Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed for doing comparisons of different translations. Click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) Be careful in case anyone captures your minds with fancy ideas or theories without proof that come from human traditions or from worldly thinking, and not from Messiah.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, red:negative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT Beware lest someone will be the one taking you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the elemental teaching of the world, and not according to Christ.

UST Be on the alert so that no one who tries to lead you away from the truth will succeed. Anyone who tries to lead you away will use human thinking that is meaningless and deceptive. Such a false message comes from what older generations teach younger generations and from what humans normally think about the world, not from the Messiah.

BSB § See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ.

BLB Take heed lest there will be anyone taking you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the principles of the world and not according to Christ.

AICNT See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

OEB Take care that there is not someone who will carry you away by his “philosophy” – a hollow sham! – following, as it does, mere human traditions, and dealing with puerile questions of this world, and not with Christ.

CSB Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ.

NLT Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.

NIV See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.

CEV Don't let anyone fool you by using senseless arguments. These arguments may sound wise, but they are only human teachings. They come from the powers of this world and not from Christ.

ESV See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

NASB See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.

LSB See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

WEBBE Be careful that you don’t let anyone rob you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the elemental spirits of the world, and not after Christ.

WMBB Be careful that you don’t let anyone rob you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the elemental spirits of the world, and not after Messiah.

MSG ^(8-10)Watch out for people who try to dazzle you with big words and intellectual double-talk. They want to drag you off into endless arguments that never amount to anything. They spread their ideas through the empty traditions of human beings and the empty superstitions of spirit beings. But that’s not the way of Christ. Everything of God gets expressed in him, so you can see and hear him clearly. You don’t need a telescope, a microscope, or a horoscope to realize the fullness of Christ, and the emptiness of the universe without him. When you come to him, that fullness comes together for you, too. His power extends over everything.

NET Be careful not to allow anyone to captivate you through an empty, deceitful philosophy that is according to human traditions and the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

LSV See that no one will be carrying you away as spoil through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the rudiments of the world, and not according to Christ,

FBV Watch out that nobody enslaves you through their philosophy and worthless delusions, following human traditions and concepts of this world, and not following Christ.

TCNT Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men and the elements of the world, and not according to Christ.

T4T Make sure that no one forces you (pl) to become his disciples [MET] by his teaching you a religious philosophy/doctrine that is worthless and false. Such a philosophy is false because it teaches what mere human beings think, because it teaches people elementary regulations/rules that are concerned merely with what is external/physical, and because it teaches what is contrary to the true teaching about Christ.

LEB Beware lest anyone take you captive[fn] through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition[fn], according to the elemental spirits of the world and not according to Christ,

2:8 Literally “anyone be the one who takes captive you”

2:8 Literally “the tradition of men”

NRSV See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ.

NKJV Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

NAB See to it that no one captivate you with an empty, seductive philosophy according to human tradition, according to the elemental powers of the world and not according to Christ.

BBE Take care that no one takes you away by force, through man's wisdom and deceit, going after the beliefs of men and the theories of the world, and not after Christ:

Moff No Moff COL book available

Wymth Take care lest there be some one who leads you away as prisoners by means of his philosophy and idle fancies, following human traditions and the world's crude notions instead of following Christ.

ASV ¶ Take heed lest there shall be any one that maketh spoil of you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ:

DRA Beware lest any man cheat you by philosophy, and vain deceit; according to the tradition of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ:

YLT See that no one shall be carrying you away as spoil through the philosophy and vain deceit, according to the deliverance of men, according to the rudiments of the world, and not according to Christ,

Drby See that there be no one who shall lead you away as a prey through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the teaching of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ.

RV Take heed lest there shall be any one that maketh spoil of you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ:

Wbstr Beware lest any man make a prey of you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

KJB-1769 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

KJB-1611 Beware lest any man spoile you through Philosophie and vaine deceit, after the tradition of men, after the [fn]rudiments of the world, and not after Christ:
(Beware lest any man spoil you through Philosophie and vaine deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ:)

2:8 Or, elements.

Bshps Beware lest any man spoyle you through philosophie & vayne deceipt, after the tradition of men, and after the rudimentes of the worlde, and not after Christe.
(Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophie and vayne deceipt, after the tradition of men, and after the rudimentes of the world, and not after Christ.)

Gnva Beware lest there be any man that spoile you through philosophie, and vaine deceit, through the traditions of men, according to the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
(Beware lest there be any man that spoil you through philosophie, and vaine deceit, through the traditions of men, according to the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. )

Cvdl Bewarre lest eny ma spoyle you thorow philosophy and disceatfull vanite after the tradicions of men, and after the ordinauces of the worlde, and not after Christ.
(Bewarre lest any man spoil you through philosophy and disceatfull vanite after the tradicions of men, and after the ordinauces of the world, and not after Christ.)

TNT Beware lest eny man come and spoyle you thorow philosophy and disceatfull vanitie, thorow the tradicions of me and ordinaunces after the worlde and not after christ.
(Beware lest any man come and spoil you through philosophy and disceatfull vanitie, through the tradicions of me and ordinaunces after the world and not after christ. )

Wycl Se ye that no man disseyue you bi filosofie and veyn fallace, aftir the tradicioun of men, aftir the elementis of the world, and not aftir Crist.
(See ye/you_all that no man disseyue you by filosofie and veyn fallace, after the tradicioun of men, after the elementis of the world, and not after Christ.)

Luth Sehet zu, daß euch niemand beraube durch die Philosophie und lose Verführung nach der Menschen Lehre und nach der Welt Satzungen und nicht nach Christo.
(Sehet to, that you no_one beraube through the Philosophie and lose Verführung after the/of_the Menschen Lehre and after the/of_the world Satzungen and not after Christo.)

ClVg Videte ne quis vos decipiat per philosophiam, et inanem fallaciam secundum traditionem hominum, secundum elementa mundi, et non secundum Christum:[fn]
(Videte not who/any you decipiat through philosophiam, and inanem fallaciam after/second traditionem of_men, after/second elementa mundi, and not/no after/second Christum: )

2.8 Fallaciam. Quod de lege pseudoprædicatores dicunt. Et inanem. Quia in hac falsitate nulla utilitas, quod solet aliquando esse in falsis. Secundum elementa. Illos tangit qui prudentius idola exponunt dicentes, Juno est ær, Neptunus mare; ideo cum diceret secundum philosophiam et inanem, addit, secundum elementa mundi: quasi admonens ne qualescunque adoratores simulacrorum, sed et quasi doctores et interpretatores signorum cavendos esse.

2.8 Fallaciam. That about lege pseudoprælet_him_sayores dicunt. And inanem. Because in hac falsitate nulla utilitas, that solet aliquando esse in falsis. After/Second elementa. Illos tangit who prudentius idola exponunt saying, Yuno it_is ær, Neptunus mare; ideo when/with diceret secundum philosophiam and inanem, addit, secundum elementa mundi: as_if admonens not qualescunque adoratores simulacrorum, but and as_if doctores and interpretatores signorum cavendos esse.

UGNT βλέπετε, μή τις ὑμᾶς ἔσται ὁ συλαγωγῶν διὰ τῆς φιλοσοφίας καὶ κενῆς ἀπάτης, κατὰ τὴν παράδοσιν τῶν ἀνθρώπων, κατὰ τὰ στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου, καὶ οὐ κατὰ Χριστόν.
(blepete, maʸ tis humas estai ho sulagōgōn dia taʸs filosofias kai kenaʸs apataʸs, kata taʸn paradosin tōn anthrōpōn, kata ta stoiⱪeia tou kosmou, kai ou kata Ⱪriston.)

SBL-GNT Βλέπετε μή τις ὑμᾶς ἔσται ὁ συλαγωγῶν διὰ τῆς φιλοσοφίας καὶ κενῆς ἀπάτης κατὰ τὴν παράδοσιν τῶν ἀνθρώπων, κατὰ τὰ στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου καὶ οὐ κατὰ Χριστόν·
(Blepete maʸ tis humas estai ho sulagōgōn dia taʸs filosofias kai kenaʸs apataʸs kata taʸn paradosin tōn anthrōpōn, kata ta stoiⱪeia tou kosmou kai ou kata Ⱪriston;)

TC-GNT Βλέπετε μή τις ὑμᾶς ἔσται ὁ συλαγωγῶν διὰ τῆς φιλοσοφίας καὶ κενῆς ἀπάτης, κατὰ τὴν παράδοσιν τῶν ἀνθρώπων, κατὰ τὰ στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου, καὶ οὐ κατὰ Χριστόν·
(Blepete maʸ tis humas estai ho sulagōgōn dia taʸs filosofias kai kenaʸs apataʸs, kata taʸn paradosin tōn anthrōpōn, kata ta stoiⱪeia tou kosmou, kai ou kata Ⱪriston; )

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs (from our SR-GNT base).

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

βλέπετε, μή τις ὑμᾶς ἔσται ὁ συλαγωγῶν

/be/_watching_out lest anyone you_all will_be ¬which taking_captive

Connecting Statement:

Paul uses this clause to warn the Colossians against any person who wishes to take them captive. If your language does not use this form, you could simplify or restructure the clause so that it does not include both someone and the one. Alternate translation: [Beware lest anyone take you captive] or [Make sure that no one takes you captive]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ὑμᾶς & ὁ συλαγωγῶν

you_all & ¬which taking_captive

Paul speaks of those who are trying to deceive the Colossians as if they were capturing the Colossians as prisoners. He uses this language to portray the false teachers as enemies who do not care about the Colossians but only want to use them for their own benefit. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable metaphor or express the idea in plain language. Alternate translation: [the one who convinces you to believe a lie]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / hendiadys

τῆς φιλοσοφίας καὶ κενῆς ἀπάτης

¬the philosophy and empty seduction

The words philosophy and empty deceit work together to express one idea: human philosophy that is empty of useful content and deceitful. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this idea in one phrase. Alternate translation: [empty, deceitful philosophy]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

τῆς φιλοσοφίας καὶ κενῆς ἀπάτης

¬the philosophy and empty seduction

If your language does not use abstract nouns to express the ideas behind philosophy and deceit, you could express these ideas in another way. Alternate translation: [the empty and false way that godless people understand the world]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

κενῆς ἀπάτης

empty seduction

Paul speaks of deceitful philosophy as if it were a container that had nothing in it. He means that the deceitful philosophy has nothing important or meaningful to contribute. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable metaphor or express the idea in plain language. Alternate translation: [valueless deceit] or [deceit with no content]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

τὴν παράδοσιν τῶν ἀνθρώπων

the tradition ¬the ˱of˲_humans

The tradition of men refers to the ways in which humans behave that they learned from their families and pass on to their children. If your language does not use an abstract noun to express the idea of tradition, you could a phrase that refers to traditions that are passed on from parents to children. Alternate translation: [customary human thinking and behavior]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

τῶν ἀνθρώπων

¬the ˱of˲_humans

Although the word men is masculine, Paul is using it to refer to anyone, whether man or woman. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a non-gendered word or refer to both genders. Alternate translation: [of people] or [of humans]

Note 8 topic: translate-unknown

τὰ στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου

the principles ˱of˲_the world

The phrase elemental teaching could refer to: (1) basic human opinions about how the world works. Alternate translation: [human worldviews] (2) the spiritual powers of this world. Alternate translation: [spiritual beings that rule the world]

Parallel COL 2:8

Connecting Statement: