Devine Scripture

Colossians 2:17

What does Colossians 2:17 mean?

A plain-English look at Colossians 2:17 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Colossians 2:17 means

Dietary rules and sacred days were shadows cast by coming realities. Their function was preparatory and anticipatory. Now that Christ—the substance—has come, clinging to the shadow misreads its purpose. Shadows are not bad; they are incomplete. They find their meaning in the body that casts them, which is Christ. Therefore, the Christian’s focus is not on managing shadows but on abiding in the One who fulfills them. This keeps believers from drifting into nostalgia for rituals or from being bullied by teachers who mistake the sign for the thing signified—the living Lord Jesus.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ’s.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ’s.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

For these are an image of the things which are to come; but the body is Christ's.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

which are a shadow of the coming things, and the body <FI>is<Fi> of the Christ;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Which are a shadow of things to come: but the body is of Christ.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

which are a shadow of things to come; but the body [is] of Christ.

Context

This verse explains the rationale behind verse 16’s refusal to be judged over ceremonial observances: they were anticipations of Christ. Having re-centered attention on the substance, Paul moves in verse 18 to confront mystical errors—false humility, angel worship, and fascination with visions—that also divert from Christ. The thread remains the same: anything that displaces or dilutes Christ must be rejected.

v.16Let 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:

v.17This passage

v.18Let no man rob you of your prize by a voluntary humility and worshipping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he hath seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Matthew 11:28

    Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

  • Hebrews 4:1

    Let us fear therefore, lest haply, a promise being left of entering into his rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it.

  • Hebrews 10:1

    For the law having a shadow of the goodthingsto come, not the very image of the things, can never with the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect them that draw nigh.

  • John 1:17

    For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

  • Hebrews 8:5

    who servethat which isa copy and shadow of the heavenly things, even as Moses is warnedof Godwhen he is about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern that was showed thee in the mount.

  • Hebrews 9:9

    which is a figure for the time present; according to which are offered both gifts and sacrifices that cannot, as touching the conscience, make the worshipper perfect,

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