English Standard Version
Colossians 1:16
16For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
Colossians 1:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
- New International Version (NIV)For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.
- New Living Translation (NLT)for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him.
Context of Colossians 1:16
14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
Read all of Colossians 1Colossians 1:16 word by word
ὅτι ἐν αὐτῷ ἐκτίσθη τὰ πάντα ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, τὰ ὁρατὰ καὶ τὰ ἀόρατα, εἴτε θρόνοι εἴτε κυριότητες εἴτε ἀρχαὶ εἴτε ἐξουσίαι· τὰ πάντα δι᾽ αὐτοῦ καὶ εἰς αὐτὸν ἔκτισται,Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Forὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
- byἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- wereκτίζωktizō · to createG2936
- all thingsὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- all thingsπᾶςpas · allG3956
- heavenοὐρανόςouranos · heavenG3772
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- inἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
- earthγῆgē · earth: planetG1093
- visibleὁρατόςhoratos · visibleG3707
- invisibleἀόρατοςaoratos · invisibleG517
- whetherεἴτεeite · whetherG1535
- thronesθρόνοςthronos · throneG2362
- dominionsκυριότηςkuriotēs · lordshipG2963
- principalitiesἀρχήarchē · beginningG746
- powersἐξουσίαexousia · authorityG1849
- byδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
- forεἰςeis · towardG1519
Cross-references for Colossians 1:16
- Colossians 1:15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
- Psalms 102:25Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.
- Isaiah 40:9Go on up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, "Behold your God!"
- Isaiah 44:24Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: "I am the Lord, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself,
- John 1:3All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
- 1 Corinthians 8:6yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
- Ephesians 3:9and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things,
- Hebrews 1:2but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
- Hebrews 3:3For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself.
- Colossians 1:20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
- Deuteronomy 4:39know therefore today, and lay it to your heart, that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other.
- 1 Chronicles 29:11Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.
- Ephesians 1:10as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
- Philippians 2:10so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
- Revelation 5:13And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!"
- Colossians 2:10and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.
Commentaries on Colossians 1:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16For by him were all things created, etc - These two verses contain parts of the same subject. I shall endeavor to distinguish the statements of the apostle, and reason from them in such a way as the premises shall appear to justify, without appealing to any other scripture in proof of the doctrine which I suppose these verses to vindicate. Four things are here asserted: That Jesus Christ is the Creator of the universe; of all things visible and invisible…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16For by him were all things created - This is one of the reasons why he is called “the image of God,” and the “first-born.” He makes God known to us by his creative power, and by the same power in creation shows that he is exalted over all things as the Son of God. The phrase which is used here by the apostle is universal. He does not declare that he created all things in the spiritual kingdom of God, or that he arranged the events of the gospel…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-23Verses 15-23 Christ in his human nature, is the visible discovery of the invisible God, and he that hath seen Him hath seen the Father. Let us adore these mysteries in humble faith, and behold the glory of the Lord in Christ Jesus. He was born or begotten before all the creation, before any creature was made; which is the Scripture way of representing eternity, and by which the eternity of God is represented to us. All things being created by Him, were…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16Thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities in the unseen world refer to different spiritual powers. This line emphasizes Christ's supremacy over these beings, who were getting a lot of attention from false teachers (see 2:18). All things were created through Him and for Him: Christ is both the creator of all things and the purpose of all creation.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. For--Greek, "Because." This gives the proof that He is not included in the things created, but is the "first-begotten" before "every creature" (Col 1:15), begotten as "the Son of God's love" (Col 1:13), antecedently to all other emanations: "for" all these other emanations came from Him, and whatever was created, was created by Him. by him--rather as Greek, "in Him": as the conditional element, pre-existent and all-including: the creation of all…Read the comment
Topics related to Colossians 1:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Colossians 1
- 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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries