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Selected Verse: Ephesians 6:2 - King James
Verse |
Translation |
Text |
Eph 6:2 |
King James |
Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
Here the authority of revealed law is added to that of natural law.
which is . . . promise--The "promise" is not made the main motive to obedience, but an incidental one. The main motive is, because it is God's will (Deu 5:16, "Honor thy father and mother, as the Lord thy God hath COMMANDED thee"); and that it is so peculiarly, is shown by His accompanying it "with a promise."
first--in the decalogue with a special promise. The promise in the second commandment is a general one. Their duty is more expressly prescribed to children than to parents; for love descends rather than ascends [BENGEL]. This verse proves the law in the Old Testament is not abolished. |
Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
Honour thy father and mother - see Exo 20:12; compare notes on Mat 15:4.
Which is the first commandment with promise - With a promise annexed to it. The promise was, that their days should be long in the land which the Lord their God would give them. It is not to be supposed that the observance of the four first commandments would not be attended with a blessing, but no particular blessing is promised. It is true, indeed, that there is a "general declaration" annexed to the second commandment, that God would show mercy to thousands of generations of them that loved him and that kept his commandments. But that is rather a declaration in regard to all the commands of God than a promise annexed to that specific commandment. It is an assurance that obedience to the law of God would be followed with blessings to a thousand generations, and is given in view of the first and second commandments together, because they related particularly to the honor that was due to God. But the promise in the fifth commandment is a "special promise." It does not relate to obedience to God in general, but it is a particular assurance that they who honor their parents shall have a particular blessing as the result of that obedience. |
Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Honor thy father, etc.
To what is essentially right the divine ordinance is added. Compare Aeschylus: "For the reverence of parents, this is written third in the laws of much-venerated justice" ("Suppliants," 687-689). So Euripides: "There are three virtues which thou shouldst cultivate, my child, to honor the gods, and thy parents who gave thee being and the common laws of Hellas" (Fragment). Honor expresses the frame of mind from which obedience proceeds.
First - with promise (πρώτη εν ἐπαγγελίᾳ)
First in point of promise, as it also is in order the first with promise. |
Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
Honour - That is, love, reverence, obey, assist, in all things. The mother is particularly mentioned, as being more liable to be slighted than the father. Which is the first commandment with a promise - For the promise implied in the second commandment does not belong to the keeping that command in particular, but the whole law. Exo 20:12 |
Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
Honor thy father - See the notes on Exo 20:12, etc., where this subject, together with the promises and threatenings connected with it, is particularly considered, and the reasons of the duty laid down at large. |
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.
4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.