Devine Scripture

Colossians 3:8

What does Colossians 3:8 mean?

A plain-English look at Colossians 3:8 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Colossians 3:8 means

“But now” signals a decisive shift: believers must strip off attitudes and words that tear others down—anger (a settled hostility), wrath (outbursts), malice (ill-will), railing (abusive speech), and shameful speaking. These sins often accompany frustrated desires and reveal a heart not ruled by Christ’s peace. God cares not only about private morality but also about the community’s health. Words can scorch or heal; tempers can fracture fellowship or foster peace. Putting these away is an act of obedience and love, expressing the new life received. It is as much about what we refuse to say and nurture in our hearts as what we now choose to speak and pursue.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

but now do ye also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, railing, shameful speaking out of your mouth:

KJV

King James Version · 1611

But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

but now do ye also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, railing, shameful speaking out of your mouth:

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

But now it is right for you to put away all these things; wrath, passion, bad feeling, curses, unclean talk;

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

but now put off, even ye, the whole--anger, wrath, malice, evil-speaking, filthy talking--out of your mouth.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

But now put you also all away: anger, indignation, malice, blasphemy, filthy speech out of your mouth.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

But now, put off, ye also, all [these] things, wrath, anger, malice, blasphemy, vile language out of your mouth.

Context

After recalling past living (verse 7), Paul targets relational and verbal sins (verse 8), expanding the scope beyond sexual immorality. Verse 9 will add the prohibition of lying and introduce the clothing metaphor—putting off the old man. Verses 10–11 will unfold the positive reality: the new man being renewed, with barriers removed in Christ. The flow shows sanctification is not selective; all aspects of life—desires, temper, tongue—must come under Christ’s lordship for the sake of the body’s unity and witness.

v.7wherein ye also once walked, when ye lived in these things;

v.8This passage

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

Cross references

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

  • 2 Peter 2:18

    For, uttering great swelling words of vanity, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by lasciviousness, those who are just escaping from them that live in error;

  • Jude 1:8

    Yet in like manner these also in their dreamings defile the flesh, and set at nought dominion, and rail at dignities.

  • 1 Corinthians 3:3

    for ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you jealousy and strife, are ye not carnal, and do ye not walk after the manner of men?

  • 2 Peter 2:7

    and delivered righteous Lot, sore distressed by the lascivious life of the wicked

  • Ephesians 4:22

    that ye put away, as concerning your former manner of life, the old man, that waxeth corrupt after the lusts of deceit;

  • 1 Timothy 1:13

    though I was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: howbeit I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief;

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