Colossians 2:22

Simplified Cowboy Version

These rules are just human ways of trying to do what can only be done by riding for Christ.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
All these regulations refer to what is destined to perish by being used up; they are human commands and doctrines.

King James Version (1611)
Which all are to perish with the vsing) after the commandements and doctrines of men:

King James Version
Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

English Standard Version
(referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings?

New American Standard Bible
(which all refer to things destined to perish with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of man?

New Century Version
These rules refer to earthly things that are gone as soon as they are used. They are only human commands and teachings.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
(which all refer to things destined to perish with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men?

Legacy Standard Bible
Which deal with everything destined to perish with use, which are in accordance with the commands and teachings of men;

Berean Standard Bible
These will all perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings.

Contemporary English Version
After these things are used, they are no longer good for anything. So why be bothered with the rules that humans have made up?

Complete Jewish Bible
Such prohibitions are concerned with things meant to perish by being used [not by being avoided!], and they are based on man-made rules and teachings.

Darby Translation
(things which are all for destruction in the using [of them]:) according to the injunctions and teachings of men,

Easy-to-Read Version
These rules are talking about earthly things that are gone after they are used. They are only human commands and teachings.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Which al perish with the vsing, and are after the commandements and doctrines of men.

George Lamsa Translation
For these things are customs which are changeable and they are the commandments and doctrines of men.

Good News Translation
All these refer to things which become useless once they are used; they are only human rules and teachings.

Lexham English Bible
which things are all meant for destruction by consuming according to human commandments and teachings,

Literal Translation
which things are all for corruption in the using, according to the "injunctions and teachings of men." Isa. 29:13

Amplified Bible
(these things all perish with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men.

American Standard Version
(all which things are to perish with the using), after the precepts and doctrines of men?

Bible in Basic English
(Rules which are all to come to an end with their use) after the orders and teaching of men?

Hebrew Names Version
(all which things are to perish with the using), after the precepts and doctrines of men?

International Standard Version
All of these things will be destroyed through use because they are based on human commands and teachings.Isaiah 29:13; Matthew 15:9; Titus 1:14;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
For these are of perishable use, and are ordinances and doctrines of men;

Murdock Translation
for these things perish in the using; and they are the commandments and doctrines of men.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Which all be in corruption, in abusyng after the commaundementes and doctrines of men.

English Revised Version
(all which things are to perish with the using), after the precepts and doctrines of men?

World English Bible
(all which things are to perish with the using), after the precepts and doctrines of men?

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
All which are to perish in the using) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

Weymouth's New Testament
referring to things which are all intended to be used up and perish--in obedience to mere human injunctions and teachings?

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
nether trete with hoondis tho thingis, whiche alle ben in to deth bi the ilke vss, aftir the comaundementis and the techingis of men;

Update Bible Version
(all which things are to perish with the using), after the precepts and doctrines of men?

Webster's Bible Translation
Which all are to perish with the using;) according to the commandments and doctrines of men?

New English Translation
These are all destined to perish with use, founded as they are on human commands and teachings.

New King James Version
which all concern things which perish with the using--according to the commandments and doctrines of men?

New Living Translation
Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them.

New Life Bible
All these things come to an end when they are used. You are following only man-made rules.

New Revised Standard
All these regulations refer to things that perish with use; they are simply human commands and teachings.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Which things are all for decay in the using up; - according to the commandments and teachings of men?

Douay-Rheims Bible
Which all are unto destruction by the very use, according to the precepts and doctrines of men.

Revised Standard Version
(referring to things which all perish as they are used), according to human precepts and doctrines?

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
which all perysshe wt the vsinge of the and are after the comaundmentes and doctrins of men

Young's Literal Translation
which are all for destruction with the using, after the commands and teachings of men,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
All these thinges do hurte vnto men, because of the abuse of them, which abuse commeth onely of the commaundementes and doctrynes of men:

Mace New Testament (1729)
which yet were all made to be consumed for our use, notwithstanding the injunctions and doctrines of men:

Contextual Overview

¹⁶Don't let anyone judge you for not following their religious rules or ceremonies. ¹⁷These things weren't a way to live, but a shadow of the life to come that is through Jesus. ¹⁸Don't listen to the false promises of those who insist on fake humility or the worship of angels. Just because someone says they've had a vision of these things doesn't make it the truth. They are pointing at themselves for salvation, not to Jesus. ¹⁹They don't ride for the Lord, but for themselves. They ride for their own brand and their own agenda. Jesus is the ramrod of our crew and he holds it together with his own perfection. This is where growth and maturity come from. It doesn't come from following man-made rules. ²⁰When you died with Christ, you were freed from religion's rules and regulations. If you are freed from them, why do you continue to follow that trail? ²¹They tell you, "Don't pick up that. Don't taste this. Stay away from this or that." ²²These rules are just human ways of trying to do what can only be done by riding for Christ. ²³I know these regulations seem wise because they require strict discipline, self-denial, and much practice. But they are useless in conquering your sinful self. They actually open the door to sin, they don't close it.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

to: Mark 7:18, Mark 7:19, John 6:27, 1 Corinthians 6:13

after: Isaiah 29:13, Isaiah 29:18, Daniel 11:37, Matthew 15:3-9, Mark 7:7-13, Titus 1:14, Revelation 17:18

Reciprocal: Genesis 9:3 - even Matthew 15:17 - that Colossians 2:8 - after the tradition Colossians 2:23 - will

Cross-References

1 Timothy 2:13
There is a way of doing things. God made Adam first and then Eve.

Hebrews 13:4
Marriage should be held in the highest regard. The marital bed must be kept pure. It is just the husband and wife and no one else. God will judge those who are immoral and those who cheat on a marriage.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Which all are to perish with the using,.... Meaning either the ordinances concerning touching, tasting, and handling, which bring destruction and death on them that use them, and comply with them, in order to obtain righteousness and life; for instead of enjoying salvation through them, they were the cause of damnation to them. Or rather the meats not to be touched, tasted, or handled; these are in their own nature perishing things, and perish by being used; they are only of service to the body, and can be of none to the soul; the using of them cannot defile the man, nor an abstinence from them sanctify him, or commend him to God; they only relate to this present life, and will cease with it, and can have no manner of influence on the spiritual and eternal concerns of men: and besides, the ordinances concerning them are not of God, but are

after the commandments and doctrines of men; for so even the ceremonial law, being now abolished, though originally of God, yet the imposition of it, as necessary to salvation, was a commandment and doctrine of man's; and particularly the traditions of the elders, and the various rules and decrees, which the doctors among the Jews obliged men to regard, were human inventions and devices: and this is another reason the apostle makes use of to dissuade from any regard unto them; for whatever is of man, and not of God, in religious worship, ought to be rejected.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Which all are to perish with the using - This is commonly marked as a part of the parenthesis, or the quotation; and there is considerable difficulty in ascertaining its true meaning. It seems most probable that these are the words of the apostle himself, thrown in in the rapidity of composition, and that they are not to be connected with the phrase “touch not,” etc. If so, the idea is, that it cannot be of so much consequence as the Jewish teachers supposed, to mark distinctly the difference between meats and drinks. They were all to perish with the use of them. Nothing was permanent about them. It could really then be of no great importance what was eaten, or what was drunk, provided it was not in itself injurious. These ordinances had a value among the Hebrews when it was designed to keep them as a distinct people; but they had no value in themselves, so as to make them binding on all mankind. To suppose this, was the common error of the Jews; and hence, the apostle so frequently labored to show that the Jewish rites had no permanent value; see the Romans 14:1-6 notes; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, note; compare the notes at Matthew 15:17-18. According to this interpretation, Colossians 2:21 should be regarded as expressing the common maxim of the Jewish teachers, and the clause before us as the words of the apostle, and should be marked as a parenthesis. So it is marked in Hahn’s Ed. of the New Testament.

After the commandments and doctrines of men - Many of the ordinances on which the Jews insisted were those which were handed down by tradition. They depended on human authority only, and of course, should not bind the conscience. Others take the words here to mean, “All which things tend to the corruption of religion (Doddridge), or are cause of destruction or condemnation (Robinson, Lexicon), by the use of these things, according to the commandments and doctrines of these men.”

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 22. Which all are to perish with the using — These are not matters of eternal moment; the different kinds of meats were made for the body, and go with it into corruption: in like manner, all the rites and ceremonies of the Jewish religion now perish, having accomplished the end of their institution; namely, to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

After the commandments and doctrines of men? — These words should follow the 20th verse, Colossians 2:20 of which they form a part; and it appears from them that the apostle is here speaking of the traditions of the elders, and the load of cumbrous ceremonies which they added to the significant rites prescribed by Moses.