English Standard Version
Colossians 3:21
21Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.
Colossians 3:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
- New International Version (NIV)Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged.
Context of Colossians 3:21
19Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. 20Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. 22Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
Read all of Colossians 3Colossians 3:21 word by word
Οἱ πατέρες, μὴ ἐρεθίζετε τὰ τέκνα ὑμῶν, ἵνα μὴ ἀθυμῶσιν.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Colossians 3:21
- Psalms 103:13As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.
- Proverbs 3:12for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.
- Proverbs 4:1Hear, O sons, a father's instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight,
- Ephesians 6:4Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:11For you know how, like a father with his children,
- Hebrews 12:5And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him.
Commentaries on Colossians 3:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21Fathers, provoke not - See the notes on Ephesians 6:4.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21Fathers, provoke not - Notes, Ephesians 6:4. Lest they be discouraged - Lest, by your continually finding fault with them, they should lose all courage, and despair of ever pleasing you. There is much sound sense and practical wisdom in this observation of the apostle. Children should not be flattered, but they should be encouraged. They should not be so praised as to make them vain and proud, but they should be commended when they do well. The desire…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. 18-25This series of teachings is called a household code. Paul instructs wives (3:18), husbands (3:19), children (3:20), fathers (3:21), slaves (3:22–25), and masters (4:1). Similar codes are found in Greco-Roman writings and other parts of the New Testament (see Ephesians 5:22–6:9; 1 Peter 2:18–3:7).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. (Ep 6:4.) It is a different Greek verb, therefore translate here, "irritate not." By perpetual fault-finding "children" are "discouraged" or "disheartened." A broken-down spirit is fatal to youth [Bengel].Read the comment
Topics related to Colossians 3:21
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
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