Colossians 3:18

Colossians 3:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
• New International Version (NIV)Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

Context of Colossians 3:18

16Let 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. Wives, 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. 19Husbands, love your wives [with an affectionate, sympathetic, selfless love that always seeks the best for them] and do not be embittered or resentful toward them [because of the responsibilities of marriage]. 20Children, obey your parents [as God’s representatives] in all things, for this [attitude of respect and obedience] is well-pleasing to the Lord [and will bring you God’s promised blessings].

Colossians 3:18 word by word

Αἱ γυναῖκες, ὑποτάσσεσθε τοῖς ἀνδράσιν ὡς ἀνῆκεν ἐν κυρίῳ.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Wivesγυνήgunē · woman: wifeG1135
• submit yourselvesὑποτάσσωhupotassō · to subjectG5293
• unto your ownἴδιοςidios · one's own/privateG2398
• husbandsἀνήρanēr · man: husbandG435
• asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• it is fitἀνήκωanēkō · be fittingG433
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962

Cross-references for Colossians 3:18

• Genesis 3:16To the woman He said, “I will greatly multiply Your pain in childbirth; In pain you will give birth to children; Yet your desire and longing will be for your husband, And he will rule [with authority] over you and be responsible for you.”
• Esther 1:20So when the king’s great decree is proclaimed throughout his [extensive] kingdom, all women will give honor to their husbands, from the great to the insignificant.”
• 1 Corinthians 11:3But I want you to understand that Christ is the head (authority over) of every man, and man is the head of woman, and God is the head of Christ.
• 1 Corinthians 14:34the women should be silent in the churches, for they are not authorized to speak, but are to take a subordinate place, as the Law says.
• Ephesians 5:22Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as [a service] to the Lord.
• 1 Timothy 2:12I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet [in the congregation].
• 1 Peter 3:1In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands [subordinate, not as inferior, but out of respect for the responsibilities entrusted to husbands and their accountability to God, and so partnering with them] so that even if some do not obey the word [of God], they may be won over [to Christ] without discussion by the godly lives of their wives,
• Acts 5:29Then Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men [we have no other choice].
• Ephesians 5:3But sexual immorality and all [moral] impurity [indecent, offensive behavior] or greed must not even be hinted at among you, as is proper among saints [for as believers our way of life, whether in public or in private, reflects the validity of our faith].
• Ephesians 6:1Children, obey your parents in the Lord [that is, accept their guidance and discipline as His representatives], for this is right [for obedience teaches wisdom and self-discipline].

Commentaries on Colossians 3:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18Wives, submit yourselves - Having done with general directions, the apostle comes to particular duties, which are commonly called relative; because they only belong to persons in certain situations; and are not incumbent on all. No woman has the duty of a wife to perform but she who is one, and no man has the duty of a husband to perform but he who is married. The directions here to wives, husbands, children, parents, servants, and masters, are so exactly…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18Wives, submit yourselves … - Notes on the parallel passage in Ephesians 5:21-24.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-25Verses 18-25 The epistles most taken up in displaying the glory of the Divine grace, and magnifying the Lord Jesus, are the most particular in pressing the duties of the Christian life. We must never separate the privileges and duties of the gospel. Submission is the duty of wives. But it is submission, not to a severe lord or stern tyrant, but to her own husband, who is engaged to affectionate duty. And husbands must love their wives with tender and…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18To submit means understanding your position below someone else in a society. This submission always suggests that God is at the top and his will is most important (see Acts 4:19–20; 5:29).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. unto your own husbands--The oldest manuscripts omit "own," which crept in from Ep 5:22. as it is fit in the Lord--Greek, "was fit," implying that there was at Colosse some degree of failure in fulfilling this duty, "as it was your duty to have done as disciples of the Lord."Read the comment

Topics related to Colossians 3:18

• Family
• Husband
• Wife

In the dictionaries

• In the Lord
• Admonish
• Bond
• Charity
• Covetousness
• Discourage
• Ephesians, Epistle to
• Fit
• Lord
• Marriage

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