Devine Scripture

Colossians 3:19

What does Colossians 3:19 mean?

A plain-English look at Colossians 3:19 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Colossians 3:19 means

Husbands are commanded to “love your wives, and be not bitter against them.” Love here is active, self-giving care patterned after Christ, refusing harshness, resentment, or domineering spirit. Bitterness corrodes intimacy and provokes defensiveness; love nurtures, protects, and honors, creating a context where a wife can gladly offer support. The command guards against abuses of authority by binding husbands to Christlike gentleness. A husband’s leadership must be saturated with compassion and patience, recognizing his wife as a fellow heir of grace. In marriage, love and non-bitterness embody the gospel’s transforming power, reflecting the Savior’s tender steadfastness toward His people.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Husbands, have love for your wives, and be not bitter against them.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

the husbands! love your wives, and be not bitter with them;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Husbands, love your wives and be not bitter towards them.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

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

Context

Following the call to wives (verse 18), verse 19 addresses husbands, ensuring reciprocity and Christlikeness define marital roles. The flow remains anchored in verse 17’s principle of doing all in Jesus’ name. Verses 20–21 will extend this household ethic to children and fathers, and verses 22–25 to servants and masters (anticipating 4:1). The structure presents a balanced household code, with each role brought under the lordship of Christ and shaped by the virtues previously commended.

v.18Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

v.19This passage

v.20Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing in the Lord.

Cross references

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

  • Ephesians 5:25

    Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it;

  • Genesis 2:23

    And the man said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

  • Proverbs 5:18

    Let thy fountain be blessed; And rejoice in the wife of thy youth.

  • Genesis 24:67

    And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her. And Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.

  • Malachi 2:14

    Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because Jehovah hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously, though she is thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.

  • Colossians 3:21

    Fathers, provoke not your children, that they be not discouraged.

Related questions readers ask

Keep reading

Want to dig deeper? Explore Colossians 3

Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on Colossians 3.

Keep exploring

Follow this verse across Scripture

Topics, devotionals, original-language word studies, and figures connected to Colossians 3:19.

Browse every hub

BibleTopicsBible answersDevotionalsFamous passagesWord studiesPeoplePlacesVerses for…Reading plansCommentary