American Standard Version
Colossians 4:6
6Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one.
Colossians 4:6 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
- New International Version (NIV)Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
Context of Colossians 4:6
4that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. 5Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one. 7All my affairs shall Tychicus make known unto you, the beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow-servant in the Lord: 8whom I have sent unto you for this very purpose, that ye may know our state, and that he may comfort your hearts;
Read all of Colossians 4Colossians 4:6 word by word
ὁ λόγος ὑμῶν πάντοτε ἐν χάριτι, ἅλατι ἠρτυμένος, εἰδέναι πῶς δεῖ ὑμᾶς ἑνὶ ἑκάστῳ ἀποκρίνεσθαι.¶Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Colossians 4:6
- Colossians 3:16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God.
- Deuteronomy 6:6And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be upon thy heart;
- Deuteronomy 11:19And ye shall teach them your children, talking of them, when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
- 1 Chronicles 16:24Declare his glory among the nations, His marvellous works among all the peoples.
- Psalms 37:30The mouth of the righteous talketh of wisdom, And his tongue speaketh justice.
- Psalms 40:9I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in the great assembly; Lo, I will not refrain my lips, O Jehovah, thou knowest.
- Psalms 45:2Thou art fairer than the children of men; Grace is poured into thy lips: Therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.
- Psalms 66:16Come, and hear, all ye that fear God, And I will declare what he hath done for my soul.
- Psalms 71:15My mouth shall tell of thy righteousness, Andof thy salvation all the day; For I know not the numbers thereof.
- Psalms 78:3Which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us.
- Psalms 105:2Sing unto him, sing praises unto him; Talk ye of all his marvellous works.
- Psalms 119:13With my lips have I declared All the ordinances of thy mouth.
- Proverbs 10:21The lips of the righteous feed many; But the foolish die for lack of understanding.
- Proverbs 15:4A gentle tongue is a tree of life; But perverseness therein is a breaking of the spirit.
- Proverbs 16:21The wise in heart shall be called prudent; And the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
- Proverbs 22:17Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, And apply thy heart unto my knowledge.
Commentaries on Colossians 4:6
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt - Let it be such as has a tendency to oppose and preserve from the corruption of sin. The rabbins say: "He who, in prayer, omits any word, should begin again at the beginning; for he who does not is like boiled pottage, in which there is no salt." Berachoth, fol. 34, 1. Let all your conversation be such as may tend to exemplify and recommend Christianity; let it not only be holy, but wise, gracious…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6Let your speech - Your conversation. In the previous verse the apostle had given a general direction that our conduct toward those who are not professing Christians should be wise and prudent; he here gives a particular direction in regard to our conversation. Be alway with grace - Imbued with the spirit of religion. It should be such as religion is fitted to produce; such as to show that the grace of God is in our hearts. Bloomfield supposes that this…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 2-6Verses 2-6 No duties can be done aright, unless we persevere in fervent prayer, and watch therein with thanksgiving. The people are to pray particularly for their ministers. Believers are exhorted to right conduct towards unbelievers. Be careful in all converse with them, to do them good, and recommend religion by all fit means. Diligence in redeeming time, commends religion to the good opinion of others. Even what is only carelessness may cause a lasting…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6seasoned with salt: Salt is both a seasoning and a preservative (see Matthew 5:13). Paul might be encouraging Christians to speak to non-believers with well-chosen and appealing words. The Jewish rabbis sometimes referred to wisdom as salt, so Paul might also be urging Christians to speak wisely.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 66. with grace--Greek, "IN grace" as its element (Col 3:16; Ep 4:29). Contrast the case of those "of the world" who "therefore speak of the world" (1Jo 4:5). Even the smallest leaf of the believer should be full of the sap of the Holy Spirit (Jr 17:7, 8). His conversation should be cheerful without levity, serious without gloom. Compare Lu 4:22; Joh 7:46, as to Jesus' speech. seasoned with salt--that is, the savor of fresh and lively spiritual wisdom and…Read the comment
Topics related to Colossians 4:6
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Colossians 4
- 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
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
American Standard Version — 1901 — Public Domain
Commentaries