“that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”
Parallel translations
- WEB “that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth.”
- KJV That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
- BSB “that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life 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 5:16“Honor your father and your mother, as Yahweh your God commanded you; that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you, in the land which Yahweh your God gives you.
- Deut 4:40You shall keep his statutes, and his commandments, which I command you today, that it may go well with you, and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land, which Yahweh your God gives you, forever.
- Deut 12:28Observe and hear all these words which I command you, that it may go well with you, and with your children after you forever, when you do that which is good and right in Yahweh your God’s eyes.
- Deut 12:25You shall not eat it; that it may go well with you, and with your children after you, when you shall do that which is right in Yahweh’s eyes.
- Deut 6:18You shall do that which is right and good in Yahweh’s sight; that it may be well with you, and that you may go in and possess the good land which Yahweh swore to your fathers,
- Ruth 3:1Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, shall I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you?
- Deut 6:3Hear therefore, Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with you, and that you may increase mightily, as Yahweh, the God of your fathers, has promised to you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.
- Jer 42:6Whether it is good, or whether it is bad, we will obey the voice of Yahweh our God, to whom we send you; that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of Yahweh our God.”
- Ps 128:1–2A Song of Ascents. Blessed is everyone who fears Yahweh, who walks in his ways.
- Deut 22:7You shall surely let the hen go, but the young you may take for yourself; that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days.
- Isa 3:10Tell the righteous “Good!” For they shall eat the fruit of their deeds.
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Christ at the center
Every spiritual blessing is 'in Christ,' the head over all things for the church, in whom Jew and Gentile are made one new man by his blood.
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Original language
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