Colossians 2

Colossians · Chapter 2

Colossians 2:21

1For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;2That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;3In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.4And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.5For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.6As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:7Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.8Beware 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.9For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.10And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:11In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:12Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.13And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;14Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;15And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.16Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:17Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.18Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,19And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.20Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,21(Touch not; taste not; handle not;22Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?23Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
21(Touch not; taste not; handle not;“Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!”?Handle not, nor taste, nor touch

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

Colossians 2:16-23Not judged by shadows and rules

About Colossians 2Paul wants their hearts knit together in love and full of understanding of Christ, "In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge," and urges, "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him." He warns, "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit... and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily," and they are "complete in him," forgiven, with the handwriting of ordinances nailed "to his cross." So no one is to judge them over meat, drink or holy days, which are "a shadow of things to come," or bind them with rules like "Touch not; taste not; handle not." Colossians 2:2Colossians 2:3Colossians 2:6Colossians 2:8Colossians 2:9Colossians 2:10Colossians 2:13Colossians 2:14Colossians 2:16Colossians 2:17Colossians 2:21Colossians overview

Who, where and when in this chapter

Original Greek words

EnglishGreekSay itStrong'sMeaning
NotμὴmēG3361
not

μή (mē) μή, subjective negative particle, used where the negation depends on a condition or hypothesis, expressed or understood, as distinct from οὐ, which denies absolutely. μή is used where one thinks a thing is not, as distinct from an absolute negation. As a general rule, οὐ negatives the indic, μή the other moods, incl, ptcp. [In LXX for אֵין ,אַיִן ,אַל ] I. As a neg. adv., not; 1. with ref. to thought or opinion: Jhn.3:18, Tit.1:11, 2Pe.1:9. 2. In delib. questions, with subjc. (M, Pr., 185): Mrk.12:14, Rom.3:8. …

you may handleἅψῃhapsēG0681
to touch

ἅπτω (haptō) to touch, hold, handle; (act.) to start a fire; "to touch a woman" means "to get married" primarily to bring in contact, fit, fasten; to light, kindle, Mk. 4:21; Lk. 8:16; to touch, Mt. 8:3; to meddle, venture to partake, Col. 2:21; to have intercourse with, to know carnally, 1Cor. 7:1; by implication to harm, 1Jn. 5:18

NotμηδὲmēdeG3366
nor

μηδέ (mēde) μηδέ negative particle, related to οὐδέ as μή to οὐ, 1. as conic., continuing a negation or prohibition, but not, and not, nor: preceded by μή, Mat.6:25 22:29, Mrk.12:24, Luk.14:12, al.; ἵνα μή, Jhn.4:15; ὅπως μή, Luk.16:26; μηδέ . . . μηδέ, neither . . . nor, Mat.10:10, 1Co.10:8-9. 2. As adv., strengthening a negation, not even: Mrk.2:2, 1Co.5:11, al (AS)

you may tasteγεύσῃgeusēG1089
to taste

γεύω (geuō) γεύω, γεύομαι, [in LXX chiefly for טעם ;] to make to taste. Mid., to taste eat: absol., Act.10:10 20:11, Col.2:21; with genitive, Mat.27:34, Luk.14:24, Act.23:14; with accusative (not cl., but see Westc, Heb., l.with; M, Pr., 66, 245), Jhn.2:9. Metaphorical, Heb.6:4; ῥῆμα θεοῦ, Heb.6:5 (on case, see supr., and cf. Milligan, NTD, 68) θανάτου (cf. Talmudic טַעַם מִיתָה), Mat.16:28, Mrk.9:1, Luk.9:27, Jhn.8:52, Heb.2:9; before ὅτι, 1Pe.2:3 (Cremer, 148).† (AS)

NotμηδὲmēdeG3366
nor

μηδέ (mēde) μηδέ negative particle, related to οὐδέ as μή to οὐ, 1. as conic., continuing a negation or prohibition, but not, and not, nor: preceded by μή, Mat.6:25 22:29, Mrk.12:24, Luk.14:12, al.; ἵνα μή, Jhn.4:15; ὅπως μή, Luk.16:26; μηδέ . . . μηδέ, neither . . . nor, Mat.10:10, 1Co.10:8-9. 2. As adv., strengthening a negation, not even: Mrk.2:2, 1Co.5:11, al (AS)

you may touch!θίγῃς·thigēsG2345
to touch

θιγγάνω (thinganō) θιγγάνω [in LXX for נָגַע, Exo.19:12 * ;] 1. to touch, handle: Col.2:21, Heb.12:20" (LXX) . 2. to injure (like Heb. נָגַע, and as in Eur., Iph. Aul., 1351): with genitive, Heb.11:28.† SYN.: see: ἅπτω (AS)

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.