. Χ. (Χ. Ἰ) ὁ κ. (ἡμῶν), Rom.1:4, Col.2:6, Eph.3:11, al.; ὁ κ. καὶ ὁ σωτὴρ, 2Pe.3:2; id. before Ἰ. Χ., ib. 18; anarth., 1Co.7:22, 25 Jas.5:4, al.; κ. κυρίων, Rev.19:16; with prep., ἀπὸ (κατὰ, πρὸς, σὺν, etc.) κ., Col.3:24, al. SYN: see: δεσπότης. (AS)

Usage: Occurs in 686 NT verses. KJV: God, Lord, master, Sir See also: 1 Corinthians 1:2; 2 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Peter 1:3.

ληψεσθε lambanō G2983 "to take" Verb-FDI-2P

To take or receive something, like in Matthew 26:26, where Jesus takes bread and breaks it. It can also mean to accept or obtain something, and is often translated as receive or accept in the KJV.

Definition: λαμβάνω, [in LXX chiefly for לקח, also for אחז ,לכד ,נשׂא, etc. ;] __1. to take, lay hold of: absol., Mat.26:26, Mrk.14:22; with accusative of thing(s), Mat.5:40 26:52, al. mult.; with accusative of person(s), Mat.21:35, Mrk.12:3, al.; pleonastic λαβών (M, Pr., 230; Bl., §74, 2), Mat.13:31 14:19, al.; so also indic., Mrk.7:27, Jhn.19:1, 40 Rev.8:5, al.; metaphorically, with accusative of thing(s), ἀφορμήν, Rom.7:8, 11; ὑδόδειγμα, Jas.5:10; id. with accusative of person(s), φόβος, Luk.7:16; πνεῦμα, Luk.9:39; πειρασμός, 1Co.10:13; aoristic pf. (M, Pr., 145, 238; BL, §59, 4), Rev.5:7 8:5, al. __2. to receive: absol., opposite to αἰτεῖν, Mat.7:8, al.; διδόναι, Mat.10:8, Act.20:35; with accusative of thing(s), Mat.27:6, Mrk.10:3o, al. mult.; with accusative of person(s), Jhn.6:21 13:20 19:27, 2Jo.10; ῥαπίσμασιν (a vulgarism; Bl., §38, 3), Mrk.14:65; metaphorically, τ. λόγον, Mat.13:20, Mrk.4:16; τ. μαρτυρίαν, Jhn.3:11; τ. ῥήματα, Jhn.12:48; πρόσωπον (Heb. נָשָׂא פָּנִים, Dalman, Words, 30), Luk.20:21, Gal.2:6; ζωὴν αἰώνιον (Dalman, op. cit., 124f.), Mrk.10:30 (cf. ἀνα-, ἀντι-, συν-αντι- (-μαι), ἀπο-, ἐπι-, κατα-, μετα-, παρα-, συν-παρα-, προ-, προσ-, συν-, συν-περι-, ὑπο-λαμβάνω). (AS)

Usage: Occurs in 248 NT verses. KJV: accept, + be amazed, assay, attain, bring, X when I call, catch, come on (X unto), + forget, have, hold, obtain, receive (X after), take (away, up) See also: 1 Corinthians 2:12; John 10:18; 1 Peter 4:10.

την ho G3588 "the/this/who" Art-ASF

The Greek word for 'the' or 'this', used to point out a specific person or thing, like in Acts 17:28. It can also mean 'he', 'she', or 'it'.

Definition: ὁ, ἡ, τό, the prepositive article (ἄρθρον προτακτικόν), originally a demonstr. pron. (so usually in Hom.), in general corresponding to the Eng. definite article. __I. As demonstr. pron. __1. As frequently in Hom., absol., he (she, it), his (etc.): Act.17:28 (quoted from the poet Aratus). __2. Distributive, ὁ μὲν . . . ὁ δέ, the one . . . the other: 1Co.7:7, Gal.4:22; pl., Act.14:4, 17:32, Php.1:16, al.; οἱ μὲν . . . ἄλλοι δέ, Mat.16:14, Jhn.7:12; οἱ μεν̀ . . . ὁδέ, Heb.7:21, 23. __3. In narration (without ὁ μὲν preceding), ὁ δέ, but he: Mat.2:14, Mrk.1:45, Luk.8:21, Jhn.9:38, al. mult. __II. As prepositive article, the, prefixed, __1. to nouns unmodified: ὁ θεός, τὸ φῶς, etc.; to abstract nouns, ἡ σοφία, etc., to pl. nouns which indicate a class, οἱ ἀλώπεκες, foxes, Mat.8:20, al.; to an individual as representing a class, ὁ ἐργάτης, Luk.10:7; with nom. = voc. in addresses, Mat.11:26, Jhn.19:3, Jas.5:1, al.; to things which pertain to one, ἡ χεῖρ, his hand, Mrk.3:1; to names of persons well known or already mentioned; usually to names of countries (originally adjectives), ἡ Ἰουδαία, etc. __2. To modified nouns: with of person(s) pron. genitive, μοῦ, σοῦ, etc.; with poss. pron., ἐμός, σός, etc.; with adj. between the art. and the noun, ὁ ἀγαθὸς ἄνθρωπος, Mat.12:35; the noun foll, by adj., both with art., ὁ ποιμὴν ὁ καλός, Jhn.10:11 (on ὁ ὄχλος πολύς, Jhn.12:9, see M, Pr., 84); before adjectival phrases, ἡ κατ᾽ ἐκλογὴν πρόθεσις, Rom.9:11. __3. To Other parts of speech used as substantives; __(a) neuter adjectives: τ. ἀγαθόν, etc.; __(b) cardinal numerals: ὁ εἶς, οἷ δύο, etc.; __(with) participles: ὁ βαπτίζων (= ὁ Βαπτιστής, Mat.14:2), Mrk.6:14; πᾶς ὁ, with ptcp., every one who, etc.; __(d) adverbs: τὸ πέραν, τὰ νῦν, ὁ ἔσω ἄνθρωπος; __(e) infinitives: nom., τὸ θέλειν, Rom.7:18, al.; genitive, τοῦ, after adjectives, ἄξιον τοῦ πορεύεσθαι, 1Co.16:4; verbs, ἐλαχεν τοῦ θυμιᾶσαι, Luk.1:9; and frequently in a final sense, ἐξῆλθεν ὁ σπείρειν, Mat.13:3 (on the artic. inf., see Bl., §71). __4. In the neut. to sentences, phrases or single words treated as a quotation: τὸ Ἐι δύνῃ, Mrk.9:23; τὸ ἔτι ἅπαξ, Heb.12:27; τὸ ἀνέβη, Eph.4:9, al. __5. To prepositional phrases: οἱ ἀπὸ Ἰταλίας, Heb.13:24; οἱ ἐκ νόμου, Rom.4:14; neut. accusative absol., in adverbial phrases, τὸ καθ᾽ ἡμέραν, daily, Luk.11:3; τὸ κατὰ σάρκα, as regards the flesh, Rom.9:5. __6. To nouns in the genitive, denoting kinship, association, etc.: ὁ τοῦ, the son of (unless context indicates a different relationship), Mat.10:2, al.; τὰ τοῦ θεοῦ, the things that pertain to God, Mat.16:23; τὰ τῆς εἰρήνης, Rom.14:19 (cf. M, Pr., 81ff.; Bl, §§46, 47). (AS)

Usage: Occurs in 7033 NT verses. KJV: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc See also: 1 Corinthians 1:1; 1 Corinthians 7:16; 1 Corinthians 11:24.

ανταποδοσιν antapodosis G469 "reward" Noun-ASF

A reward is the act of giving something in return for service or work. In Colossians 3:24, Paul mentions that believers will receive a reward from God.

Definition: ἀντ-από-δοσις, -εως, ἡ (see supr.), [in LXX chiefly for גְּמוּל, שִׁלּוּם ;] recompense: Col.3:24 (MM, VGT, see word).† (AS)

Usage: Occurs in 1 NT verses. KJV: reward See also: Colossians 3:24.

της ho G3588 "the/this/who" Art-GSF

The Greek word for 'the' or 'this', used to point out a specific person or thing, like in Acts 17:28. It can also mean 'he', 'she', or 'it'.

Usage: Occurs in 7033 NT verses. KJV: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc See also: 1 Corinthians 1:1; 1 Corinthians 7:16; 1 Corinthians 11:24.

κληρονομιας klēronomia G2817 "inheritance" Noun-GSF

Inheritance refers to a property or possession that is passed down to someone, like in Matthew 21:38 where it talks about a vineyard inheritance. It can also refer to the blessings of the Messianic Kingdom.

Definition: κληρονομία, -ας, ἡ (κληρονόμος) [in LXX chiefly for נַחֲלָה, also for יְרֻשָּׁה, etc. ;] prop., an inherited property, an inheritance: Mat.21:38, Mrk.12:7, Luk.12:13 20:14; in general, a possession, inheritance: Act.7:5, Heb.11:8; of the Messianic Kingdom and its blessings, Act.20:32, Gal.3:18, Col.3:24, Eph.1:14, 18 5:5, Heb.9:15, 1Pe.1:4.† (AS)

Usage: Occurs in 14 NT verses. KJV: inheritance See also: 1 Peter 1:4; Galatians 3:18; Hebrews 9:15.

τω ho G3588 "the/this/who" Art-DSM

The Greek word for 'the' or 'this', used to point out a specific person or thing, like in Acts 17:28. It can also mean 'he', 'she', or 'it'.

Usage: Occurs in 7033 NT verses. KJV: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc See also: 1 Corinthians 1:1; 1 Corinthians 7:16; 1 Corinthians 11:24.

γαρ gar G1063 "for" Conj

For is a word used to explain or give a reason, often introducing a justification or clarification, as seen in Matthew 4:18 and Romans 7:1. It's a conjunction that connects ideas and provides additional information.

Definition: γάρ, co-ordinating particle, contr. of γε ἄρα, verily then, hence, in truth, indeed, yea, then, why, and when giving a reason or explanation, for, the usage in NT being in general accord with that of cl.; __1. explicative and epexegetic: Mat.4:18 19:12, Mrk.1:16 5:42 16:4, Luk.11:3o, Rom.7:1, 1Co.16:5, al. __2. Conclusive, in questions, answers and exclamations: Mat.9:5 27:23, Luk.9:25 22:27, Jhn.9:30, Act.8:31 16:37 19:35, Rom.15:26, 1Co.9:10, Php.1:18 (Ellic., in l.), 1Th.2:20, al. __3. Causal: Mat.1:21 2:2, 5, 6, 3:23, Mrk.1:22, 9:6, Luk.1:15, 18, Jhn.2:25, Act.2:25, Rom.1:9, 11, 1Co.11:5, Rev.1:3, al.; giving the reason for a command or prohibition, Mat.2:20 3:9, Rom.13:11, Col.3:3, 1Th.4:3, al.; where the cause is contained in an interrog. statement, Luk.22:27, Rom.3:3 4:3, 1Co.10:29; καὶ γάρ, for also, Mrk.10:45, Luk.6:32, 1Co.5:7, al. id. as in cl. = etenim, where the καί loses its connective force (Bl., §78, 6; Kühner 3, ii, 854f.), Mrk.14:70, Luk.1:66 22:37, 2Co.13:4. The proper place of γάρ is after the first word in a clause, but in poets it often comes third or fourth, and so in late prose: 2Co.1:19. Yet "not the number but the nature of the word after which it stands is the point to be noticed" (see Thayer, see word). (AS)

Usage: Occurs in 1011 NT verses. KJV: and, as, because (that), but, even, for, indeed, no doubt, seeing, then, therefore, verily, what, why, yet See also: 1 Corinthians 1:11; 1 John 2:19; 1 Peter 2:19.

κυριω kurios G2962 "lord: God" Noun-DSM

Usage: Occurs in 686 NT verses. KJV: God, Lord, master, Sir See also: 1 Corinthians 1:2; 2 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Peter 1:3.

χριστω Christos G5547 "Christ" Noun-DSM

Christ means anointed, referring to Jesus as the Messiah, as seen in Luke 2:11 and John 1:41.

Definition: χριστός (Χρ-), -ή, -όν (χρίω), [in LXX for מָשִׁיחַ and cogn. forms ;] __1. 1. as adj., __(a) of things, anointing, to be used as ointment (Æsch., Eur., al.; τ. ἔλαιον τὸ χ., Lev.21:10); __(b) of persons, anointed (ὁ ἰερεὺς ὁ χ., Lev.4:5; οἱ χ. ἰευρεῖς, 2Ma.1:10): ὁ χ. τοῦ κυρίου or Θεοῦ (1Ki.2:10, Psa.2:2, al.), of the Messiah (Aram., מְשִׁיחָא; cf. Dalman, Words, 289 ff.), Luk.2:11, 26 Jhn.1:41, Act.2:36 4:26, al. __2. As subst., ὁ Χριστός, the Messiah, the Christ: Mat.2:4, Mrk.8:29, Luk.2:11, Jhn.1:20, Act.2:31, Rom.7:4, al.; Ἰησοῦς, Mrk.1:1, Jhn.1:17, Act.2:38, al.; Χ. Ἰησοῦς, Mat.1:18, WH, mg. Act.5:42, Rom.6:3, al.; Χ. κύριος, Luk.2:11; Ἰησοῦς Χ. ὁ κύριος, Act.15:26, Rom.1:7, al. (AS)

Usage: Occurs in 525 NT verses. KJV: Christ See also: 1 Corinthians 1:1; 1 Timothy 1:1; 1 Peter 1:1.

δουλευετε douleuō G1398 "be a slave" Verb-PAI-2P

To be a slave means to serve or be subject to someone or something, as seen in Matthew 6:24 and Romans 7:6. It can be voluntary or involuntary, like serving God or being a slave to sin.

Definition: δουλεύω (δοῦλος), [in LXX for עָבַד, as Gen.14:4, exc. Da TH Dan.7:14, 27 (פְּלַח), Isa.56:6 (שָׁרַת pi.)* ;] to be a slave, be subject to, serve: absol., Rom.7:6, Gal.4:25, 1Ti.6:2; with dative of person(s), Mat.6:24, Luk.15:29 16:13, Rom.9:12" (LXX) ; of nations, Jhn.8:33, Act.7:7" (LXX) ; θεῷ, τ. κυρίῳ, Mat.6:24, Luk.16:13, Act.20:19, Rom.12:11 (R, mg., καιρῷ) Rom.16:18, Eph.6:7, Col.3:24, 1Th.1:9; τ. Χριστῷ, Rom.14:18, Col.3:24; νόμῳ θεοῦ, Rom.7:25; τ. θεοῖς, Gal.4:8; τ. καιρῷ, Rom.12:11 (R, mg. for κυρίῳ); ἀλλήλοις, Gal.5:13; σὺν ἐμοί Php.2:22; τ. ἁμαρτίᾳ, Rom.6:6; νόμῳ ἁμαρτίας, Rom.7:25; ἐπιθυμίαις κ. ἡδοναις, Tit.3:3; τ. κοιλία, Rom.16:18; μαμωνᾷ, Mat.6:24, Luk.16:13; τ. στοιχείοις τ, κόσμου, Gal.4:9 (Cremer, 217).† (AS)

Usage: Occurs in 23 NT verses. KJV: be in bondage, (do) serve(-ice) See also: 1 Thessalonians 1:9; Luke 15:29; Romans 6:6.

Study Notes — Colossians 3:24

Show Verse Quote Highlights

Context
Cross References
Colossians 3:24 Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
Reflection Questions
Gill's Exposition on Colossians 3:24
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Colossians 3:24
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Colossians 3:24
Trapp's Commentary on Colossians 3:24
Ellicott's Commentary on Colossians 3:24
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Colossians 3:24
Cambridge Bible on Colossians 3:24
Sermons on Colossians 3:24

Context — Serving with Honor

22Slaves, 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. 23Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, as for the Lord and not for men,

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

25Whoever does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.

Cross References

	Reference	Text (BSB)
1	Ephesians 6:8	because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
2	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.
3	Acts 20:32	And now I commit you to God and to the word of His grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified.
4	Luke 14:14	and you will be blessed. Since they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
5	1 Corinthians 7:22	For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord’s freedman. Conversely, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ’s slave.
6	Hebrews 10:35	So do not throw away your confidence; it holds a great reward.
7	Hebrews 11:6	And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
8	Ephesians 6:6	And do this not only to please them while they are watching, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.
9	Proverbs 11:18	The wicked man earns an empty wage, but he who sows righteousness reaps a true reward.
10	Matthew 5:46	If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even tax collectors do the same?

Colossians 3:24 Summary

This verse reminds us that when we work with the right attitude and motivation, we are serving the Lord Christ, and we will receive a reward from Him. This means that all our work, whether at home, at school, or at our job, can be done as a way of honoring and serving God, as seen in Romans 11:36. We can be motivated to work hard and do our best because we know that God sees and rewards our efforts, as mentioned in Hebrews 6:10. By keeping our eyes on the Lord and our future inheritance, we can find joy and purpose in our work, just like it is written in Ecclesiastes 3:12-13.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it mean to receive an inheritance from the Lord?

According to Colossians 3:24, receiving an inheritance from the Lord means that believers will be rewarded for their faithful service, as seen in Ephesians 1:14, where it is written that the Holy Spirit is the guarantee of our inheritance.

How can we be sure that we are serving the Lord Christ?

As stated in Colossians 3:24, we serve the Lord Christ when we obey Him and do our work with sincerity of heart and fear of the Lord, as mentioned in Colossians 3:22-23, and we are reminded in 1 Corinthians 10:31 to do everything for the glory of God.

What is the relationship between our work and our reward?

According to Colossians 3:24, our work, when done with the right attitude and motivation, is directly related to our reward, as it is written in 1 Corinthians 3:8 that each person will receive their own reward for their own labor.

Does this verse imply that we only serve the Lord when we are doing 'spiritual' work?

No, as seen in Colossians 3:23-24, all work, whether 'spiritual' or 'secular', can be done as service to the Lord, as long as it is done with the right heart and attitude, as mentioned in Genesis 2:15, where Adam was given work to do in the Garden of Eden, and in Romans 11:36, where all things are from God and for God.

Reflection Questions

What motivates me to do my work with sincerity of heart and fear of the Lord?
How can I apply the principle of serving the Lord Christ in my daily work and activities?
What are some ways that I can ensure that I am working for the Lord and not just for men?
How does the promise of an inheritance from the Lord affect my attitude towards my work and service?

Gill's Exposition on Colossians 3:24

Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance,.... This is said for the encouragement of Christian servants, who, though they may receive little or nothing from their

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Colossians 3:24

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

Matthew Poole's Commentary on Colossians 3:24

Knowing, being fully persuaded of this undoubted truth, that of the Lord, who superintends all your services, (not for any merit of yours), , the recompence which your Master in heaven hath purchased, ,18, shall be freely settled upon you whom he hath adopted into his family, ; for in those duties you Christianly perform to masters of the same mould with yourselves, he really looks upon you as his own servants, yea, and free-men, ; so that, as Onesimus, , ye may more cheerfully submit to your masters’ yoke, according to the command and for the sake of Christ, who reckons what you do upon that account as done to himself, , and will instate you in that eternal inheritance, to which neither you nor any mortal man had naturally any right at all.

Trapp's Commentary on Colossians 3:24

24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. Ver. 24. The reward of inheritance] And so be made of servants sons, whose it is to inherit. For ye serve the Lord Christ] While godliness runneth through your whole lives as the woof doth through the web, and you seek to approve yourselves to Christ in all your actions and employments.

Ellicott's Commentary on Colossians 3:24

(22-25) Compare throughout Ephesians 6:5-9. The only peculiarity of this passage is the strong emphasis laid on “the reward of the inheritance.” “The reward” is in the original, a perfect recompense or requital. The “inheritance” is exactly that which no slave could receive; only a son could be an heir (Galatians 4:7). Hence the slave on earth is recognised as a son in heaven. He “serves the Lord,” but his service is the perfect freedom of sonship.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on Colossians 3:24

Verse 24. The reward of the inheritance] Here, ye have neither lands nor property; ye are servants or slaves; be not discouraged, ye have an inheritance in store; be faithful unto God and to your employers, and Christ will give you a heavenly inheritance.

Cambridge Bible on Colossians 3:24

24. knowing] as a certainty of the Gospel. So Ephesians 6:8. For the Christian’s prospect of “reward” cp. Matthew 5:12; Matthew 6:1; Matthew 6:4; Matthew 16:27; Luke 6:35; Luke 14:14; Romans 2:6-10; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Hebrews 10:35; Revelation 22:12; &c. The obedience of love is infallibly remembered by Him to whom it is rendered. “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21; Matthew 25:23), is His certain ultimate response to every true act of the will given up to Him. This, as presented in Scripture, is entirely harmonious with the sure doctrine of our justification for Christ’s Merit only, embraced by faith only (Art. xi). It is the recognition of love by love, of grace by the Giver.receive] The Greek may be rendered, receive as your due. The reward, from one point of view mere grace and gift, is from another, because God has promised it, a debt.the reward] The Greek implies an exact requital. See Lightfoot’s note. Even “the cup of cold water” (Matthew 10:42) has its remembrance and loving recompense.of the inheritance] That is, the reward consists in the inheritance; is involved in the bright prospect of it.—For a somewhat similar phrase cp. Colossians 1:12 (and notes). But the reference here is, surely, to the eternal future. So 1 Peter 1:4, and Ephesians 1:14. That future is but the issue of the present, in which “Christ is in us, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). But the issue is so “far better” (Philippians 1:21) than its prelude and embryo that it is relatively a new thing in prospect.—Lightfoot remarks that, by a beautiful paradox, the slave is here also an heir, which by human law he could not be. He is God’s heir (Galatians 4:7) by Divine law. Elsewhere, in other connexions, “slave” and “heir” are contrasted: e.g. Galatians 4:1.for] Probably the word is to be omitted. It is a good note to the sentence, so to speak, pointing the meaning: “ye shall receive your reward from the Master; for Christ is the Master, and He never fails in requital.”ye serve the Lord Christ] We may render, Christ is the Master whose bondmen ye are. Cp. Ephesians 6:6.—The Greek may be rendered, “serve, &c.,” imperatively. But the context favours the indicative.

Sermons on Colossians 3:24

	Sermon	Description
	Ravenhill Humor - Our Inheritance by Leonard Ravenhill	Leonard Ravenhill emphasizes the incredible nature of our spiritual inheritance, which is incorruptible and undefiled, contrasting it with the fleeting and corruptible things of th
	Verses to Cope With Crises by William MacDonald	In this sermon, the speaker discusses the story of Jesus calming the storm in Mark chapter 4, verses 35 to 41. He emphasizes the idea that even when we feel like the boat is about
	Gwh-Ladies Missionary Seminar-1985 Verses to Cope With Crises by William MacDonald	In this sermon, the speaker reflects on the story of Jesus calming the storm in Mark chapter 4, verses 35 to 41. He emphasizes that it is common for believers to feel like their bo
	Colossians Chapter 2 the Christian in Colossians by A.B. Simpson	A.B. Simpson emphasizes the foundational Christian graces of faith, hope, and love as essential to the character of the Colossian believers. He illustrates their transformation fro
	The Christian in Colossians by A.B. Simpson	A.B. Simpson emphasizes the foundational Christian graces of faith, hope, and love as essential to the character of the Colossian believers. He illustrates their transformation fro
	Commentary Notes - Joshua by Walter Beuttler	Walter Beuttler preaches on the book of Joshua, highlighting the historical account of Israel's conquest of Canaan, where God led them into victory. The key phrase 'the Lord fought
	A Peculiar People by J.C. Philpot	In this sermon on Inheritance, the preacher delves into the concept of kleronomia, which refers to the portion or heritage one receives by lot or special gift. While it can pertain