Devine Scripture

Colossians 3:12

What does Colossians 3:12 mean?

A plain-English look at Colossians 3:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Colossians 3:12 means

Paul grounds the call to virtue in identity: believers are “God’s elect, holy and beloved.” Chosen by grace, set apart for God, and dearly loved, they must therefore “put on” a heart that mirrors God’s own—compassion toward the hurting, kindness in action, lowliness that refuses pride, meekness that yields rather than dominates, and longsuffering that endures provocation. The clothing metaphor suggests deliberate, daily choices to embody these traits. These are not optional extras; they express the character of Christ formed in His people. Flowing from God’s prior love, these virtues protect unity, heal offenses, and make the community a living display of the gospel’s transforming power.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

As saints of God, then, holy and dearly loved, let your behaviour be marked by pity and mercy, kind feeling, a low opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, and a power of undergoing all things;

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

Put on, therefore, as choice ones of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humble-mindedness, meekness, long-suffering,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Put ye on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, the bowels of mercy, benignity, humility, modesty, patience:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Put on therefore, as [the] elect ofGod, holy and beloved, bowels of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering;

Context

Following the declaration of unity in Christ (verse 11), verse 12 begins the positive clothing of the new man with Christlike virtues. The sequence moves from inner dispositions (compassionate hearts) to their relational outworking in forbearance and forgiveness (verse 13), then crowns them with love (verse 14). The identity labels—elect, holy, beloved—anchor the imperatives in grace. The next verses will also introduce the peace of Christ and the indwelling word as the environment and engine of this communal life.

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

v.12This passage

v.13forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, if any man have a complaint against any; even as the Lord forgave you, so also do ye:

Cross references

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

  • Colossians 3:10

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

  • Isaiah 63:15

    Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory: where are thy zeal and thy mighty acts? the yearning of thy heart and thy compassions are restrained toward me.

  • Titus 1:1

    Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,

  • James 3:17

    But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without variance, without hypocrisy.

  • 2 Corinthians 6:6

    in pureness, in knowledge, in longsuffering, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in love unfeigned,

  • Isaiah 65:22

    They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree shall be the days of my people, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.

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