God’s Word Translation
Colossians 3:21
21Fathers, don’t make your children resentful, or they will 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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.
Context of Colossians 3:21
19Husbands, love your wives, and don’t be harsh with them. 20Children, always obey your parents. This is pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, don’t make your children resentful, or they will become discouraged. 22Slaves, always obey your earthly masters. Don’t obey them only while you’re being watched, as if you merely wanted to please people. Be sincere in your motives out of respect for your real master. 23Whatever you do, do it wholeheartedly as though you were working for your real master and not merely for humans.
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 has compassion for his children, so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him.
- Proverbs 3:12because the Lord warns the one he loves, even as a father warns a son with whom he is pleased.
- Proverbs 4:1Sons, listen to ⌞your⌟ father’s discipline, and pay attention in order to gain understanding.
- Ephesians 6:4Fathers, don’t make your children bitter about life. Instead, bring them up in Christian discipline and instruction.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:11You know very well that we treated each of you the way a father treats his children. We comforted you and encouraged you. Yet, we insisted that
- Hebrews 12:5You have forgotten the encouraging words that God speaks to you as his children: “My child, pay attention when the Lord disciplines you. Don’t give up when he corrects you.
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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