Tree of Life Version
Colossians 2:14
14He wiped out the handwritten record of debts with the decrees against us, which was hostile to us. He took it away by nailing it to the cross.
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
12You were buried along with Him in immersion, through which you also were raised with Him by trusting in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13When you were dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with Him when He pardoned us all our transgressions. He wiped out the handwritten record of debts with the decrees against us, which was hostile to us. He took it away by nailing it to the cross. 15After disarming the principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in the cross. 16Therefore, do not let anyone pass judgment on you in matters of food or drink, or in respect to a festival or new moon or Shabbat.
Read all of Colossians 2Colossians 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 5:23“Then the kohen is to write these curses on a scroll and wash them into the waters of bitterness.
- Nehemiah 4:5Our adversaries also said, “They will not know or perceive anything, until we come among them and kill them, and put an end to the work!”
- Psalms 51:1For the music director: a psalm of David,
- Isaiah 43:25I, I am the One who blots out your transgressions for My own sake, and will not remember your sins.
- Isaiah 44:22I have blotted out your transgressions like a thick cloud and your sins like a mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.”
- Acts 3:19Repent, therefore, and return—so your sins might be blotted out,
- Colossians 2:20If you died with Messiah to the basic principles of the world, why—as though living in the world—do you subject yourselves to their rules?
- Esther 3:12The king’s scribes were summoned in the first month, on the thirteenth day, and an edict was written as Haman had commanded. Everything Haman commanded was written to the king’s provincial governors, and to the officials who were in every province, and to the officials of every people, province by province, according to its script and people by people according to its language. It was written in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the king’s ring.
- Esther 8:8Now write in the king’s name on behalf of the Jews what seems good to you and seal it with the king’s signet ring. For a decree that is written in the king’s name, and sealed with the king’s ring, cannot be revoked.”
- Daniel 5:7The king called loudly to summon the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the diviners. The king said to the wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing and tells me what it means will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain around his neck, and will have authority as the third ruler in the kingdom!”
- Luke 1:6Together they were righteous before Adonai, walking without fault in all His commandments and instructions.
- Galatians 4:1Now I am saying, so long as the heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, even though he is the owner of everything.
- Ephesians 2:14For He is our shalom, the One who made the two into one and broke down the middle wall of separation. Within His flesh He made powerless the hostility—
- Hebrews 7:18For on the one hand, a former requirement is set aside because of its weakness and ineffectiveness—
- Hebrews 8:13In saying “new,” He has treated the first as old; but what is being made old and aging is close to vanishing.
- Hebrews 9:9It is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly, gifts and sacrifices are being offered that cannot make the worshiper perfect with respect to conscience.
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
In the dictionaries
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
Tree of Life Version — © 2015 The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society
Commentaries