Ephesians 6:2

Ephesians 6:2

Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)

a. NLT: “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise:

b. NIV: “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—

c. YLT: honour thy father and mother,

d. Amplified Bible Classic: Honor (esteem and value as precious) your father and your mother—this is the first commandment with a promise—

e. Worrell Translation: “Honor you father and mother” (which, indeed, is the first commandment with a promise.)

f. Wuest Translation: Be always honoring your father and your mother, which is a commandment of such a nature, as to be the first commandment with a promise.

1. “Honour thy father and mother…”

a. Honor [Strong: 5091  timao tim-ah'-o from 5093; to prize, i.e. fix a valuation upon; by implication, to revere:--honour, value.]

b. thy [Strong: 4675 sou soo genitive case of 4771; of thee, thy:--X home, thee, thine (own), thou, thy.]

c. father [Strong: 3962 pater pat-ayr' apparently a primary word; a "father" (literally or figuratively, near or more remote):--father, parent.]

d. and [Strong: 2532 kai kahee apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

e. mother [Strong: 3384 meter may'-tare apparently a primary word; a "mother" (literally or figuratively, immediate or remote):--mother.

1). This is the fifth Commandment and it was given to Moses to give to Israel in Exodus 20 and repeated to Israel before they went into the promised land.

a). Exodus 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

b). Deuteronomy 5:16 Honour thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

2). Honoring our parents does not just mean obeying them when we are young. The Commandment is a lifelong commitment including taking care of them when they are older. Jesus himself addressed this in his ministry, criticizing a Jewish tradition.

a). Matthew 15:1-6 Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,

15:2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

15:3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?

15:4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.

15:5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;

15:6 And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.

3). Paul emphasized this to Timothy in his first letter to him.

a). 1 Timothy 5:3, 4 Honour widows that are widows indeed.

5:4 But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.

4). In all of these Scriptural quotes, the “honour” is really referring to something financial, especially in Matthew and Timothy because he is referring to taking care of parents after they are older, when they can’t take care of themselves; which is also what it is referred to in at least two other Scriptural references.

a). Proverbs 3:9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

b). 1 Timothy 5:17, 18 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

5:18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.

2. “…(which is the first commandment with promise.)”

a. which [Strong: 3748 hostis hos'-tis, including the feminine hetis hay'-tis, and the neuter ho,ti hot'-ee from 3739 and 5100; which some, i.e. any that; also (definite) which same:--X and (they), (such) as, (they) that, in that they, what(-soever), whereas ye, (they) which, who(-soever).]

b. is [Strong: 2076 esti es-tee' third person singular present indicative of 1510; he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are:--are, be(-long), call, X can(-not), come, consisteth, X dure for a while, + follow, X have, (that) is (to say), make, meaneth, X must needs, + profit, + remaineth, + wrestle.]

c. the first [Strong: protos pro'-tos contracted superlative of 4253; foremost (in time, place, order or importance):--before, beginning, best, chief(-est), first (of all), former.]

d. commandment [Strong: 1785 entole en-tol-ay' from 1781; injunction, i.e. an authoritative prescription:--commandment, precept.]

e. with [Strong: 1722 en en a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.]

f. promise [Strong: epaggelia ep-ang-el-ee'-ah from 1861; an announcement (for information, assent or pledge; especially a divine assurance of good):--message, promise.]

   

1). This Commandment was the first that had a promise annexed to it. The promise that Paul quotes is a combination of both references in Exodus and Deuteronomy. The promise being that we can prolong our lives on the earth.