Colossians 2:16

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

¶ Let 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]:

Complete Jewish Bible:

So don’t let anyone pass judgment on you in connection with eating and drinking, or in regard to a Jewish festival or Rosh-Hodesh or Shabbat.

Berean Standard Bible:

Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath.

American Standard Version:

Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a feast day or a new moon or a sabbath day:

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Let^{G2919} no^{G3361} man^{G5100} therefore^{G3767} judge^{G2919} you^{G5209} in^{G1722} meat^{G1035}, or^{G2228} in^{G1722} drink^{G4213}, or^{G2228} in^{G1722} respect^{G3313} of an holyday^{G1859}, or^{G2228} of the new moon^{G3561}, or^{G2228} of the sabbath^{G4521} days:

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Commentary for Colossians 2:16

Colossians 2:16 is a verse from the New Testament of the Christian Bible, written by the Apostle Paul to the church in Colossae, a city in the Roman province of Asia (modern-day Turkey). This verse is part of a larger passage where Paul is addressing the church's struggle with legalism and the imposition of Jewish ceremonial laws on Gentile (non-Jewish) Christians.

In the historical context, the early Christian community was grappling with the relationship between the Jewish law and the new faith in Christ. Some Jewish Christians insisted that Gentiles should adhere to the Mosaic Law, including dietary restrictions, festival observances, and Sabbath regulations, to be fully part of the community. Paul, however, teaches that these practices are not binding on Gentile believers, as they are fulfilled in Christ.

The themes of Colossians 2:16 include Christian freedom, the sufficiency of Christ, and the inappropriateness of judgment based on external religious practices. Paul emphasizes that believers should not let others judge them regarding what they eat or drink, or in the observance of religious festivals, new moons, or Sabbaths. These were all part of the Jewish ceremonial system, which Paul argues is a shadow of things to come, with the substance found in Christ (Colossians 2:17). The verse underscores the idea that believers are not to be constrained by such regulations, as they have been liberated through their faith in Jesus and his work on the cross.

In essence, Colossians 2:16 affirms the freedom that Christians have from the obligations of the Old Testament law, while also warning against legalism and the judgmental attitudes that can arise from holding others to such observances. Paul's message is one of inclusivity and grace, emphasizing that it is through Christ's sacrifice that believers are made right with God, not through adherence to ritualistic practices.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: G2919
   There are 98 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: κρίνω
   Transliteration: krínō
   Pronunciation: kree'-no
   Description: properly, to distinguish, i.e. decide (mentally or judicially); by implication, to try, condemn, punish:--avenge, conclude, condemn, damn, decree, determine, esteem, judge, go to (sue at the) law, ordain, call in question, sentence to, think.
   
2. Strong's Number: G3361
   There are 602 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: μή
   Transliteration: mḗ
   Pronunciation: may
   Description: a primary particle of qualified negation (whereas οὐ expresses an absolute denial); (adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas οὐ expects an affirmative one)) whether:--any but (that), X forbear, + God forbid, + lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, (can-)not, nothing, that not, un(-taken), without. Often used in compounds in substantially the same relations. See also ἐὰν μή, ἵνα μή, οὐ μή, μῆκος, μηκύνω, μήν, μὴ οὐκ.
   
3. Strong's Number: G5100
   There are 419 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: τὶς
   Transliteration: tìs
   Pronunciation: tis
   Description: an enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object:--a (kind of), any (man, thing, thing at all), certain (thing), divers, he (every) man, one (X thing), ought, + partly, some (man, -body, - thing, -what), (+ that no-)thing, what(-soever), X wherewith, whom(-soever), whose(-soever).
   
4. Strong's Number: G3767
   There are 519 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: οὖν
   Transliteration: oûn
   Pronunciation: oon
   Description: apparently a primary word; (adverbially) certainly, or (conjunctionally) accordingly:--and (so, truly), but, now (then), so (likewise then), then, therefore, verily, wherefore.
   
5. Strong's Number: G5209
   There are 388 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ὑμᾶς
   Transliteration: hymâs
   Pronunciation: hoo-mas'
   Description: accusative case of ὑμεῖς; you (as the objective of a verb or preposition):--ye, you (+ -ward), your (+ own).
   
6. Strong's Number: G1722
   There are 2129 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἐν
   Transliteration: en
   Pronunciation: en
   Description: a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between εἰς and ἐκ); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (… sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.
   
7. Strong's Number: G1035
   There are 10 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: βρῶσις
   Transliteration: brōsis
   Pronunciation: bro'-sis
   Description: from the base of βιβρώσκω; (abstractly) eating (literally or figuratively); by extension (concretely) food (literally or figuratively):--eating, food, meat.
   
8. Strong's Number: G2228
   There are 283 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἤ
   Transliteration: ḗ
   Pronunciation: ay
   Description: a primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than:--and, but (either), (n-)either, except it be, (n-)or (else), rather, save, than, that, what, yea. Often used in connection with other particles. Compare especially ἤδη, ἤπερ, ἤτοι.
   
9. Strong's Number: G4213
   There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: πόσις
   Transliteration: pósis
   Pronunciation: pos'-is
   Description: from the alternate of πίνω; a drinking (the act), i.e. (concretely) a draught:--drink.
   
10. Strong's Number: G3313
    There are 41 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: μέρος
    Transliteration: méros
    Pronunciation: mer'-os
    Description: from an obsolete but more primary form of (to get as a section or allotment); a division or share (literally or figuratively, in a wide application):--behalf, course, coast, craft, particular (+ -ly), part (+ -ly), piece, portion, respect, side, some sort(-what).
    
11. Strong's Number: G1859
    There are 25 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἑορτή
    Transliteration: heortḗ
    Pronunciation: heh-or-tay'
    Description: of uncertain affinity; a festival:--feast, holyday.
    
12. Strong's Number: G3561
    There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: νουμηνία
    Transliteration: noumēnía
    Pronunciation: noo-may-nee'-ah
    Description: feminine of a compound of νέος and μήν (as noun by implication, of ἡμέρα); the festival of new moon:--new moon.
    
13. Strong's Number: G4521
    There are 62 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: σάββατον
    Transliteration: sábbaton
    Pronunciation: sab'-bat-on
    Description: of Hebrew origin (שַׁבָּת); the Sabbath (i.e. Shabbath), or day of weekly repose from secular avocations (also the observance or institution itself); by extension, a se'nnight, i.e. the interval between two Sabbaths; likewise the plural in all the above applications:--sabbath (day), week.