Colossians 3:16

Colossians 3:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
• New International Version (NIV)Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Context of Colossians 3:16

14Beyond all these things put on and wrap yourselves in [unselfish] love, which is the perfect bond of unity [for everything is bound together in agreement when each one seeks the best for others]. 15Let the peace of Christ [the inner calm of one who walks daily with Him] be the controlling factor in your hearts [deciding and settling questions that arise]. To this peace indeed you were called as members in one body [of believers]. And be thankful [to God always]. Let the [spoken] word of Christ have its home within you [dwelling in your heart and mind—permeating every aspect of your being] as you teach [spiritual things] and admonish and train one another with all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17Whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus [and in dependence on Him], giving thanks to God the Father through Him. 18Wives, be subject to your husbands [out of respect for their position as protector, and their accountability to God], as is proper and fitting in the Lord.

Colossians 3:16 word by word

Ὁ λόγος τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐνοικείτω ἐν ὑμῖν πλουσίως, ἐν πάσῃ σοφίᾳ, διδάσκοντες καὶ νουθετοῦντες ἑαυτοὺς ψαλμοῖς, ὕμνοις, ᾠδαῖς πνευματικαῖς ἐν τῇ χάριτι ᾄδοντες ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν τῷ θεῷ·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Letἐνοικέωenoikeō · to dwell in/withG1774
• the wordὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the wordλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
• of ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• youσύsu · youG4771
• richlyπλουσίωςplousiōs · richlyG4146
• allπᾶςpas · allG3956
• wisdomσοφίαsophia · wisdomG4678
• teachingδιδάσκωdidaskō · to teachG1321
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• admonishingνουθετέωnoutheteō · to admonishG3560
• one anotherἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
• in psalmsψαλμόςpsalmos · psalmG5568
• hymnsὕμνοςhumnos · hymnG5215
• spiritualπνευματικόςpneumatikos · spiritualG4152
• songsᾠδήōdē · songG5603
• singingᾄδωadō · to singG103
• graceχάριςcharis · graceG5485
• heartsκαρδίαkardia · heartG2588
• to the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962

Cross-references for Colossians 3:16

• John 5:39You search and keep on searching and examining the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and yet it is those [very Scriptures] that testify about Me;
• 2 Timothy 3:15and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings (Hebrew Scriptures) which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus [surrendering your entire self to Him and having absolute confidence in His wisdom, power and goodness].
• Hebrews 4:12For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart.
• 1 Peter 1:11seeking to find out what person or what time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He foretold the sufferings of Christ and the glories [destined] to follow.
• Revelation 19:10Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he [stopped me and] said to me, “You must not do that; I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers and sisters who have and hold the testimony of Jesus. Worship God [alone]. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy [His life and teaching are the heart of prophecy].”
• Deuteronomy 6:6These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be [written] on your heart and mind.
• Deuteronomy 11:18“Therefore, you shall impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul, and tie them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as bands (frontals, frontlets) on your forehead.
• Job 23:12I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have kept the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.
• Psalms 119:11Your word I have treasured and stored in my heart, That I may not sin against You.
• Jeremiah 15:16Your words were found and I ate them, And Your words became a joy to me and the delight of my heart; For I have been called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.
• Luke 2:51He went down to Nazareth with them, and was continually submissive and obedient to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart.
• John 15:7If you remain in Me and My words remain in you [that is, if we are vitally united and My message lives in your heart], ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you.
• 1 John 2:14I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has existed from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong and vigorous, and the word of God remains [always] in you, and you have been victorious over the evil one [by accepting Jesus as Savior].
• 2 John 1:2because of the truth which lives in our hearts and will be with us forever:
• 1 Timothy 6:17As for the rich in this present world, instruct them not to be conceited and arrogant, nor to set their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly and ceaselessly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
• Colossians 1:9For this reason, since the day we heard about it, we have not stopped praying for you, asking [specifically] that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom [with insight into His purposes], and in understanding [of spiritual things],

Commentaries on Colossians 3:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly - I believe the apostle means that the Colossians should be well instructed in the doctrine of Christ; that it should be their constant study; that it should be frequently preached, explained, and enforced among them; and that all the wisdom comprised in it should be well understood. Thus the doctrine of God would dwell richly, that is, abundantly, among them. But there appears to be here an allusion to the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16Let the word of Christ - The doctrine of Christ. Dwell in you richly in all wisdom - Abundantly, producing the spirit of true wisdom. That doctrine is adapted to make you wise. The meaning is, that they were to lay up the doctrines of the gospel in their hearts, to meditate upon them; to allow them to be their guide, and to endearor wisely to improve them to the best purpose. Teaching and admonishing … - See this explained in the notes at Ephesians…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-17Verses 12-17 We must not only do no hurt to any, but do what good we can to all. Those who are the elect of God, holy and beloved, ought to be lowly and compassionate towards all. While in this world, where there is so much corruption in our hearts, quarrels will sometimes arise. But it is our duty to forgive one another, imitating the forgiveness through which we are saved. Let the peace of God rule in your hearts; it is of his working in all who are…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs are for praise and worship (see 1 Corinthians 14:26; Ephesians 5:19). The book of Psalms serves as the original example.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. The form which "thankfulness" (Col 3:15) ought to take. Let the word of Christ--the Gospel word by which ye have been called. richly--(Col 2:2; Ro 15:14). in all wisdom--Alford joins this clause with "teaching," &c., not with "dwell in you," as English Version, for so we find in Col 1:28, "teaching in all wisdom," and the two clauses will thus correspond, "In all wisdom teaching," and "in grace singing in your hears" (so the Greek order). and…Read the comment

Topics related to Colossians 3:16

• Church
• Commandments
• Communion
• Fellowship
• Gospel
• Music
• Righteousness
• Song
• Thankfulness
• Wisdom
• Word of God

In the dictionaries

• Christ
• Christ, Messiah
• Spiritual Songs
• Admonish
• Bond
• Charity
• Covetousness
• Discourage
• Dwell
• Ephesians, Epistle to

Commentaries on Colossians 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings