What Does Colossians 3:22 Mean in the King James?
Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
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 verse contrasts labor arranged for a master’s eyes with labor held in a single heart before God.
THE MEANING
When you stand under a human master’s authority, the verse demands obedience “in all things,” a total claim on outward labor. It distinguishes that demand from service staged for the master’s eyes and locates the heart in awe of God.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that a master’s gaze is the final measure of a servant’s work; even unseen labor is within God’s sight.
THE ROOT
ἁπλότητι
haplotēti
GROWS FROM
ἁπλ- (hapl-), the stem of ἁπλότης (haplotēs)
Single, simple, and undivided; the noun can also describe sincerity or generosity.
English “singleness” can sound like simplicity alone, but ἁπλότης (haplotēs) also names generosity elsewhere. Its seed is an undivided heart, no longer split between appearing compliant and being sincere.
ALSO GROWS
haplous: Single or simple; used of the “single” eye in Matthew 6:22.
ἁπλοῦς
This cognate shows that singleness of heart is an undivided orientation.
haplōs: Simply or generously; James 1:5 says God gives “liberally” using this cognate.
ἁπλῶς
The same word family can describe openhanded giving, connecting an undivided heart with unreserved generosity.
ὀφθαλμοδουλίαις
ophthalmodouliais
GROWS FROM
δοῦλος (doulos), servant or slave; the compound joins it to ὀφθαλμός (ophthalmos), eye
Service under a master; joined to “eye,” it describes service shaped around being watched.
“eyeservice” in this verse is ophthalmodouliais. The Greek word joins “eye” to “service” or “slavery”: the work is arranged around the master’s gaze. Its contrast with singleness of heart makes the split visible between outward performance and inward orientation.
ALSO GROWS
doulos: Servant or slave.
δοῦλος
This is the same service family named by “servants” at the start of the verse.
douleuō: To serve or be enslaved.
δουλεύω
It keeps the force of service under another’s authority present in “eyeservice.”
φοβούμενοι
phoboumenoi
GROWS FROM
φοβ- (phob-), the stem of φοβέομαι (phobeomai)
To fear, dread, or stand in awe.
“fearing” in this verse is phoboumenoi. This word family keeps fear’s force while allowing awe as the response to God. Here the servant’s deepest regard is directed toward the Lord, while the human master remains “according to the flesh.”
ALSO GROWS
phobos: Fear, dread, or awe.
φόβος
It preserves the weight in the verse’s “fearing God.”
phoberos: Fearful or causing dread.
φοβερός
This cognate shows that the word family can carry real fear as well as reverent awe.
THE PATTERN
God’s sight reaches beyond the visible act to the heart and person unseen.
And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.THE THREAD
Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;Ephesians repeats the rare compound “eyeservice” and contrasts it with doing God’s will from the heart. The shared word brings Colossians’ “singleness of heart” into focus as service whose inward direction is not governed by whether the master is watching.
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