Colossians 1:16

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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)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.
• 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.

Context of Colossians 1:16

14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, for all things in heaven and on earth were created by him – all things, whether visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions, whether principalities or powers – all things were created through him and for him. 17He himself is before all things and all things are held together in him. 18He is the head of the body, the church, as well as the beginning, the firstborn from among the dead, so that he himself may become first in all things.

Colossians 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 over all creation,
• Psalms 102:25In earlier times you established the earth; the skies are your handiwork.
• Isaiah 40:9Go up on a high mountain, O herald Zion! Shout out loudly, O herald Jerusalem! Shout, don’t be afraid! Say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God!”
• Isaiah 44:24This is what the Lord, your protector, says, the one who formed you in the womb: “I am the Lord, who made everything, who alone stretched out the sky, who fashioned the earth all by myself,
• John 1:3All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.
• 1 Corinthians 8:6yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we live, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we live.
• Ephesians 3:9and to enlighten everyone about God’s secret plan – a secret that has been hidden for ages in God who has created all things.
• Hebrews 1:2in these last days he has spoken to us in a son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he created the world.
• Hebrews 3:3For he has come to deserve greater glory than Moses, just as the builder of a house deserves greater honor than the house itself!
• Colossians 1:20and through him to reconcile all things to himself by making peace through the blood of his cross – through him, whether things on earth or things in heaven.
• Deuteronomy 4:39Today realize and carefully consider that the Lord is God in heaven above and on earth below – there is no other!
• 1 Chronicles 29:11O Lord, you are great, mighty, majestic, magnificent, glorious, and sovereign over all the sky and earth! You have dominion and exalt yourself as the ruler of all.
• Ephesians 1:10toward the administration of the fullness of the times, to head up all things in Christ – the things in heaven and the things on earth.
• Philippians 2:10so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow – in heaven and on earth and under the earth –
• Revelation 5:13Then I heard every creature – in heaven, on earth, under the earth, in the sea, and all that is in them – singing: “To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be praise, honor, glory, and ruling power forever and ever!”
• Colossians 2:10and you have been filled in him, who is the head over every ruler 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

• Angel (a Spirit)
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Power

In the dictionaries

• Angel
• Consist
• Creation
• Darkness
• Dominion
• Fill
• Mightily
• Philippians, Epistle to
• Reconcile
• Redemption

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