Devine Scripture

Colossians 3:18

What does Colossians 3:18 mean?

A plain-English look at Colossians 3:18 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Colossians 3:18 means

“Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.” Paul affirms an ordered partnership in marriage, where a wife’s willing submission recognizes her husband’s responsibility to lead under Christ. The qualification “as is fitting in the Lord” both grounds and governs this call: it aligns with Christ’s design and excludes anything sinful or degrading. Submission is not inferiority; it is a Christlike posture of trust and support within the covenant of marriage. In a culture where roles could be abused, Paul frames marital conduct by the Lord’s will, reminding that ultimate allegiance is to Christ, who dignifies and protects all within His household.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Wives, be under the authority of your husbands, as is right in the Lord.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

The wives! be subject to your own husbands, as is fit in the Lord;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Wives, be subject to your husbands, as it behoveth in the Lord.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Wives, be subject to [your] husbands, as is fitting in [the] Lord.

Context

Moving from a general Christ-centered ethic (verse 17), Paul addresses Christian households, a common structure in his letters. Verse 18 speaks to wives, defining their conduct in relation to the Lord. Verse 19 will balance this with a command to husbands, ensuring love and gentleness mark leadership. The surrounding emphasis on love, peace, and gratitude (verses 14–17) informs how these instructions are to be carried out, situating them within a gospel-shaped, mutually edifying relationship rather than cultural tyranny.

v.17And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

v.18This passage

v.19Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

Cross references

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

  • 1 Corinthians 14:34

    let the women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as also saith the law.

  • Titus 2:4

    that they may train the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,

  • Genesis 3:16

    Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy pain and thy conception; in pain thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

  • Ephesians 5:22

    Wives, be in subjection unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

  • Acts 5:29

    But Peter and the apostles answered and said, We must obey God rather than men.

  • 1 Peter 3:1

    In like manner, ye wives, bein subjection to your own husbands; that, even if any obey not the word, they may without the word be gained by the behavior of their wives;

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