Colossians 2:21

KJV

(Touch not; taste not; handle not;

KJV (with Strong's)

(Touch {G680} not {G3361}; taste {G1089} not {G3366}; handle {G2345} not {G3366};

Complete Jewish Bible

“Don’t touch this!” “Don’t eat that!” “Don’t handle the other!”

Berean Standard Bible

“Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!”?

American Standard Version

Handle not, nor taste, nor touch

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Colossians 2:21 encapsulates a concise summary of the ascetic, legalistic prohibitions that false teachers were imposing on the Colossian believers. These humanly devised rules—"Touch not; taste not; handle not"—represent a system of self-imposed restrictions on physical interaction with material things, falsely presented as a means to spiritual maturity or a deeper relationship with God. Paul emphatically rejects such ordinances, asserting their utter futility and danger in undermining the all-sufficient work of Christ.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Colossians 2:21 is a direct illustration of the "ordinances" and "doctrines of men" that Paul has been warning against throughout [Colossians 2](/colossians/2 "Colossians 2 - Warning Against False Teaching"). It immediately follows [Colossians 2:20](/colossians/2-20 "Colossians 2:20 - Died with Christ from the Rudiments of the World"), where Paul declares that believers have "died with Christ from the rudiments of the world." This foundational truth means they are no longer subject to the elemental principles or basic rules of the world. Verse 21 then provides concrete examples of these worldly rules. The subsequent verses, [Colossians 2:22-23](/colossians/2-22-23 "Colossians 2:22-23 - Futility of Human Ordinances"), further expose the transient and ultimately ineffective nature of these regulations, concluding that they "are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh." The entire passage argues that true spiritual life is found in Christ, not in adherence to human traditions or ascetic practices.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The church in Colossae faced a unique blend of false teachings that threatened to undermine the supremacy of Christ. This syncretistic heresy likely combined elements of Jewish legalism (emphasizing dietary laws, festivals, and circumcision, as seen in [Colossians 2:16-17](/colossians/2-16-17 "Colossians 2:16-17 - Shadow of Things to Come")) with early Gnostic-like tendencies. The latter often involved a dualistic view, seeing matter as inherently evil and spirit as good. Consequently, proponents of this view advocated for severe asceticism—self-denial and harsh treatment of the body—as a means to purify the spirit and attain higher spiritual knowledge or favor with God. The prohibitions "Touch not; taste not; handle not" are specific examples of such ascetic practices, likely referring to restrictions on food, drink, and physical contact with certain objects or people deemed impure.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several major themes in Colossians. Firstly, it underscores the **Rejection of Legalism and Asceticism**, demonstrating Paul's firm stance against any system that seeks to add human rules or self-imposed deprivations as a path to spiritual growth or acceptance before God. Secondly, it highlights the **Sufficiency of Christ**, emphasizing that believers are already "complete in him" ([Colossians 2:10](/colossians/2-10 "Colossians 2:10 - Complete in Christ")) and have been set free from the "handwriting of ordinances" ([Colossians 2:14](/colossians/2-14 "Colossians 2:14 - Blotting Out the Ordinances")). Therefore, adherence to human traditions diminishes the glory and efficacy of Christ's finished work. Lastly, the verse implicitly champions the **Freedom in Christ** that believers possess, a freedom from bondage to human doctrines and the "elemental spirits of the world" ([Colossians 2:8](/colossians/2-8 "Colossians 2:8 - Warning Against Philosophy and Vain Deceit")). True spirituality is found in a living relationship with Christ, not in rigid adherence to external regulations.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Touch (Greek, _háptomai'_):** This verb (G680) means to attach oneself to, or to touch in various implied relations. In this context, it signifies a prohibition against physical contact with certain objects or persons deemed ritually unclean or defiling by the false teachers. It could refer to ceremonial purity laws or philosophical avoidance of material things.
* **taste (Greek, _geúomai'_):** This primary verb (G1089) means to taste, and by implication, to eat. Here, it refers to restrictions on diet, forbidding the consumption of certain foods or drinks. This echoes Jewish dietary laws but is likely extended by the false teachers to include other self-imposed ascetic food restrictions.
* **handle (Greek, _thingánō'_):** This verb (G2345) means to manipulate, to have to do with, or by implication, to injure. It's a stronger term than "touch" and suggests a more active engagement or interaction. In this context, it reinforces the strict avoidance of anything considered defiling or worldly, perhaps implying a prohibition against even handling or coming into contact with certain items.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Touch not;":** This initial prohibition, using the Greek verb _háptomai_ (G680) with the negative particle _mḗ_ (G3361), forbids any physical contact with certain objects or substances. It points to a legalistic concern for ritual purity or an ascetic avoidance of anything material, reflecting the false teachers' belief that such contact could defile or hinder spiritual progress.
* **"taste not;":** This command, using _geúomai_ (G1089) with the negative particle _mēdé_ (G3366), specifically targets dietary restrictions. It prohibits the consumption of certain foods or drinks, aligning with ascetic practices that viewed self-denial of bodily appetites as a means to spiritual enlightenment or control over the flesh.
* **"handle not;":** The final prohibition, using _thingánō_ (G2345) with _mēdé_ (G3366), reinforces the previous two, suggesting an even more stringent avoidance. This term implies a more active or intimate engagement with something, thus forbidding even the manipulation or close interaction with items deemed impure or worldly, completing the triad of absolute physical separation.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs **Anaphora** and **Parallelism** through the repeated structure of "verb not," creating a rhythmic and emphatic rejection of these prohibitions. The three short, sharp commands—"Touch not; taste not; handle not"—form a **Tricolon**, a series of three parallel words or phrases, which effectively summarizes the comprehensive nature of the ascetic rules being imposed. This **Conciseness** makes the prohibitions memorable and highlights their arbitrary and human-centric origin, contrasting sharply with the expansive freedom found in Christ. The use of **Imperative Mood** (though negated) reflects the commanding tone of the false teachers, which Paul then deconstructs.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Colossians 2:21 profoundly challenges any religious system that seeks to add human regulations to the finished work of Christ, echoing the broader New Testament emphasis on grace over law. It highlights the fundamental difference between genuine spiritual transformation, which is an internal work of the Holy Spirit, and external adherence to man-made rules. The prohibitions exemplify a form of legalism and asceticism that, while appearing pious, ultimately distracts from the sufficiency of Christ and fosters a superficial righteousness based on human effort rather than divine grace. True Christian liberty means freedom from such bondage, allowing believers to live by faith, love, and the guidance of the Spirit, rather than by a rigid code of conduct.

* [Galatians 5:1](/galatians/5-1 "Galatians 5:1 - Stand Fast in Liberty")
* [Romans 14:17](/romans/14-17 "Romans 14:17 - The Kingdom of God")
* [1 Timothy 4:8](/1_timothy/4-8 "1 Timothy 4:8 - Bodily Exercise vs. Godliness")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Colossians 2:21 serves as a timeless warning against the perennial human tendency to seek spiritual validation or growth through external rituals, self-imposed deprivations, or adherence to human traditions rather than through a vibrant, living relationship with Jesus Christ. It challenges us to critically examine our own spiritual practices and the teachings we embrace, asking whether they genuinely lead us closer to Christ and foster true godliness, or if they subtly shift our focus to human effort and outward conformity. We are called to live in the freedom Christ has purchased, allowing His Spirit to transform us from the inside out, rather than being bound by rules that have "an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed worship, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh" ([Colossians 2:23](/colossians/2-23 "Colossians 2:23 - No Value Against Indulgence of the Flesh")). Our faith is not about what we abstain from, but about whom we embrace.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be subtly relying on external rules or self-effort for spiritual growth, rather than on Christ's finished work?**
* **How can I discern between genuine spiritual disciplines that draw me closer to God and humanly devised regulations that lack true spiritual value?**
* **What does true Christian freedom mean in my daily life, and how can I exercise it responsibly and for God's glory?**

### FAQ
**What kind of "rules" is Paul referring to in Colossians 2:21?**

Answer: Paul is referring to humanly devised, ascetic rules and prohibitions, likely a blend of Jewish legalistic dietary laws and Gnostic-like philosophical restrictions. These rules, summarized as "Touch not; taste not; handle not," were imposed by false teachers who believed that strict self-denial and avoidance of certain material things or activities were necessary for spiritual purity, enlightenment, or a deeper relationship with God. They were external observances that had no true power to sanctify or transform the heart, as Paul explains in [Colossians 2:22-23](/colossians/2-22-23 "Colossians 2:22-23 - Futility of Human Ordinances").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Colossians 2:21 finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus, who is the ultimate reality to which all shadows and human ordinances point. The ascetic rules Paul condemns are rendered obsolete and powerless because believers have "died with Christ" ([Colossians 2:20](/colossians/2-20 "Colossians 2:20 - Died with Christ from the Rudiments of the World")) and are now "complete in him" ([Colossians 2:10](/colossians/2-10 "Colossians 2:10 - Complete in Christ")). Christ Himself is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes ([Romans 10:4](/romans/10-4 "Romans 10:4 - Christ is the End of the Law")). He has blotted out the "handwriting of ordinances" that was against us, nailing it to His cross ([Colossians 2:14](/colossians/2-14 "Colossians 2:14 - Blotting Out the Ordinances")). Therefore, salvation and spiritual maturity are not achieved through adherence to external prohibitions or self-imposed suffering, but through faith in Christ's finished work, His indwelling Spirit, and His ongoing sanctifying power. Our freedom in Christ means we are no longer enslaved to the "elemental spirits of the world" ([Colossians 2:8](/colossians/2-8 "Colossians 2:8 - Warning Against Philosophy and Vain Deceit")), but are called to live by the Spirit, for "where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty" ([2_corinthians/3-17](/2_corinthians/3-17 "2 Corinthians 3:17 - Where the Spirit is, There is Liberty")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Timothy 4:3

Forbidding to marry, [and commanding] to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

Isaiah 52:11

Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean [thing]; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.

Genesis 3:3

But of the fruit of the tree which [is] in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

2 Corinthians 6:17

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you,