What Does Colossians 3:20 Mean in the King James?

Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.

Colossians 3:20 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

The Greek word for “obey” is built on “hear”: here, listening already leans toward response.

THE MEANING

This verse speaks to a child now as a relationship where hearing their parents takes the shape of response, across the whole scope named by “in all things.” That response is called well pleasing to the Lord.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

It undoes the idea that obedience is separate from listening: the verse’s word for obey carries hearing within it.

THE ROOT

ὑπακούω

hypakouō

GROWS FROM

⁨ἀκούω⁩ (akouō), joined with ⁨ὑπό⁩ (hypo)

⁨ἀκούω⁩ (akouō) means “hear” or “listen”; joined with ⁨ὑπό⁩ (hypo), “under,” it forms the sense “hear under” or “heed.”

English “obey” can sound like bare compliance, while the Greek keeps hearing inside the act: ⁨ὑπακούω⁩ (hypakouō) joins ⁨ὑπό⁩ (hypo, “under”) to ⁨ἀκούω⁩ (akouō, “hear”). The verse frames response as attentive hearing carried into action.

ALSO GROWS

hypakoē: obedience, heeding

ὑπακοή

This related noun preserves the same link between hearing and a response that follows.

akoē: hearing, report

ἀκοή

This branch names hearing itself, showing that the word for obey still holds the ear within it.

THE PATTERN

Scripture treats hearing as a response that takes form in what is kept and done.

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:

Deuteronomy 6:4 · KJVThe Hebrew word ⁨שְׁמַע⁩ (shema, “hear and respond”) holds hearing together with the response it calls forth.

But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

Luke 11:28 · KJVHearing the word of God appears together with keeping it.

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

James 1:22 · KJVThe verse exposes the gap between hearing that ends at the ear and hearing that becomes action.

THE THREAD

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

Ephesians 6:1 · KJV

Both verses use the same Greek verb, ⁨ὑπακούω⁩ (hypakouō, “obey” or “heed”). Ephesians calls this response right; Colossians calls it well pleasing to the Lord, and the shared word keeps hearing at the center of both.

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