COL 3:16 Parallel Verse View

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

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
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 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

UST You must focus completely on the message about the Messiah as you think and act. You must teach and instruct one another very wisely using songs from the Scriptures, songs about Jesus, and songs that the Holy Spirit has given to you. You must thankfully and sincerely sing to God.

BSB § Let 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.

BLB Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing each other in all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with grace in your hearts to God.

AICNT Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with [the][fn] grace in your {hearts to God}.[fn]

3:16, the: NA28[] ‖ Absent from some manuscripts. SBLGNT THGNT BYZ TR

3:16 , hearts to God: Later manuscripts read “heart to the Lord.” BYZ TR

OEB Let the message of the Christ be alive in your minds in all its wealth, bringing all wisdom with it. Teach and admonish one another with psalms, and hymns, and sacred songs, full of the loving kindness of God, lifting your hearts in song to him.

CSB Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

NLT Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.

NIV Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

CEV Let the message about Christ completely fill your lives, while you use all your wisdom to teach and instruct each other. With thankful hearts, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.

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

NASB Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

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

WEBBE Let 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.

WMBB Let the word of Messiah 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.

MSG ^(15-17)Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.
* * *

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

LSV Let 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;

FBV Let Christ's message fully live in you. In every wise way teach and instruct one another through psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing praises to God in gratitude and sincerity.

TCNT Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another with all wisdom as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to [fn]the Lord with gratitude in your hearts.

3:16 the Lord ¦ God CT

T4T And continue to let the message about Christ govern/direct all you think and do, as you very wisely teach and warn one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs (OR, songs that God’s Spirit gives you), while you sincerely and thankfully sing to God.

LEB Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another with all wisdom, with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God,

NRSV Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.

NKJV 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.

NAB Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

BBE Let 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.

Moff No Moff COL book available

Wymth Let the teaching concerning Christ remain as a rich treasure in your hearts. In all wisdom teach and admonish one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, and sing with grace in your hearts to God.

ASV Let 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.

DRA Let the word of Christ dwell in you abundantly, in all wisdom: teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual canticles, singing in grace in your hearts to God.

YLT Let 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;

Drby Let 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 [fn]God.

3.16 Elohim

RV Let 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.

Wbstr 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.

KJB-1769 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.

KJB-1611 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdome, teaching and admonishing one another in Psalmes, and Hymnes, and Spirituall songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
(Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in Psalmes, and Hymnes, and Spirituall songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.)

Bshps Let the worde of God dwell in you richly in all wisdome, teachyng and admonisshyng your owne selues, in psalmes, and hymmes, and spirituall songes, singyng with grace in your heartes to the Lorde.
(Let the word of God dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teachyng and admonisshyng your own selves, in psalmes, and hymmes, and spirituall songes, singyng with grace in your hearts to the Lord.)

Gnva Let the worde of Christ dwell in you plenteously in all wisdome, teaching and admonishing your owne selues, in Psalmes, and hymnes, and spirituall songs, singing with a grace in your hearts to the Lord.
(Let the word of Christ dwell in you plenteously in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing your own selves, in Psalmes, and hymnes, and spirituall songs, singing with a grace in your hearts to the Lord. )

Cvdl Let ye worde of Christ dwell in you plenteously in all wyssdome. Teach and exhorte youre awne selues with psalmes and ymnes, and spirituall songes which haue fauoure with them, synginge in youre hertes to the LORDE.
(Let ye/you_all word of Christ dwell in you plenteously in all wisdom. Teach and exhorte your(pl) own selves with psalmes and ymnes, and spirituall songes which have favour with them, synginge in your(pl) hearts to the LORD.)

TNT Let the worde of Christ dwell in you plenteously in all wisdome. Teache and exhorte youre awne selves in psalmes and hymnes and spretuall songes which have favour with them syngynge in youre hertes to the lorde.
(Let the word of Christ dwell in you plenteously in all wisdom. Teache and exhorte your(pl) own selves in psalmes and hymnes and spretuall songes which have favour with them singing in your(pl) hearts to the lorde. )

Wycl The word of Crist dwelle in you plenteuousli, in al wisdom; and teche and moneste you silf in salmes, and ympnes, and spiritual songis, in grace synginge in youre hertis to the Lord.
(The word of Christ dwell in you plenteuousli, in all wisdom; and teach and moneste you self in salmes, and ympnes, and spiritual songis, in grace synginge in your(pl) hearts to the Lord.)

Luth Lasset das Wort Christi unter euch reichlich wohnen in aller Weisheit. Lehret und vermahnet euch selbst mit Psalmen und Lobgesängen und geistlichen lieblichen Liedern und singet dem HErr’s in eurem Herzen.
(Lasset the Wort Christi under you reichlich reside in aller Weisheit. Lehret and vermahnet you himself/itself with Psalmen and Lobgesängen and geistlichen lieblichen Liedern and singet to_him LORD’s in eurem hearts.)

ClVg 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.[fn]
(Verbum of_Christ habitet in to_you abundanter, in all sapientia, docentes, and commonentes vosmetipsos, psalmis, hymnis, and canticis spiritualibus, in gratia cantantes in cordibus vestris Deo. )

3.16 Docentes et commonentes. Hoc dicit, ut doctrina fiat illis qui nesciunt, et commonitio illis qui sciunt.

3.16 Docentes and commonentes. This dicit, as doctrina fiat illis who nesciunt, and commonitio illis who sciunt.

UGNT ὁ λόγος τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐνοικείτω ἐν ὑμῖν πλουσίως ἐν πάσῃ σοφίᾳ, διδάσκοντες καὶ νουθετοῦντες ἑαυτοὺς ψαλμοῖς, ὕμνοις, ᾠδαῖς πνευματικαῖς, ἐν τῇ χάριτι, ᾄδοντες ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν τῷ Θεῷ.
(ho logos tou Ⱪristou enoikeitō en humin plousiōs en pasaʸ sofia, didaskontes kai nouthetountes heautous psalmois, humnois, ōdais pneumatikais, en taʸ ⱪariti, adontes en tais kardiais humōn tōi Theōi.)

SBL-GNT ὁ λόγος τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐνοικείτω ἐν ὑμῖν πλουσίως ἐν πάσῃ σοφίᾳ· διδάσκοντες καὶ νουθετοῦντες ἑαυτοὺς ⸀ψαλμοῖς, ⸀ὕμνοις, ᾠδαῖς πνευματικαῖς ⸀ἐν χάριτι, ᾄδοντες ἐν ⸂ταῖς καρδίαις⸃ ὑμῶν τῷ ⸀θεῷ·
(ho logos tou Ⱪristou enoikeitō en humin plousiōs en pasaʸ sofia; didaskontes kai nouthetountes heautous ⸀psalmois, ⸀humnois, ōdais pneumatikais ⸀en ⱪariti, adontes en ⸂tais kardiais⸃ humōn tōi ⸀theōi;)

TC-GNT Ὁ λόγος τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐνοικείτω ἐν ὑμῖν πλουσίως ἐν πάσῃ σοφίᾳ· διδάσκοντες καὶ νουθετοῦντες ἑαυτούς, ψαλμοῖς, [fn]καὶ ὕμνοις, καὶ ᾠδαῖς πνευματικαῖς, ἐν [fn]χάριτι ᾄδοντες ἐν [fn]τῇ καρδίᾳ ὑμῶν τῷ [fn]Κυρίῳ.
(Ho logos tou Ⱪristou enoikeitō en humin plousiōs en pasaʸ sofia; didaskontes kai nouthetountes heautous, psalmois, kai humnois, kai ōdais pneumatikais, en ⱪariti adontes en taʸ kardia humōn tōi Kuriōi. )

3:16 και υμνοις και ¦ υμνοις CT

3:16 χαριτι ¦ τη χαριτι NA

3:16 τη καρδια ¦ ταις καρδιαις CT

3:16 κυριω ¦ θεω CT

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

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / imperative

ὁ λόγος τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐνοικείτω ἐν ὑμῖν πλουσίως

the word ˱of˲_the Messiah /let_be/_dwelling_in in you_all richly

Here Paul uses a third person imperative. If you have third person imperatives in your language, you could use one here. If you do not have third person imperatives, you could express Paul’s command in the second person with the Colossians as the subject of a verb such as “welcome.” Alternate translation: [Welcome the word of Christ richly into your lives]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ὁ λόγος τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐνοικείτω ἐν ὑμῖν

the word ˱of˲_the Messiah /let_be/_dwelling_in in you_all

Here Paul speaks as if the word of Christ were a person who could dwell or live in a location, which is the group of believers in Colossae. This metaphor emphasizes how the word of Christ should be a consistent and constant part of the Colossians’ lives as surely as if it were somebody permanently living with them. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this idea with a comparable metaphor or plainly. Alternate translation: [Let the word of Christ be a part of your lives consistently and]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

ὁ λόγος τοῦ Χριστοῦ

the word ˱of˲_the Messiah

Here Paul uses the possessive form to relate the word to Christ. This could mean: (1) that the word is about Christ. Alternate translation: [the word concerning the Messiah] (2) that the word is spoken by Christ. Alternate translation: [the word from Christ]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

ὁ λόγος

the word

Here, word represents a message that is made up of words. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [the message]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

πλουσίως

richly

Here Paul speaks as if the “word” were wealthy and could do something richly. He uses this metaphor to command that the word should dwell in the Colossians completely and with all the blessings that come from it. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea with a comparable metaphor or express it plainly. Alternate translation: [in every way and with every blessing] or [fully]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἐν πάσῃ σοφίᾳ

in in all wisdom

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind wisdom, you could express the idea another way. Alternate translation: [in all wise ways]

Note 7 topic: grammar-connect-time-simultaneous

ἐν πάσῃ σοφίᾳ, διδάσκοντες καὶ νουθετοῦντες ἑαυτοὺς & ᾄδοντες

in in all wisdom teaching and admonishing yourselves & singing

Paul uses the words teaching, admonishing, and singing to show the Colossians some ways in which they can “let the word of Christ dwell” in them. Therefore, teaching, admonishing, and singing happen at the same time as the word of Christ dwelling in them. If it would be helpful in your language, you could directly state it. Alternate translation: (start a new sentence) “you could do this by teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom … and by singing”

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

διδάσκοντες καὶ νουθετοῦντες

teaching and admonishing

These two verbs have only slightly different meanings. The word teaching refers positively to giving someone information, skills, or concepts. The word admonishing refers negatively to warning someone against something. If you have words that fit these two ideas, you could use them here. If you do not have words that make these distinctions, you could translate both of them with a single verb such as “instruct.” Alternate translation: [instructing]

Note 9 topic: translate-unknown

ψαλμοῖς, ὕμνοις, ᾠδαῖς πνευματικαῖς

˱in˲_psalms hymns songs spiritual

These three terms name different kinds of songs. The word psalms refers to songs from the book of Psalms in the Bible. The word hymns refers to songs sung in praise, usually to a deity. Finally, the word songs refers to vocal music that celebrates someone or something, usually in poem form. If you have words that roughly match these categories in your language, you could use them here. If you do not have words that match these categories, you could express the idea with only one or two words or use adjectives to describe the different types of songs. Alternate translation: [psalms and spiritual songs] or [biblical songs, praise songs, and celebratory spiritual songs]

Note 10 topic: translate-unknown

ᾠδαῖς πνευματικαῖς

songs spiritual

The word spiritual could refer to: (1) the Holy Spirit as the origin or inspiration of the songs. Alternate translation: [and songs from the Spirit] (2) songs that are sung by or in the power of the Holy Spirit. Alternate translation: [and songs empowered by the Spirit]

Note 11 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἐν τῇ χάριτι,

in in with ¬the thankfulness

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind thankfulness, you could express the idea by using an adverb such as “thankfully” or an adjective such as “thankful.” Alternate translation: [in thankful ways]

Note 12 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν

in in with in the hearts ˱of˲_you_all

Here the Colossians would have understood the phrase in your hearts to describe something that people do that they fully believe in. It means that the singing should be done with sincerity and the full approval of one’s own mind. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea with a comparable idiom or plainly. Alternate translation: [wholeheartedly] or [with genuineness]

Note 13 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν

in in with in the hearts ˱of˲_you_all

In Paul’s culture, hearts are the places where humans think and desire. If it would be helpful in your language, you could refer to the place where humans think in your culture or express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: [in your minds]

Parallel COL 3:16