Colossians 3:21

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 do not be embittered against them. 20Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing in the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they will not become disheartened. 22Slaves, obey your earthly masters in every respect, not only when they are watching – like those who are strictly people-pleasers – but with a sincere heart, fearing the Lord. 23Whatever you are doing, work at it with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not for people,

Colossians 3:21 word by word

Οἱ πατέρες, μὴ ἐρεθίζετε τὰ τέκνα ὑμῶν, ἵνα μὴ ἀθυμῶσιν.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• Fathersὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Fathersπατήρpatēr · fatherG3962
• provokeἐρεθίζωerethizō · to provoke/irritateG2042
• notμήmē · notG3361
• yourσύsu · youG4771
• childrenτέκνονteknon · childG5043
• they be discouragedἀθυμέωathumeō · be discouragedG120

Cross-references for Colossians 3:21

• Psalms 103:13As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on his faithful followers.
• Proverbs 3:12For the Lord disciplines those he loves, just as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights.
• Proverbs 4:1Listen, children, to a father’s instruction, and pay attention so that you may gain discernment.
• Ephesians 6:4Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but raise them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:11As you know, we treated each one of you as a father treats his own children,
• Hebrews 12:5And have you forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons? “My son, do not scorn the Lord’s discipline or 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

• Children
• Parents

In the dictionaries

• Admonish
• Bond
• Charity
• Covetousness
• Discourage
• Ephesians, Epistle to
• Fit
• Lord
• Member
• Mortify

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