Devine Scripture

Colossians 3:10

What does Colossians 3:10 mean?

A plain-English look at Colossians 3:10 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Colossians 3:10 means

Believers have “put on the new man,” and yet this new self “is being renewed unto knowledge after the image of him that created him.” This states both a definitive change and an ongoing process. Renewal centers on knowledge—not mere information, but a true, relational understanding of God and His ways. The goal is restoration of God’s image, marred by sin but now being refashioned by grace. Creation language recalls God as Maker and signals a new-creation work in Christ. As believers grow in knowing God, their character is reshaped to reflect His likeness—holy, wise, and loving. Sanctification is thus God’s creative project, realized in union with Christ.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

and have put on the new man, that is being renewed unto knowledge after the image of him that created him:

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

and have put on the new man, that is being renewed unto knowledge after the image of him that created him:

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And have put on the new man, which has become new in knowledge after the image of his maker;

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and having put on the new, which is renewed in regard to knowledge, after the image of Him who did create him;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And putting on the new, him who is renewed unto knowledge, according to the image of him that created him.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and having put on the new, renewed into full knowledge according to [the] image of him that has created him;

Context

Verse 10 completes the “put off/put on” motif begun in verse 9, moving from prohibitions to positive transformation. This renewal is not isolated to individuals; verse 11 will show how it creates a unified community in which former identity markers lose their pride of place. Then verses 12–14 will call believers to wear specific Christlike virtues, culminating in love. The flow portrays sanctification as both God’s renewing work and the believer’s active “putting on” of qualities befitting the new creation.

v.9lie not one to another; seeing that ye have put off the old man with his doings,

v.10This passage

v.11where there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondman, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all.

Cross references

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

  • Colossians 3:12

    Put on therefore, as God’s elect, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering;

  • Hebrews 6:6

    and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

  • Romans 8:29

    For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren:

  • 2 Corinthians 5:17

    Wherefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new.

  • Psalms 51:10

    Create in me a clean heart, O God; And renew a right spirit within me.

  • Genesis 1:26

    And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

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