Colossians 3:21
Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
Colossians 3:21 in other translations
| BSB | Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they will not become discouraged. |
|---|---|
| WEB | Fathers, don’t provoke your children, so that they won’t be discouraged. |
| ASV | Fathers, provoke not your children, that they be not discouraged. |
| YLT | the fathers! vex not your children, lest they be discouraged. |
| DARBY | Fathers, do not vex your children, to the end that they be not disheartened. |
| BBE | Fathers, do not be hard on your children, so that their spirit may not be broken. |
| Webster | Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. |
What does Colossians 3:21 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Barnes' Notes
Lest they be discouraged. Lest, by your continually finding fault with them, they should lose all courage, and despair of ever pleasing you. There is much sound sense and practical wisdom in this observation of the apostle. Children should not be flattered, but they should be encouraged. They should not be so praised as to make them vain and proud, but they should be commended when they do well. The desire of praise should not be the principle from which they should be taught to act, but they should feel that the approbation of parents is a desirable thing, and when they act so as to deserve that approbation, no injury is done them by their understanding it. He who always finds fault with a child; who is never satisfied with what he does; who scolds and frets and complains, let him do as he will, breaks his spirit, and soon destroys in the delicate texture of his soul all desire of doing well. The child in despair soon gives over every effort to please, he becomes sullen, morose, stupid, and indifferent to all the motives that can be presented to him, and becomes, to a great extent, indifferent as to what he does--since all that he does meets with the same reception from the parent.
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
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…
Colossians 3:21 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.
Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for Colossians 3:21
- Proverbs 4:1-4
Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.
- Ephesians 6:4
And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
- Psalms 103:13
Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.
- Proverbs 3:12
For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:11
As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,
- Hebrews 12:5-11
And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. …
Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- Colossians 3:20
Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
- Colossians 3:21
Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
- Colossians 3:22
Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
Colossians 3:21 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Padres, no irritéis á vuestros hijos, porque no se hagan de poco ánimo. |
|---|---|
| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Pères, n’irritez pas vos enfants, afin qu’ils ne soient pas découragés. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Ihr Väter, ärgert eure Kinder nicht, auf daß sie nicht mutlos werden. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Patres, nolite ad indignationem provocare filios vestros, ut non pusillo animo fiant. |