Colossians 3:23
New International Version
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,

New Living Translation
Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.

English Standard Version
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

Berean Standard Bible
Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men,

Berean Literal Bible
Whatever you might do, work from the soul, as to the Lord and not to men,

King James Bible
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

New King James Version
And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,

New American Standard Bible
Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord and not for people,

NASB 1995
Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men,

NASB 1977
Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men;

Legacy Standard Bible
Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men,

Amplified Bible
Whatever you do [whatever your task may be], work from the soul [that is, put in your very best effort], as [something done] for the Lord and not for men,

Christian Standard Bible
Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men,

American Standard Version
whatsoever ye do, work heartily, as unto the Lord, and not unto men;

Contemporary English Version
Do your work willingly, as though you were serving the Lord himself, and not just your earthly master.

English Revised Version
whatsoever ye do, work heartily, as unto the Lord, and not unto men;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Whatever you do, do it wholeheartedly as though you were working for your real master and not merely for humans.

Good News Translation
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people.

International Standard Version
Whatever you do, work at it wholeheartedly as though you were doing it for the Lord and not merely for people.

Majority Standard Bible
And whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men,

NET Bible
Whatever you are doing, work at it with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not for people,

New Heart English Bible
And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, and not for people,

Webster's Bible Translation
And whatever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not to men;

Weymouth New Testament
Whatever you are doing, let your hearts be in your work, as a thing done for the Lord and not for men.

World English Bible
And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and all, whatever you may do—out of soul work—as to the LORD, and not to men,

Berean Literal Bible
Whatever you might do, work from the soul, as to the Lord and not to men,

Young's Literal Translation
and all, whatever ye may do -- out of soul work -- as to the Lord, and not to men,

Smith's Literal Translation
And all, whatever ye do, work ye from the soul, as to the Lord, and not to men;
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Whatsoever you do, do it from the heart, as to the Lord, and not to men:

Catholic Public Domain Version
Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as for the Lord, and not for men.

New American Bible
Whatever you do, do from the heart, as for the Lord and not for others,

New Revised Standard Version
Whatever your task, put yourselves into it, as done for the Lord and not for your masters,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And whatever you do, do it with your whole soul, as to our LORD and not unto men;

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And do all that you do with all your soul, as for Our Lord, and not as for the children of men.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And whatever you do, do from the soul, as to the Lord, and not to men;

Godbey New Testament
Whatsoever you may do, work from your soul, as for the Lord, and not for men;

Haweis New Testament
And in every thing that ye do, labour from the soul, as for the Lord, and not man;

Mace New Testament
and whatever you do, do it heartily, as serving the Lord, and not men:

Weymouth New Testament
Whatever you are doing, let your hearts be in your work, as a thing done for the Lord and not for men.

Worrell New Testament
Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not to men;

Worsley New Testament
do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not to men;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Christian Households
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, 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.…

Cross References
Ephesians 6:7
Serve with good will, as to the Lord and not to men,

1 Corinthians 10:31
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.

Matthew 25:21
His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’

1 Peter 4:11
If anyone speaks, he should speak as one conveying the words of God. If anyone serves, he should serve with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

Romans 12:11
Do not let your zeal subside; keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

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.

Philippians 2:14-15
Do everything without complaining or arguing, / so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12
and to aspire to live quietly, to attend to your own matters, and to work with your own hands, as we instructed you. / Then you will behave properly toward outsiders, without being dependent on anyone.

2 Timothy 2:15
Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth.

Titus 2:9-10
Slaves are to submit to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, / not stealing from them, but showing all good faith, so that in every respect they will adorn the teaching about God our Savior.

Proverbs 16:3
Commit your works to the LORD and your plans will be achieved.

Ecclesiastes 9:10
Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, for in Sheol, where you are going, there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.

Psalm 100:2
Serve the LORD with gladness; come into His presence with joyful songs.

Proverbs 3:6
in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

1 Samuel 12:24
Above all, fear the LORD and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things He has done for you.


Treasury of Scripture

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not to men;

whatsoever.

Colossians 3:17
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

2 Chronicles 31:21
And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.

Psalm 47:6,7
Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises…

as.

Zechariah 7:5-7
Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me? …

Matthew 6:16
Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Romans 14:6,8
He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks…

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Colossians 3
1. He shows where we should seek Christ.
5. He exhorts to holiness;
10. to put off the old self, and put on Christ;
12. exhorting to charity, humility,
18. and other duties.














Whatever you do
This phrase emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the instruction. The Greek word for "whatever" (ὅ τι) implies inclusivity, suggesting that no task is too small or insignificant. In the historical context of the early church, believers were often engaged in various occupations, from manual labor to more intellectual pursuits. This phrase encourages Christians to see all aspects of their lives as opportunities to serve God, reflecting the holistic nature of Christian discipleship.

work at it
The Greek verb "ἐργάζεσθε" (ergazesthe) is an imperative, indicating a command to actively engage in labor. This word conveys a sense of diligence and effort. In the ancient world, work was often seen as a means of survival, but Paul elevates it to an act of worship. This perspective transforms mundane tasks into sacred duties, aligning with the biblical principle that all work can glorify God.

with your whole being
The phrase "with your whole being" translates the Greek "ἐκ ψυχῆς" (ek psychēs), which literally means "from the soul." This expression calls for wholeheartedness and sincerity. In biblical anthropology, the soul represents the essence of a person, encompassing mind, will, and emotions. Thus, this phrase encourages believers to invest their entire selves into their work, reflecting a deep commitment to excellence and integrity.

for the Lord
The preposition "for" (ὡς) indicates purpose or motivation. The Greek "τῷ Κυρίῳ" (tō Kyriō) specifies that the ultimate aim of all work is to honor God. In the historical context, this was a radical shift from working merely for human approval or material gain. It aligns with the broader scriptural theme that believers are to live for God's glory, as seen in passages like 1 Corinthians 10:31.

and not for men
This phrase contrasts the previous one, highlighting the difference in motivation. The Greek "ἀνθρώποις" (anthrōpois) refers to human beings. In the cultural context of the Colossians, where social status and human approval were highly valued, this instruction challenges believers to prioritize divine approval over human recognition. It underscores the biblical principle that God's opinion is paramount, encouraging Christians to seek His favor above all else.

Verse 23. - Whatever ye be doing, work (therein) from (the) soul, as to the Lord, and not to men (ver. 17; Ephesians 6:6, 7; 1 Corinthians 7:21-23). (On the first clause, see ver. 17.) In the Revised Text, however, the turn of expression differs from that of ver. 17, πᾶν being cancelled. The writer is thinking, not so much of the variety of service possible, as of the spirit which should pervade it. "Do" is replaced in the second clause by the more energetic "work," opposed to indolent or useless doing (comp. Ephesians 4:28; 2 Thessalonians 3:10; John 5:17; John 9:4). "From [ἐκ, out of] the soul "indicates the spring of their exertions - inward principle, not outward compulsion; the servant must put his soul into his work. "Soul" implies, even more than "heart," the engagement of the man's best individual powers (comp. Philippians 1:27, as well as Ephesians 6:6). The slaves' daily taskwork is to be done, not only in sight and in fear of the Lord (ver. 22 b; Ephesians 5:21), but as actually "to the Lord." Him they are serving (ver. 24 b), who alone is "the Lord" (Colossians 2:6); every mean and hard task is dignified and sweetened by the thought of being done for him, and the commonest work must be done with the zeal and thoroughness that his service demands (comp. Ephesians 6:7, "with good will doing bond service"). The word "not" (οὐ instead of μὴ) implies that their service is actually rendered to One other and higher than "men" (1 Corinthians 7:22; Galatians 1:10).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Whatever
(Ho)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

you do,
ποιῆτε (poiēte)
Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4160: (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.

work at it
ἐργάζεσθε (ergazesthe)
Verb - Present Imperative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 2038: To work, trade, perform, do, practice, commit, acquire by labor.

with your whole being,
ψυχῆς (psychēs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 5590: From psucho; breath, i.e. spirit, abstractly or concretely.

for
ὡς (hōs)
Adverb
Strong's 5613: Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner.

the
τῷ (tō)
Article - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Lord
Κυρίῳ (Kyriō)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2962: Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

not
οὐκ (ouk)
Adverb
Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.

for men,
ἀνθρώποις (anthrōpois)
Noun - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 444: A man, one of the human race. From aner and ops; man-faced, i.e. A human being.


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NT Letters: Colossians 3:23 And whatever you do work heartily as (Coloss. Col Co)
Colossians 3:22
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