Colossians 1 · Verse 13

Colossians 1:13

Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Colossians 1:13, King James Version

Colossians 1:13 in other translations

BSBHe has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son,
WEBwho delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the Kingdom of the Son of his love,
ASVwho delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love;
YLTwho did rescue us out of the authority of the darkness, and did translate us into the reign of the Son of His love,
DARBYwho has delivered us from the authority of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love:
BBEWho has made us free from the power of evil and given us a place in the kingdom of the Son of his love;
WebsterWho hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his beloved Son:

What does Colossians 1:13 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
13. from--Greek, "out of the power," out of the sphere in which his power is exercised. darkness--blindness, hatred, misery [Bengel]. translated--Those thus translated as to state, are also transformed as to character. Satan has an organized dominion with various orders of powers of evil (Ep 2:2; 6:12). But the term "kingdom" is rarely applied to his usurped rule (Mt 12:26); it is generally restricted to the kingdom of God. his dear Son--rather as Greek, "the Son of His love": the Son on whom His love rests (Joh 17:26; Ep 1:6): contrasted with the "darkness" where all is hatred and hateful.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 13. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness. The power exerted over us in that dark kingdom to which we formerly belonged--the kingdom of Satan. The characteristic of this empire is darkness--the emblem of

(1) sin;

(2) error;

(3) misery and death. Over us, by nature, these things had uncontrollable power; but now we are delivered from them, and brought to the enjoyment of the privileges of those who are connected with the kingdom of light. Darkness is often used to represent the state in which men are by nature. Comp. Lk 1:79, Acts 26:18, Rom 13:12; 1Pet 2:9, 1Jn 2:8.

And hath translated us. The word here rendered "translated" is often used in the sense of removing a people from one country to another. See Josephus, Ant. ix. 11.1. It means, here, that they who are Christians have been transferred from one kingdom to another, as if a people were thus removed. They become subjects of a new kingdom, are under different laws, and belong to a different community. This change is made in regeneration, by which we pass from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light; from the empire of sin, ignorance, and misery, to one of holiness, knowledge, and happiness. No change, therefore, in a man's life is so important as this; and no words can suitably express the gratitude which they should feel who are thus transferred from the empire of darkness to that of light.

(a) "darkness" 1Pet 2:9 (1) "his dear Son" "the Son of his love"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 13 Delivered us from the power of darkness - Darkness is here personified, and is represented as having εξουσια, power, authority, and sway; all Jews and Gentiles, which had not embraced the Gospel, being under this authority and power. And the apostle intimates here that nothing less than the power of God can redeem a man from this darkness, or prince of darkness, who, by means of sin and unbelief, keeps men in ignorance, vice, and misery. Translated us into the kingdom, etc - He has thoroughly changed our state, brought us out of the dark region of vice and impiety, and placed us in the kingdom under the government of his dear Son, Υἱου της αγαπης αὑτου, the Son of his love; the person whom, in his infinite love, he has given to make an atonement for the sin of the world.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Colossians 1:9-14

The apostle was constant in prayer, that the believers might be filled with the knowledge of God's will, in all wisdom. Good words will not do without good works. He who undertakes to give strength to his people, is a God of power, and of glorious power. The blessed Spirit is the author of this. In praying for spiritual strength, we are not straitened, or confined in the promises, and should not be so in our hopes…

Read the full comment on Colossians 1:9-14 →

Colossians 1:13 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ὃςhoswhoG3739
ἐρρύσατοerrusatohas deliveredG4506
ἡμᾶςhēmasusG3165
ἐκekfromG1537
τῆςtēstheG3588
ἐξουσίαςexousiasdominionG1849
τοῦtou<the>G3588
σκότουςskotousof darknessG4655
καὶkaiandG2532
μετέστησενmetestēsentransferred [us]G3179
εἰςeisintoG1519
τὴνtēntheG3588
βασιλείανbasileiankingdomG932
τοῦtouof theG3588
υἱοῦhuiouSonG5207
τῆςtēstheG3588
ἀγάπηςagapēsbelovedG26
αὐτοῦ,autouof Him,G846

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Colossians 1:13

  • Ephesians 5:8

    For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

  • Acts 26:18

    To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

  • 1 Peter 2:9

    But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

  • Titus 3:3-6

    For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:12

    That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

  • Ephesians 6:12

    For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

  • 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

    Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

  • Ephesians 4:18

    Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

  • Romans 14:17

    For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

  • 1 John 3:14

    We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

  • 2 Corinthians 4:4

    In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

  • 1 John 3:8

    He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
delivered.
Isa 49:24,25; 53:12; Mt 12:29,30; Ac 26:18; Heb 2:14
the power.
Lu 22:53; Joh 12:31,32; 2Co 4:4; Eph 4:18; 5:8; 6:12; 1Pe 2:9
1Jo 2:8; 3:8
and.
Lu 13:24; Joh 5:24; Ro 6:17-22; 1Co 6:9-11; 2Co 6:17,18; Eph 2:3-10
1Th 2:12; Tit 3:3-6; 2Pe 1:11; 1Jo 3:14
the kingdom.
Ps 2:6,7; Isa 9:6,7; Da 7:13,14; Zec 9:9; Mt 25:34; Ro 14:17
1Co 15:23-25
his dear Son. Gr. the Son of his love.
Isa 42:1; Mt 3:17; 17:5; Joh 3:35; 17:24; Eph 1:6

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Colossians 1:12

    Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

  • Colossians 1:13

    Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

  • Colossians 1:14

    In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Read all of Colossians 1

Colossians 1:13 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Que nos ha librado de la potestad de las tinieblas, y trasladado al reino de su amado Hijo;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		qui nous a délivrés du pouvoir des ténèbres, et nous a transportés dans le royaume du Fils de son amour,
German
Elberfelder 1871		der uns errettet hat aus der Gewalt der Finsternis und versetzt in das Reich des Sohnes seiner Liebe,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		qui eripuit nos de potestate tenebrarum, et transtulit in regnum filii dilectionis suæ,