Colossians 2:14

Colossians 2:14 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
• New International Version (NIV)having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.
• English Standard Version (ESV)by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
• New King James Version (NKJV)having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

Context of Colossians 2:14

12For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. 13You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. 15In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross. 16So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths.

Colossians 2:14 word by word

ἐξαλείψας τὸ καθ᾽ ἡμῶν χειρόγραφον τοῖς δόγμασιν ὃ ἦν ὑπεναντίον ἡμῖν, καὶ αὐτὸ ἦρκεν ἐκ τοῦ μέσου προσηλώσας αὐτὸ τῷ σταυρῷ·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Blotting outἐξαλείφωexaleiphō · to blot outG1813
• the handwritingχειρόγραφοςcheirographon · writen recordG5498
• of ordinancesδόγμαdogma · decreeG1378
• thatὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• wasεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• againstκατάkata · according toG2596
• usἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• contraryὑπεναντίοςhupenantios · opposedG5227
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• tookαἴρωairō · to take upG142
• itαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• out ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• the wayμέσοςmesos · midstG3319
• nailingπροσηλόωprosēloō · to nailG4338
• to his crossσταυρόςstauros · crossG4716

Cross-references for Colossians 2:14

• Numbers 5:23And the priest will write these curses on a piece of leather and wash them off into the bitter water.
• Nehemiah 4:5Do not ignore their guilt. Do not blot out their sins, for they have provoked you to anger here in front of the builders.”
• Psalms 51:1Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.
• Isaiah 43:25“I—yes, I alone—will blot out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again.
• Isaiah 44:22I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free.”
• Acts 3:19Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.
• Colossians 2:20You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as,
• Esther 3:12So on April 17 the king’s secretaries were summoned, and a decree was written exactly as Haman dictated. It was sent to the king’s highest officers, the governors of the respective provinces, and the nobles of each province in their own scripts and languages. The decree was written in the name of King Xerxes and sealed with the king’s signet ring.
• Esther 8:8Now go ahead and send a message to the Jews in the king’s name, telling them whatever you want, and seal it with the king’s signet ring. But remember that whatever has already been written in the king’s name and sealed with his signet ring can never be revoked.”
• Daniel 5:7The king shouted for the enchanters, astrologers, and fortune-tellers to be brought before him. He said to these wise men of Babylon, “Whoever can read this writing and tell me what it means will be dressed in purple robes of royal honor and will have a gold chain placed around his neck. He will become the third highest ruler in the kingdom!”
• Luke 1:6Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations.
• Galatians 4:1Think of it this way. If a father dies and leaves an inheritance for his young children, those children are not much better off than slaves until they grow up, even though they actually own everything their father had.
• Ephesians 2:14For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.
• Hebrews 7:18Yes, the old requirement about the priesthood was set aside because it was weak and useless.
• Hebrews 8:13When God speaks of a “new” covenant, it means he has made the first one obsolete. It is now out of date and will soon disappear.
• Hebrews 9:9This is an illustration pointing to the present time. For the gifts and sacrifices that the priests offer are not able to cleanse the consciences of the people who bring them.

Commentaries on Colossians 2:14

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14Blotting out the hand-writing of ordinances - By the hand-writing of ordinances the apostle most evidently means the ceremonial law: this was against them, for they were bound to fulfill it; and it was contrary to them, as condemning them for their neglect and transgression of it. This law God himself has blotted out. Blotting out the hand-writing is probably an allusion to Numbers 5:23, where the curses written in the book, in the case of the woman…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14Blotting out the handwriting - The word rendered handwriting means something written by the hand, a manuscript; and here, probably, the writings of the Mosaic law, or the law appointing many ordinances or observances in religion. The allusion is probably to a written contract, in which we bind ourselves to do any work, or to make a payment, and which remains in force against us until the bond is cancelled. That might be done, either by blotting out the…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-17Verses 8-17 There is a philosophy which rightly exercises our reasonable faculties; a study of the works of God, which leads us to the knowledge of God, and confirms our faith in him. But there is a philosophy which is vain and deceitful; and while it pleases men's fancies, hinders their faith: such are curious speculations about things above us, or no concern to us. Those who walk in the way of the world, are turned from following Christ. We have in Him…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14the decrees that stood against us: The Greek phrase suggests a signed acknowledgment of debt. We cannot pay what we owe, so it stands against us. The law of God requires obedience that people cannot give. But God has forgiven our debt through the work of Christ (2:13).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1414. Blotting out--Greek, "Having wiped out"; coincident in time with "having forgiven you" (Col 2:13); hereby having cancelled the law's indictment against you. The law (including especially the moral law, wherein lay the chief difficulty in obeying) is abrogated to the believer, as far as it was a compulsory, accusing code, and as far as "righteousness" (justification) and "life" were sought for by it. It can only produce outward works, not inward…Read the comment

Topics related to Colossians 2:14

• Contracts
• Cross
• Jesus, the Christ
• Justification
• Law
• Ordinance
• Types

In the dictionaries

• Blot
• Complete
• Conflict
• Handwriting
• Nail
• Subject
• Treasure
• Trespass
• Apostolic Age
• Astrology

Commentaries on Colossians 2

• 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
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings