New King James Version
Colossians 1:16
16For 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.
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 Living Translation (NLT)for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him.
Context of Colossians 1:16
14in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. 15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 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. 17And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
Read all of Colossians 1Colossians 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 102:25Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
- Isaiah 40:9O Zion, You who bring good tidings, Get up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, You who bring good tidings, Lift up your voice with strength, Lift it up, be not afraid; Say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!”
- Isaiah 44:24Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, And He who formed you from the womb: “I am the Lord, who makes all things, Who stretches out the heavens all alone, Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself;
- John 1:3All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
- 1 Corinthians 8:6yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.
- Ephesians 3:9and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;
- Hebrews 1:2has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;
- Hebrews 3:3For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house.
- Colossians 1:20and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
- Deuteronomy 4:39Therefore know this day, and consider it in your heart, that the Lord Himself is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other.
- 1 Chronicles 29:11Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, And You are exalted as head over all.
- Ephesians 1:10that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.
- Philippians 2:10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
- Revelation 5:13And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”
- Colossians 2:10and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
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
In the dictionaries
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries