Colossians 2 · Verse 19

Colossians 2:19

And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
Colossians 2:19, King James Version

Colossians 2:19 in other translations

BSBHe has lost connection to the head, from whom the whole body, supported and knit together by its joints and ligaments, grows as God causes it to grow.
WEBand not holding firmly to the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and ligaments, grows with God’s growth.
ASVand not holding fast the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and bands, increaseth with the increase of God.
YLTand not holding the head, from which all the body--through the joints and bands gathering supply, and being knit together--may increase with the increase of God.
DARBYand not holding fast the head, from whom all the body, ministered to and united together by the joints and bands, increases with the increase of God.
BBEAnd not joined to the Head, from whom all the body, being given strength and kept together through its joins and bands, has its growth with the increase of God.
WebsterAnd not holding the head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

What does Colossians 2:19 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
19. Translate, "Not holding fast the Head." He who does not hold Christ solely and supremely above all others, does not hold Him at all [Bengel]. The want of firm holding of Christ has set him loose to (pry into, and so) "tread haughtily on (pride himself on) things which he hath seen." Each must hold fast the Head for himself, not merely be attached to the other members, however high in the body [Alford]. from which--rather, "from whom." the body--that is, all the members of the body (Ep 4:16). joints--the points of union where the supply of nourishment passes to the different members, furnishing the body with the materials of growth. bands--the sinews and nerves which bind together limb and limb. Faith, love, and peace, are the spiritual bands. Compare "knit together in love" (Col 2:2; Col 3:14; Ep 4:3). having nourishment ministered--that is, supplied to it continually. "Receiving ministration." knit together--The Greek is translated, "compacted," Ep 4:16: implying firm consolidation. with the increase of God--(Ep 4:16); that is, wrought by God, the Author and Sustainer of the believer's spiritual life, in union with Christ, the Head (1Co 3:6); and tending to the honor of God, being worthy of Him, its Author.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 19. And not holding the Head. Not holding the true doctrine respecting the Great Head of the church, the Lord Jesus Christ. Eph 1:22. This is regarded here as essential to the maintenance of all the other doctrines of religion. He who has just views of the Redeemer will not be in much danger of erring respecting the other points of religious belief.

From which all the body, etc. This passage is almost word for word the same as in Eph 4:15,16. Eph 4:15; Eph 4:16.

(a) "from which" Eph 4:15,16

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 19 And not holding the Head - Not acknowledging Jesus Christ as the only Savior of mankind, and the only Head or chief of the Christian Church, on whom every member of it depends, and from whom each derives both light and life. For a farther explanation of these words see the notes on Eph 4:16, where the figures and phraseology are the same.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Colossians 2:18-23

It looked like humility to apply to angels, as if men were conscious of their unworthiness to speak directly to God. But it is not warrantable; it is taking that honour which is due to Christ only, and giving it to a creature. There really was pride in this seeming humility. Those who worship angels, disclaim Christ, who is the only Mediator between God and man. It is an insult to Christ, who is the Head of the…

Read the full comment on Colossians 2:18-23 →

Colossians 2:19 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.

καὶkaiandG2532
οὐounotG3756
κρατῶνkratōnholding fastG2902
τὴνtēnto theG3588
κεφαλὴνkephalēnheadG2776
ἐξexfromG1537
οὗhouwhomG3739
πᾶνpanallG3956
τὸtotheG3588
σῶμαsōmabodyG4983
διὰdiathroughG1223
τῶνtōntheG3588
ἁφῶνhaphōnjointsG860
καὶkaiandG2532
συνδέσμωνsundesmōnligamentsG4886
ἐπιχορηγούμενονepichorēgoumenonbeing suppliedG2023
καὶkaiandG2532
συμβιβαζόμενονsumbibazomenonbeing knit togetherG4822
αὔξειauxeiit increasesG837
τὴνtēnwith theG3588
αὔξησινauxēsinincreaseG838
τοῦtou<the>G3588
θεοῦ.¶theouof God.G2316

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

Cross references for Colossians 2:19

  • Ephesians 4:15-16

    But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

  • John 15:4-6

    Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

  • 1 Timothy 2:4-6

    Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

  • Romans 12:4-5

    For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

  • 1 Peter 3:8

    Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

  • Colossians 2:2

    That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;

  • 2 Peter 3:18

    But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

  • 1 Thessalonians 3:12

    And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:

  • 1 Thessalonians 4:10

    And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;

  • 1 Corinthians 3:6

    I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

  • 2 Thessalonians 1:3

    We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;

  • John 17:21

    That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
not.
6-9; 1:18; Ga 1:6-9; 5:2-4; 1Ti 2:4-6
all.
Eph 4:15,16
by.
Job 19:9-12; Ps 139:15,16
nourishment.
Joh 15:4-6; Ro 11:17; Eph 5:29
knit.
2; Joh 17:21; Ac 4:32; Ro 12:4,5; 1Co 1:10; 10:16,17; 12:12-27
Eph 4:3; Php 1:27; 2:2-5; 1Pe 3:8
increaseth.
1:10; 1Co 3:6; Eph 4:16; 1Th 3:12; 4:10; 2Th 1:3; 2Pe 3:18

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

Context

  • Colossians 2:18

    Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

  • Colossians 2:19

    And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

  • Colossians 2:20

    Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

Read all of Colossians 2

Colossians 2:19 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y no teniendo la cabeza, de la cual todo el cuerpo, alimentado y conjunto por las ligaduras y conjunturas, crece en aumento de Dios.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
et ne tenant pas ferme le chef, duquel tout le corps, alimenté et bien uni ensemble par des jointures et des liens, croît de l’accroissement de Dieu.
German
Elberfelder 1871
und nicht festhaltend das Haupt, aus welchem der ganze Leib, durch die Gelenke und Bande Darreichung empfangend und zusammengefügt, das Wachstum Gottes wächst.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
et non tenens caput, ex quo totum corpus per nexus, et conjunctiones subministratum, et constructum crescit in augmentum Dei.