Devine Scripture

Colossians 3:5

What does Colossians 3:5 mean?

A plain-English look at Colossians 3:5 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Colossians 3:5 means

Because believers share Christ’s life and destiny, they must execute a decisive break with sins that once ruled them. “Put to death” is strong language, calling for ruthless refusal of sexual immorality, impurity, uncontrolled passions, and crooked desires. Paul also names covetousness—greed—as idolatry, since it treats created things as ultimate and steals the heart’s worship from God. The list exposes both acts and inner drives, reminding us that sin begins in disordered desire. Christians are not passive; by the Spirit they must deny sin’s demands and nurture holy affections. This is not mere behavior adjustment but a deathblow to whatever rivals Christ in the heart and body.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Put to death therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry;

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Put to death therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry;

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Then put to death your bodies which are of the earth; wrong use of the flesh, unclean things, passion, evil desires and envy, which is the worship of strange gods;

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

Put to death, then, your members that <FI>are<Fi> upon the earth--whoredom, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and the covetousness, which is idolatry--

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, lust, evil concupiscence and covetousness, which is the service of idols.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Put to death therefore your members which [are] upon the earth, fornication, uncleanness, vile passions, evil lust, and unbridled desire, which is idolatry.

Context

With the hope of appearing in glory established (verses 3–4), Paul addresses the first cluster of sins—primarily sexual and desire-related—that characterized pagan life. The severity of the command matches the stakes. Verse 6 will add a sober warning about God’s wrath on such practices, while verse 7 will remind the Colossians that these once defined their walk. Then verses 8–9 will broaden the focus to relational and verbal sins, moving from inward appetites to outward expressions in community.

v.4When Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory.

v.5This passage

v.6for which things’ sake cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience:

Cross references

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

  • 1 Peter 2:11

    Beloved, I beseech you as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

  • Romans 7:23

    but I see a different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity under the law of sin which is in my members.

  • Matthew 15:19

    For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, railings:

  • 2 Corinthians 12:21

    lest again when I come my God should humble me before you, and I should mourn for many of them that have sinned heretofore, and repented not of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they committed.

  • Hebrews 13:4

    Let marriage be had in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled: for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

  • 1 Corinthians 6:9

    Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men,

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