Colossians 2 · Verse 16

Colossians 2:16

Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:

Colossians 2:16, King James Version

Colossians 2:16 in other translations

BSB	Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath.
WEB	Let no one therefore judge you in eating or drinking, or with respect to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day,
ASV	Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a feast day or a new moon or a sabbath day:
YLT	Let no one, then, judge you in eating or in drinking, or in respect of a feast, or of a new moon, or of sabbaths,
DARBY	Let none therefore judge you in meat or in drink, or in matter of feast, or new moon, or sabbaths,
BBE	For this reason let no man be your judge in any question of food or drink or feast days or new moons or Sabbaths:
Webster	Let no man therefore judge you in food, or in drink, or in respect of a holy-day, or or the new-moon, or of the sabbaths:

What does Colossians 2:16 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

16. therefore--because ye are complete in Christ, and God in Him has dispensed with all subordinate means as essential to acceptance with Him. meat ... drink--Greek, "eating ... drinking" (Ro 14:1-17). Pay no regard to any one who sits in judgment on you as to legal observances in respect to foods. holyday--a feast yearly. Compare the three, 1Ch 23:31. new moon--monthly. the sabbath--Omit "THE," which is not in the Greek (compare Note, see on Ga 4:10). "Sabbaths" (not "the sabbaths") of the day of atonement and feast of tabernacles have come to an end with the Jewish services to which they belonged (Le 23:32, 37-39). The weekly sabbath rests on a more permanent foundation, having been instituted in Paradise to commemorate the completion of creation in six days. Le 23:38 expressly distinguished "the sabbath of the Lord" from the other sabbaths. A positive precept is right because it is commanded, and ceases to be obligatory when abrogated; a moral precept is commanded eternally, because it is eternally right. If we could keep a perpetual sabbath, as we shall hereafter, the positive precept of the sabbath, one in each week, would not be needed. He 4:9, "rests," Greek, "keeping of sabbath" (Is 66:23). But we cannot, since even Adam, in innocence, needed one amidst his earthly employments; therefore the sabbath is still needed and is therefore still linked with the other nine commandments, as obligatory in the spirit, though the letter of the law has been superseded by that higher spirit of love which is the essence of law and Gospel alike (Ro 13:8-10).

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

Barnes' Notes

Verse 16. Let no man therefore judge you. Rom 14:10,13. The word judge here is used in the sense of pronouncing a sentence. The meaning is, "since you have thus been delivered by Christ from the evils which surrounded you; since you have been freed from the observances of the law, let no one sit in judgment on you, or claim the right to decide for you in those matters. You are not responsible to man for your conduct, but to Christ; and no man has a right to impose that on you as a burden from which he has made you free."

In meat. Marg., for eating and drinking. The meaning is, "in respect to the various articles of food and drink." There is reference here, undoubtedly, to the distinctions which the Jews made on this subject, implying that an effort had been made by Jewish teachers to show them that the Mosaic laws were binding on all.

Or in respect of an holyday. Marg., part. The meaning is, "in the part, or the particular of a holyday; that is, in respect to it." The word rendered "holyday" --εορτη means, properly, a feast or festival; and the allusion here is to the festivals of the Jews. The sense is, that no one had a right to impose their observance on Christians, or to condemn them if they did not keep them. They had been delivered from that obligation by the death of Christ, Col 2:14.

Or of the new moon. On the appearance of the new moon, among the Hebrews, in addition to the daily sacrifices, two bullocks, a ram, and seven sheep, with a meat-offering, were required to be presented to God, Nu 10:10, 28:11-14. The new moon in the beginning of the month Tisri (October) was the beginning of their civil year, and was commanded to be observed as a festival, Lev 23:24,25.

Or of the sabbath days. Gr, "of the sabbaths." The word Sabbath in the Old Testament is applied not only to the seventh day, but to all the days of holy rest that were observed by the Hebrews, and particularly to the beginning and close of their great festivals. There is, doubtless, reference to those days in this place, as the word is used in the plural number, and the apostle does not refer particularly to the Sabbath properly so called. There is no evidence, from this passage, that he would teach that there was no obligation to observe any holy time, for there is not the slightest reason to believe that he meant to teach that one of the ten commandments had ceased to be binding on mankind. If he had used the word in the singular number --"THE Sabbath"--it would then, of course, have been clear that he meant to teach that that commandment had ceased to be binding, and that a sabbath was no longer to be observed. But the use of the term in the plural number, and the connexion, show that he had his eye on the great number of days which were observed by the Hebrews as festivals, as a part of their ceremonial and typical law-- and not to the moral law, or the ten commandments. No part of the moral law-- no one of the ten commandments -- could be spoken of as "a shadow of good things to come." These commandments are, from the nature of moral law, of perpetual and universal obligation.

(b) "judge you" Rom 14:10,13 (2) "in meat" "for eating and drinking" (3) "in respect" "part" (*) "holyday" "feast"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 16 Let no man - judge you in meat, or in drink - The apostle speaks here in reference to some particulars of the hand-writing of ordinances, which had been taken away, viz., the distinction of meats and drinks, what was clean and what unclean, according to the law; and the necessity of observing certain holydays or festivals, such as the new moons and particular sabbaths, or those which should be observed with more than ordinary solemnity; all these had been taken out of the way and nailed to the cross, and were no longer of moral obligation. There is no intimation here that the Sabbath was done away, or that its moral use was superseded, by the introduction of Christianity. I have shown elsewhere that, Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, is a command of perpetual obligation, and can never be superseded but by the final termination of time. As it is a type of that rest which remains for the people of God, of an eternity of bliss, it must continue in full force till that eternity arrives; for no type ever ceases till the antitype be come. Besides, it is not clear that the apostle refers at all to the Sabbath in this place, whether Jewish or Christian; his σαββατων, of sabbaths or weeks, most probably refers to their feasts of weeks, of which much has been said in the notes on the Pentateuch.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Colossians 2:8-17

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…

Read the full comment on Colossians 2:8-17 →

Colossians 2:16 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.

ΜὴMēNotG3361

οὖνounthereforeG3767

τιςtisanyoneG5100

ὑμᾶςhumasyouG4771

κρινέτωkrinetōshould judgeG2919

ἐνenin regard toG1722

βρώσειbrōseifoodG1035

καὶkaiorG2532

ἐνenin regard toG1722

πόσειposeidrinkG4213

ἢēorG2228

ἐνeninG1722

μέρειmereiregardG3313

ἑορτῆςhe'ortēsto a feastG1859

ἢēorG2228

νεομηνίαςneomēniasa New MoonG3561

ἢēorG2228

σαββάτων,sabbatōnSabbaths,G4521

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

Cross references for Colossians 2:16

Romans 14:5-6
One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
Romans 14:10
But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
Galatians 4:10
Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
Romans 14:13-17
Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way. I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. Let not then your good be evil spoken of: …
Romans 14:2-3
For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
Hebrews 13:9
Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
Ezekiel 45:17
And it shall be the prince’s part to give burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and drink offerings, in the feasts, and in the new moons, and in the sabbaths, in all solemnities of the house of Israel: he shall prepare the sin offering, and the meat offering, and the burnt offering, and the peace offerings, to make reconciliation for the house of Israel.
1 Chronicles 23:31
And to offer all burnt sacrifices unto the Lord in the sabbaths, in the new moons, and on the set feasts, by number, according to the order commanded unto them, continually before the Lord:
Matthew 15:11
Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
Mark 2:27-28
And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
Nehemiah 10:33
For the shewbread, and for the continual meat offering, and for the continual burnt offering, of the sabbaths, of the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the sin offerings to make an atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God.
1 Timothy 4:3-5
Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

judge.
Ro 14:3,10,13; 1Co 10:28-31; Ga 2:12,13; Jas 4:11
in meat, etc. or, for eating and drinking.
Le 11:2-47; 17:10-15; De 14:3-21; Eze 4:14; Mt 15:11; Ac 11:3-18
Ac 15:20; Ro 14:2,6,14-17,20,21; 1Co 8:7-13; 1Ti 4:3-5; Heb 9:10
Heb 13:9
in respect. or, in part. of an.
Le 23:1-44; Nu 28:1-29:40; De 16:1-17; Ne 8:9; 10:31; Ps 42:4
Ro 14:5,6
the new.
Nu 10:10; 28:11,14; 1Sa 20:5,18; 2Ki 4:23; 1Ch 23:31; Ne 10:33
Ps 81:3; Isa 1:13; Eze 45:17; 46:1-3; Am 8:5; Ga 4:10
or of the sabbath.
Le 16:31; 23:3,24,32,39

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

Context

Colossians 2:15
And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
Colossians 2:16
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
Colossians 2:17
Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Read all of Colossians 2

Colossians 2:16 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Por tanto, nadie os juzgue en comida, ó en bebida, ó en parte de día de fiesta, ó de nueva luna, ó de sábados:
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Que personne donc ne vous juge en ce qui concerne le manger ou le boire, ou à propos d’un jour de fête ou de nouvelle lune, ou de sabbats,
German Elberfelder 1871	So richte euch nun niemand über Speise oder Trank, oder in Ansehung eines Festes oder Neumondes oder von Sabbathen,
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Nemo ergo vos judicet in cibo, aut in potu, aut in parte diei festi, aut neomeniæ, aut sabbatorum: