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

14who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins. 15Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, 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. 17He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together. 18Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything.

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 1:15Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,
• Psalms 102:25Long ago you laid the foundation of the earth and made the heavens with your hands.
• Isaiah 40:9O Zion, messenger of good news, shout from the mountaintops! Shout it louder, O Jerusalem. Shout, and do not be afraid. Tell the towns of Judah, “Your God is coming!”
• Isaiah 44:24This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer and Creator: “I am the Lord, who made all things. I alone stretched out the heavens. Who was with me when I made the earth?
• John 1:3God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.
• 1 Corinthians 8:6But for us, There is one God, the Father, by whom all things were created, and for whom we live. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created, and through whom we live.
• Ephesians 3:9I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning.
• Hebrews 1:2And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe.
• Hebrews 3:3But Jesus deserves far more glory than Moses, just as a person who builds a house deserves more praise than the house itself.
• Colossians 1:20and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.
• Deuteronomy 4:39“So remember this and keep it firmly in mind: The Lord is God both in heaven and on earth, and there is no other.
• 1 Chronicles 29:11Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things.
• Ephesians 1:10And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth.
• Philippians 2:10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
• Revelation 5:13And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang: “Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.”
• Colossians 2:10So you also are complete through your union with Christ, 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