That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
Parallel translations
- WEB “that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth.”
- BSB “that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life on the earth.”
- NKJV “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”
- NASB so that it may turn out well for you, and that you may live long on the earth.
- NLT If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The promise attached to honoring parents is well-being and long life. God blesses those who keep this command.
Overview
Paul completes the citation of the fifth commandment, recalling its promise of welfare and long life. Originally tied to Israel's life in the land, the principle endures: honoring parents generally leads to a well-ordered, blessed life. Such promises express God's gracious encouragement to obedience, while their fullness is secured ultimately in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Deut 5:16Honour 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.
- Deut 4:40Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, for ever.
- Deut 12:28Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee for ever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the LORD thy God.
- Deut 12:25Thou shalt not eat it; that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, when thou shalt do that which is right in the sight of the LORD.
- Deut 6:18And thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of the LORD: that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest go in and possess the good land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers,
- Ruth 3:1Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?
- Deut 6:3Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey.
- Jer 42:6Whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God, to whom we send thee; that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of the LORD our God.
- Ps 128:1–2Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.
- Deut 22:7But thou shalt in any wise let the dam go, and take the young to thee; that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days.
- Isa 3:10Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.
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Original language
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