Colossians 3 · Verse 18

Colossians 3:18

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
Colossians 3:18, King James Version

Colossians 3:18 in other translations

BSBWives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
WEBWives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
ASVWives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
YLTThe wives! be subject to your own husbands, as is fit in the Lord;
DARBYWives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
BBEWives, be under the authority of your husbands, as is right in the Lord.
WebsterWives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.

What does Colossians 3:18 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
18. unto your own husbands--The oldest manuscripts omit "own," which crept in from Ep 5:22. as it is fit in the Lord--Greek, "was fit," implying that there was at Colosse some degree of failure in fulfilling this duty, "as it was your duty to have done as disciples of the Lord."

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 18. Wives, submit yourselves, etc. Notes on the parallel passage Eph 5:22-24.

(g) "submit" Eph 5:22, Tit 2:4,5, 1Pet 3:1

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 18 Wives, submit yourselves - Having done with general directions, the apostle comes to particular duties, which are commonly called relative; because they only belong to persons in certain situations; and are not incumbent on all. No woman has the duty of a wife to perform but she who is one, and no man has the duty of a husband to perform but he who is married. The directions here to wives, husbands, children, parents, servants, and masters, are so exactly the same in substance with those in Eph 5:22-33 (note); Eph 6:1-9 (note), that there is no need to repeat what has been said on those passages; and to the notes there the reader is requested to refer. As it is fit in the Lord - God commands it; and it is both proper and decent.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Colossians 3:18-25
The epistles most taken up in displaying the glory of the Divine grace, and magnifying the Lord Jesus, are the most particular in pressing the duties of the Christian life. We must never separate the privileges and duties of the gospel. Submission is the duty of wives. But it is submission, not to a severe lord or stern tyrant, but to her own husband, who is engaged to affectionate duty. And husbands must love their wives with tender and faithful affection. Dutiful children are the most likely to prosper. And parents must be tender, as well as children obedient. Servants are to do their duty, and obey their masters' commands, in all things consistent with duty to God their heavenly Master. They must be both just and diligent; without selfish designs, or hypocrisy and disguise. Those who fear God, will be just and faithful when from under their master's eye, because they know they are under the eye of God. And do all with diligence, not idly and slothfully; cheerfully, not discontented at the providence of God which put them in that relation. And for servants' encouragement, let them know, that in serving their masters according to the command of Christ, they serve Christ, and he will give them a glorious reward at last. But, on the other hand, he who doeth wrong, shall receive for the wrong which he hath done. God will punish the unjust, as well as reward the faithful servant; and the same if masters wrong their servants. For the righteous Judge of the earth will deal justly between master and servant. Both will stand upon a level at his tribunal. How happy would true religion make the world, if it every where prevailed, influenced every state of things, and every relation of life! But the profession of those persons who are regardless of duties, and give just cause for complaint to those they are connected with, deceives themselves, as well as brings reproach on the gospel.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Colossians 3:18 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.

ΑἱHaiyou who [are]G3588
γυναῖκες,gunaikeswives,G1135
ὑποτάσσεσθεhupotassesthedo be submittedG5293
τοῖςtois<the>G3588
ἰδίοιςidioisto [your] ownG2398
ἀνδράσινandrasinhusbandsG435
ὡςhōsasG5613
ἀνῆκενanēkenwas fittingG433
ἐνeninG1722
κυρίῳ.¶kuriō[the] Lord.G2962

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

Cross references for Colossians 3:18

  • Ephesians 5:22-6:9

    Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; …

  • Titus 2:4-5

    That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

  • 1 Corinthians 11:3

    But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

  • 1 Peter 3:1-6

    Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. …

  • Genesis 3:16

    Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

  • 1 Timothy 2:12

    But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

  • Esther 1:20

    And when the king’s decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands honour, both to great and small.

  • 1 Corinthians 14:34

    Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.

  • Acts 5:29

    Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
submit.
Ge 3:16; Es 1:20; 1Co 11:3; 14:34; Eph 5:22-24,33; 1Ti 2:12
Tit 2:4,5; 1Pe 3:1-6
as.
Ac 5:29; Eph 5:3; 6:1

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

Context

  • 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.

  • Colossians 3:18

    Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.

  • Colossians 3:19

    Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

Read all of Colossians 3

Colossians 3:18 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Casadas, estad sujetas á vuestros maridos, como conviene en el Señor.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Femmes, soyez soumises à vos maris, comme il convient dans le Seigneur.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ihr Weiber, seid euren Männern unterwürfig, wie es sich geziemt in dem Herrn.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Mulieres, subditæ estote viris, sicut oportet, in Domino.