Colossians 3 · Verse 16

Colossians 3:16

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Colossians 3:16, King James Version

Colossians 3:16 in other translations

BSBLet the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
WEBLet the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.
ASVLet the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God.
YLTLet the word of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing each other, in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, in grace singing in your hearts to the Lord;
DARBYLet the word of the Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another, in psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to God.
BBELet the word of Christ be in you in all wealth of wisdom; teaching and helping one another with songs of praise and holy words, making melody to God with grace in your hearts.
WebsterLet the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

What does Colossians 3:16 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
16. The form which "thankfulness" (Col 3:15) ought to take. Let the word of Christ--the Gospel word by which ye have been called. richly--(Col 2:2; Ro 15:14). in all wisdom--Alford joins this clause with "teaching," &c., not with "dwell in you," as English Version, for so we find in Col 1:28, "teaching in all wisdom," and the two clauses will thus correspond, "In all wisdom teaching," and "in grace singing in your hears" (so the Greek order). and ... and--The oldest manuscripts read "psalms, hymns, spiritual songs" (see on Ep 5:19). At the Agapæ or love-feasts, and in their family circles, they were to be so full of the Word of Christ in the heart that the mouth should give it utterance in hymns of instruction, admonition, and praise (compare De 6:7). Tertullian [Apology, 39], records that at the love-feasts, after the water had been furnished for the hands and the lights had been literally, according as any had the power, whether by his remembrance of Scripture, or by his powers of composition, he used to be invited to sing praises to God for the common good. Paul contrasts (as in Ep 5:18, 19) the songs of Christians at their social meetings, with the bacchanalian and licentious songs of heathen feasts. Singing usually formed part of the entertainment at Greek banquets (compare Jas 5:13). with grace--Greek, "IN grace," the element in which your singing is to be: "the grace" of the indwelling Holy Spirit. This clause expresses the seat and source of true psalmody, whether in private or public, namely, the heart as well as the voice; singing (compare Col 3:15, "peace ... rule in your hearts"), the psalm of love and praise being in the heart before it finds vent by the lips, and even when it is not actually expressed by the voice, as in closet-worship. The Greek order forbids English Version, "with grace in your hearts"; rather, "singing in your hearts." to the Lord--The oldest manuscripts read, "to God."

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 16. Let the word of Christ. The doctrine of Christ.

Dwell in you richly in all wisdom. Abundantly, producing the spirit of true wisdom. That doctrine is adapted to make you wise. The meaning is, that they were to lay up the doctrines of the gospel in their hearts; to meditate upon them; to allow them to be their guide, and to endeavour wisely to improve them to the best purpose.

Teaching and admonishing, etc. See this explained Eph 5:19,20. The only additional thought here is, that their psalms and hymns were to be regarded as a method of "teaching" and "admonishing;" that is, they were to be imbued with truth, and to be such as to elevate the mind, and withdraw it from error and sin. Dr. Johnson once said, that if he were allowed to make the ballads of a nation, he cared not who made the laws. It is true, in a more important sense, that he who is permitted to make the hymns of a church need care little who preaches, or who makes the creed. He will more effectually mould the sentiments of a church than they who preach or make creeds and confessions. Hence, it is indispensable, in order to the preservation of the truth, that the sacred songs of a church should be imbued with sound evangelical sentiment.

(d) "word of Christ" Ps 119:11 (e) "psalms and hymns" Eph 5:19

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly - I believe the apostle means that the Colossians should be well instructed in the doctrine of Christ; that it should be their constant study; that it should be frequently preached, explained, and enforced among them; and that all the wisdom comprised in it should be well understood. Thus the doctrine of God would dwell richly, that is, abundantly, among them. But there appears to be here an allusion to the Shechinah, or symbol of the Divine presence, which dwelt in the tabernacle and first temple; and to an opinion common among the Jews, which is thus expressed in Melchita, fol. 38, 4: כל מקום שהתורה שם שבינה שם עמה; In whatever place the Law is, there the Shechinah is present with it. Nor is this a vain supposition; wherever God's word is seriously read, heard, or preached, there is God himself; and in that Church or religious society where the truth of God is proclaimed and conscientiously believed, there is the constant dwelling of God. Through bad pointing this verse is not very intelligible; the several members of it should be distinguished thus: Let the doctrine of Christ dwell richly among you; teaching and admonishing each other in all wisdom; singing with grace in your hearts unto the Lord, in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. This arrangement the original will not only bear, but it absolutely requires it, and is not sense without it. See the note on Eph 5:19. The singing which is here recommended is widely different from what is commonly used in most Christian congregations; a congeries of unmeaning sounds, associated to bundles of nonsensical, and often ridiculous, repetitions, which at once both deprave and disgrace the Church of Christ. Melody, which is allowed to be the most proper for devotional music, is now sacrificed to an exuberant harmony, which requires, not only many different kinds of voices, but different musical instruments to support it. And by these preposterous means the simplicity of the Christian worship is destroyed, and all edification totally prevented. And this kind of singing is amply proved to be very injurious to the personal piety of those employed in it; even of those who enter with a considerable share of humility and Christian meekness, how few continue to sing with Grace in their hearts unto the Lord?

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Colossians 3:12-17

We must not only do no hurt to any, but do what good we can to all. Those who are the elect of God, holy and beloved, ought to be lowly and compassionate towards all. While in this world, where there is so much corruption in our hearts, quarrels will sometimes arise. But it is our duty to forgive one another, imitating the forgiveness through which we are saved. Let the peace of God rule in your hearts; it is of his…

Read the full comment on Colossians 3:12-17 →

Colossians 3:16 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.

ὉHoTheG3588
λόγοςlogoswordG3056
τοῦtou<the>G3588
ΧριστοῦChristouof ChristG5547
ἐνοικείτωenoikeitōshould dwellG1774
ἐνeninG1722
ὑμῖνhuminyouG4771
πλουσίως,plousiōsrichly,G4146
ἐνeninG1722
πάσῃpasēallG3956
σοφίᾳ,sophiawisdomG4678
διδάσκοντεςdidaskontesteachingG1321
καὶkaiandG2532
νουθετοῦντεςnouthetountesadmonishingG3560
ἑαυτοὺςhe'autousyourselvesG1438
ψαλμοῖς,psalmoisin psalms,G5568
ὕμνοις,humnoisin hymns,G5215
ᾠδαῖςōdaisin songsG5603
πνευματικαῖςpneumatikaisspiritualG4152
ἐνenwithG1722
χάριτιcharitigraceG5485
ᾄδοντεςadontessingingG103
ἐνeninG1722
ταῖςtaistheG3588
καρδίαιςkardiaisheartsG2588
ὑμῶνhumōnof youG4771
τῷtō<the>G3588
θεῷ·theōto God;G2316

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

Cross references for Colossians 3:16

  • Psalms 119:11

    Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

  • Ephesians 5:19

    Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

  • John 15:7

    If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

  • Romans 10:17

    So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

  • Jeremiah 15:16

    Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts.

  • Hebrews 4:12-13

    For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

  • 1 John 2:24

    Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.

  • Deuteronomy 6:6-9

    And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

  • Ephesians 1:17

    That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

  • Job 23:12

    Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

  • James 3:17

    But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

  • 2 Timothy 3:15

    And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the word.
Joh 5:39,40; 2Ti 3:15; Heb 4:12,13; 1Pe 1:11,12; Re 19:10
dwell.
De 6:6-9; 11:18-20; Job 23:12; Ps 119:11; Jer 15:16; Lu 2:51
Joh 15:7; 1Jo 2:14,24,27; 2Jo 1:2
richly.
1Ti 6:17; Tit 3:6; *marg:
all.
1:9; 1Ki 3:9-12,28; Pr 2:6,7; 14:8; 18:1; Isa 10:2; Eph 1:17; 5:17
Jas 1:5; 3:17
teaching.
1:28; Ro 15:14; 1Th 4:18; 5:11,12; 2Th 3:15; Heb 12:12-15
in psalms.
Mt 26:30; 1Co 14:26; Eph 5:19; Jas 5:13
and spiritual.
1Ch 25:7; Ne 12:46; Ps 32:7; 119:54; So 1:1; Isa 5:1; 26:1; 30:29
Re 5:9; 14:3; 15:3
singing.
4:6; Ps 28:7; 30:11,12; 47:6,7; 63:4-6; 71:23; 103:1,2; 138:1
1Co 14:15
to the.
23

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

Context

  • Colossians 3:15

    And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

  • Colossians 3:16

    Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

  • Colossians 3:17

    And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Read all of Colossians 3

Colossians 3:16 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		La palabra de Cristo habite en vosotros en abundancia en toda sabiduría, enseñándoos y exhortándoos los unos á los otros con salmos é himnos y canciones espirituales, con gracia cantando en vuestros corazones al Señor.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Que la parole du Christ habite en vous richement, – en toute sagesse vous enseignant et vous exhortant l’un l’autre, par des psaumes, des hymnes, des cantiques spirituels, chantant de vos cœurs à Dieu dans un esprit de grâce.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Laßt das Wort des Christus reichlich in euch wohnen, indem ihr in aller Weisheit euch gegenseitig lehrend und ermahnend mit Psalmen, Lobliedern und geistlichen Liedern, Gott singend in euren Herzen in Gnade.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Verbum Christi habitet in vobis abundanter, in omni sapientia, docentes, et commonentes vosmetipsos, psalmis, hymnis, et canticis spiritualibus, in gratia cantantes in cordibus vestris Deo.