English Standard Version
Colossians 3:16
16Let 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.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.
Context of Colossians 3:16
14And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 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. 17And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. 18Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
Read all of Colossians 3Colossians 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 the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,
- 2 Timothy 3:15and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
- Hebrews 4:12For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
- 1 Peter 1:11inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories.
- Revelation 19:10Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, "You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God." For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
- Deuteronomy 6:6And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.
- Deuteronomy 11:18"You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.
- Job 23:12I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.
- Psalms 119:11I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
- Jeremiah 15:16Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.
- Luke 2:51And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
- John 15:7If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
- 1 John 2:14I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
- 2 John 1:2because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever:
- 1 Timothy 6:17As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.
- Colossians 1:9And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
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
In the dictionaries
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
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