Colossians 4:6

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

4Pray that I may make this mystery as clear as possible. This is what I have to do. 5Be wise in the way you act toward those who are outside ⌞the Christian faith⌟. Make the most of your opportunities. Everything you say should be kind and well thought out so that you know how to answer everyone. 7I’m sending Tychicus to you. He is our dear brother, trustworthy deacon, and partner in the Lord’s work. He will tell you everything that is happening to me. 8I’m sending him to you so that you may know how we are doing and so that he may encourage you.

Colossians 4:6 word by word

ὁ λόγος ὑμῶν πάντοτε ἐν χάριτι, ἅλατι ἠρτυμένος, εἰδέναι πῶς δεῖ ὑμᾶς ἑνὶ ἑκάστῳ ἀποκρίνεσθαι.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Letἀρτύωartuō · to seasonG741
• yourσύsu · youG4771
• speechὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• speechλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
• alwayπάντοτεpantote · alwaysG3842
• withἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• graceχάριςcharis · graceG5485
• with saltἅλαςhalas · saltG217
• that ye may knowεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
• howπῶςpōs · how?!G4459
• oughtδεῖdei · be necessaryG1163
• to answerἀποκρίνωapokrinomai · to answerG611
• everyἕκαστοςhekastos · eachG1538
• manεἷςheis · oneG1520

Cross-references for Colossians 4:6

• Colossians 3:16Let Christ’s word with all its wisdom and richness live in you. Use psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to teach and instruct yourselves about ⌞God’s⌟ kindness. Sing to God in your hearts.
• Deuteronomy 6:6Take to heart these words that I give you today.
• Deuteronomy 11:19Teach them to your children, and talk about them when you’re at home or away, when you lie down or get up.
• 1 Chronicles 16:24Tell people about his glory. Tell all the nations about his miracles.
• Psalms 37:30The mouth of the righteous person reflects on wisdom. His tongue speaks what is fair.
• Psalms 40:9I will announce the good news of righteousness among those assembled for worship. I will not close my lips. You know that, O Lord.
• Psalms 45:2You are the most handsome of Adam’s descendants. Grace is poured on your lips. That is why God has blessed you forever.
• Psalms 66:16Come and listen, all who fear God, and I will tell you what he has done for me.
• Psalms 71:15My mouth will tell about your righteousness, about your salvation all day long. Even then, it is more than I can understand.
• Psalms 78:3things that we have heard and known about, things that our parents have told us.
• Psalms 105:2Sing to him. Make music to praise him. Meditate on all the miracles he has performed.
• Psalms 119:13With my lips I have repeated every regulation that ⌞comes⌟ from your mouth.
• Proverbs 10:21The lips of a righteous person feed many, but stubborn fools die because they have no sense.
• Proverbs 15:4A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue breaks the spirit.
• Proverbs 16:21The person who is truly wise is called understanding, and speaking sweetly helps others learn.
• Proverbs 22:17Open your ears, and hear the words of wise people, and set your mind on the knowledge I give you.

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

• Conversation
• Salt
• Speaking
• Symbols and Similitudes

In the dictionaries

• Fervently
• Greet
• Luke, Gospel according to
• Colossians, Epistle to the
• Grace
• grace, gracious

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