Colossians 2:16
New International Version
Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.

New Living Translation
So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths.

English Standard Version
Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath.

Berean Standard Bible
Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath.

Berean Literal Bible
Therefore let no one judge you in regard to food, or in regard to drink, or in regard to a feast, or a New Moon, or Sabbaths,

King James Bible
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:

New King James Version
So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths,

New American Standard Bible
Therefore, no one is to act as your judge in regard to food and drink, or in respect to a festival or a new moon, or a Sabbath day—

NASB 1995
Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day—

NASB 1977
Therefore let no one act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day—

Legacy Standard Bible
Therefore, no one is to judge you in food and drink, or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day—

Amplified Bible
Therefore let no one judge you in regard to food and drink or in regard to [the observance of] a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day.

Christian Standard Bible
Therefore, don’t let anyone judge you in regard to food and drink or in the matter of a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Therefore, don’t let anyone judge you in regard to food and drink or in the matter of a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day.

American Standard Version
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a feast day or a new moon or a sabbath day:

Contemporary English Version
Don't let anyone tell you what you must eat or drink. Don't let them say you must celebrate the New Moon festival, the Sabbath, or any other festival.

English Revised Version
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a feast day or a new moon or a sabbath day:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Therefore, let no one judge you because of what you eat or drink or about the observance of annual holy days, New Moon Festivals, or weekly worship days.

Good News Translation
So let no one make rules about what you eat or drink or about holy days or the New Moon Festival or the Sabbath.

International Standard Version
Therefore, let no one judge you in matters of food and drink or with respect to a festival, a New Moon, or Sabbath days.

Majority Standard Bible
Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath.

NET Bible
Therefore do not let anyone judge you with respect to food or drink, or in the matter of a feast, new moon, or Sabbath days--

New Heart English Bible
Therefore do not let anyone judge you about food and drink, or with respect to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day,

Webster's Bible Translation
Let no man therefore judge you in food, or in drink, or in respect of a holy-day, or or the new-moon, or of the sabbaths:

Weymouth New Testament
Therefore suffer no one to sit in judgement on you as to eating or drinking or with regard to a festival, a new moon or a sabbath.

World English Bible
Let no one therefore judge you in eating or drinking, or with respect to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Let no one, then, judge you in eating or in drinking, or in respect of a celebration, or of a new moon, or of Sabbaths,

Berean Literal Bible
Therefore let no one judge you in regard to food, or in regard to drink, or in regard to a feast, or a New Moon, or Sabbaths,

Young's Literal Translation
Let no one, then, judge you in eating or in drinking, or in respect of a feast, or of a new moon, or of sabbaths,

Smith's Literal Translation
Therefore let not any judge you in food, or in drink, or in turn of festival, or of the new moon, or of sabbaths:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Let no man therefore judge you in meat or in drink, or in respect of a festival day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbaths,

Catholic Public Domain Version
Therefore, let no one judge you as concerns food or drink, or a particular feast day, or feast days of new moons, or of Sabbaths.

New American Bible
Let no one, then, pass judgment on you in matters of food and drink or with regard to a festival or new moon or sabbath.

New Revised Standard Version
Therefore do not let anyone condemn you in matters of food and drink or of observing festivals, new moons, or sabbaths.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Let no man therefore create a disturbance among you about eating and drinking, or about the division of the feast days, the beginning of the months and the day of the sabbath:

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Let no man disturb you about food or about drink or in the distinctions of feasts and beginnings of months and Sabbaths,
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Let no one judge you, therefore, in meat or in drink, or in respect to a feast, or the new moon, or sabbaths,

Godbey New Testament
Therefore let no one judge you in meat, or in drink, or in the participation of a feast, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath:

Haweis New Testament
Let no man therefore judge you concerning what you eat, or what you drink, or the observance of a feast, or new moon, or the sabbaths;

Mace New Testament
Let no man therefore condemn you for meats or drinks, or in respect of feasts, or new moons, or sabbaths:

Weymouth New Testament
Therefore suffer no one to sit in judgement on you as to eating or drinking or with regard to a festival, a new moon or a sabbath.

Worrell New Testament
Let no one, therefore, judge you in food, or in drink, or in respect of a feast, or a new moon, or sabbaths,

Worsley New Testament
Let no one therefore judge you on account of meat, or drink, or in respect of a feast, or a new-moon, or sabbaths;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Alive in Christ
15And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. 16Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. 17These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ.…

Cross References
Romans 14:5-6
One person regards a certain day above the others, while someone else considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. / He who observes a special day does so to the Lord; he who eats does so to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.

Galatians 4:9-10
But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? / You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!

Romans 14:1-4
Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on his opinions. / For one person has faith to eat all things, while another, who is weak, eats only vegetables. / The one who eats everything must not belittle the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted him. ...

Hebrews 10:1
For the law is only a shadow of the good things to come, not the realities themselves. It can never, by the same sacrifices offered year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship.

1 Corinthians 8:8
But food does not bring us closer to God: We are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

Romans 14:17
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 5:1
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery.

Ephesians 2:15
by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments and decrees. He did this to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace

Acts 15:10-11
Now then, why do you test God by placing on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? / On the contrary, we believe it is through the grace of the Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

Matthew 15:11
A man is not defiled by what enters his mouth, but by what comes out of it.”

Mark 7:18-19
“Are you still so dull?” He asked. “Do you not understand? Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him, / because it does not enter his heart, but it goes into the stomach and then is eliminated.” (Thus all foods are clean.)

1 Timothy 4:3-5
They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from certain foods that God has created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. / For every creation of God is good, and nothing that is received with thanksgiving should be rejected, / because it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

Isaiah 1:13-14
Bring your worthless offerings no more; your incense is detestable to Me. New Moons, Sabbaths, and convocations—I cannot endure iniquity in a solemn assembly. / I hate your New Moons and your appointed feasts. They have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them.

Hosea 2:11
I will put an end to all her exultation: her feasts, New Moons, and Sabbaths—all her appointed feasts.

Amos 5:21-22
“I hate, I despise your feasts! I cannot stand the stench of your solemn assemblies. / Even though you offer Me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; for your peace offerings of fattened cattle I will have no regard.


Treasury of Scripture

Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:

judge.

Romans 14:3,10,13
Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him…

1 Corinthians 10:28-31
But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof: …

Galatians 2:12,13
For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision…

in meat, etc.

Leviticus 11:2-47
Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth…

Leviticus 17:10-15
And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people…

Deuteronomy 14:3
Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing.

in respect.

Leviticus 23:1-44
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, …

Numbers 28:1-29:40
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, …

Deuteronomy 16:1-17
Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto the LORD thy God: for in the month of Abib the LORD thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night…

the new.

Numbers 10:10
Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the LORD your God.

Numbers 28:11,14
And in the beginnings of your months ye shall offer a burnt offering unto the LORD; two young bullocks, and one ram, seven lambs of the first year without spot; …

1 Samuel 20:5,18
And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, to morrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat: but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field unto the third day at even…

or of the sabbath.

Leviticus 16:31
It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever.

Leviticus 23:3,24,32,39
Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings…

Jump to Previous
Celebration Drink Drinking Eat Eating Feast Festival Food Holyday Holy-Day Judge Judgement Judgment Matter Meat Moon Moons New New-Moon Questions Reason Regard Religious Respect Sabbath Sabbaths Sit Suffer
Jump to Next
Celebration Drink Drinking Eat Eating Feast Festival Food Holyday Holy-Day Judge Judgement Judgment Matter Meat Moon Moons New New-Moon Questions Reason Regard Religious Respect Sabbath Sabbaths Sit Suffer
Colossians 2
1. Paul still exhorts them to be constant in Christ;
8. to beware of philosophy, and vain traditions;
18. worshipping of angels;
20. and legal ceremonies, which are ended in Christ.














Therefore
This word serves as a conclusion or a transition from the previous verses. In the context of Colossians, Paul has been discussing the fullness of life in Christ and the sufficiency of His work on the cross. The Greek word "oun" indicates that what follows is a direct result of the truths previously established. It emphasizes the believer's freedom in Christ, rooted in the completed work of Jesus.

let no one judge you
The phrase "let no one judge you" is a call to resist external pressures and judgments from others regarding religious practices. The Greek word "krino" means to judge or to pass judgment. Paul is encouraging the Colossians to stand firm in their faith and not be swayed by those who impose legalistic standards. This reflects the early church's struggle with Judaizers who insisted on adherence to the Mosaic Law.

by what you eat or drink
This phrase refers to dietary laws and restrictions that were part of the Old Covenant. The Greek words "brosis" (eating) and "posis" (drinking) highlight the physical acts of consuming food and drink. In the historical context, Jewish dietary laws were a significant part of religious identity. Paul is emphasizing that in Christ, these ceremonial laws are no longer binding, as they were shadows pointing to the reality found in Jesus.

or with regard to a festival
The term "festival" refers to the Jewish feasts and celebrations prescribed in the Old Testament. The Greek word "heorte" denotes a feast or festival. These were times of communal gathering and worship, but Paul is teaching that they are not requirements for those in Christ. The festivals were symbolic, foreshadowing the coming of Christ, who fulfills their ultimate purpose.

a New Moon
The "New Moon" was a monthly observance in the Jewish calendar, marking the beginning of a new month. The Greek word "neomenia" is used here. It was a time for offerings and special sacrifices. Paul is indicating that such observances are not necessary for salvation or spiritual growth, as they were part of the old covenantal system.

or a Sabbath
The "Sabbath" refers to the weekly day of rest and worship observed by the Jews. The Greek word "sabbaton" is used, which is rooted in the Hebrew "Shabbat." The Sabbath was a sign of the covenant between God and Israel, but Paul is teaching that in Christ, the true rest is found. The Sabbath rest is a shadow of the rest believers have in Jesus, who provides spiritual rest and peace.

(16-19) To the warning against speculative error succeeds a warning against two practical superstitions. The first is simply the trust in obsolete Jewish ordinances (the mere shadow of Christ) with which we are familiar in the earlier forms of Judaism. But the second presents much strangeness and novelty. It is the "worship of angels" in a "voluntary humility," inconsistent with the belief in an intimate and direct union with Christ our Head.

(16) Let no man therefore judge you.--That is, impose his own laws upon you. See Colossians 2:8. (Comp. Romans 14:3; Romans 14:10, "Why dost thou judge thy brother?" in this same connection.)

In meat, or in drink.--Or rather, in eating and drinking. We see by the context that the immediate reference is to the distinctions of meats under the Jewish law, now done away, because the distinction of those within and without the covenant was also done away (Acts 10:11). (Comp. on this subject the half-ironical description of Hebrews 9:10.) But a study of Romans 14:2; Romans 14:20-21, written before this Epistle, and 1Timothy 4:3, written after it--to say nothing of the tone of this passage itself, or of the known characteristics of the later Gnosticism of the ascetic type--show that these laws about eating and drinking were not mere matters of law, but formed significant parts of a rigid mystic asceticism. Of such, St. Paul declares indignantly (Romans 14:17), "The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost." . . .

Verses 16-23. - SECTION VI. THE CLAIMS OF THE FALSE TEACHER. Verse 16. - Do not let any one, therefore, be judging you in eating or in drinking (vers. 21-23; 1 Timothy 4:1-5; Romans 14:17; Hebrews 9:10; Hebrews 13:9; Mark 7:14-19). The new teachers dictated to the Colossians in these matters from the philosophical, ascetic point of view (see notes on "philosophy," "circumcision," vers. 8, 11), condemning their previous liberty. (For the adverse sense of "judge," comp. Romans 14:4, 10, 13.) The scruples of the "weak brethren" at Rome (Romans 14) were partly of an ascetic character, but are not ascribed to any philosophic views. In 1 Corinthians 8:8 and 10 the question stands on a different footing, being connected with that of the recognition of idolatry (comp. Acts 15:29). In Hebrews 9:10 it is purely a point of Jewish law. In one form or other it was sure to be raised wherever Jewish and Gentile Christians were in social intercourse. Ver. 17 shows that such restrictions are "not according to Christ" (ver. 8), belonging to the system which he has superseded. "Therefore" bases this warning upon the reasoning of the previous context. Tertullian ('Against Marcion,' 5:19) supplies the link connecting this verse with vers. 10, 15, 18, when he says, "The apostle blames those who alleged visions of angels as their authority for saying that men must abstain from meats." The abolishing of angel mediation (ver. 15) robs these restrictions of their supposed authority. The Essenes found in the Nazarite life and the rules for the ministering Jewish priest (Numbers 6:3; Leviticus 10:8-11; Ezekiel 44:21) their ideal of holiness. Philo also attached a high moral value to abstinence from flesh and wine, and regarded the Levitical distinctions of meats as profoundly symbolic. Or in respect of feast, or new moon, or sabbath (Romans 14:5, 6; Galatians 4:9, 10). The yearly feast, the monthly new moon, and the weekly sabbath (1 Chronicles 23:31; Isaiah 1:13, 14) cover the whole round of Jewish sacred seasons. These the Colossian Gentile Christians, disciples of St. Paul through Epaphras, had not hitherto observed (Galatians 4:9, 10). Philosophic Judaists insisted on these institutions, giving them a symbolical and ethical interpretation (see Philo, 'On the Number Seven;' also, 'On the Migration of Abraham,' § 16, where he warns his readers lest, "because the feast is a symbol of the joy of the soul and of thanksgiving towards God," they should imagine they could dispense with it, or "break through any established customs which divine men have instituted").

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Therefore
οὖν (oun)
Conjunction
Strong's 3767: Therefore, then. Apparently a primary word; certainly, or accordingly.

{let} no
Μὴ (Mē)
Adverb
Strong's 3361: Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether.

one
τις (tis)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5100: Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object.

judge
κρινέτω (krinetō)
Verb - Present Imperative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2919: Properly, to distinguish, i.e. Decide; by implication, to try, condemn, punish.

you
ὑμᾶς (hymas)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

by
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

what you eat
βρώσει (brōsei)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1035: (a) abstr: eating, (b) food, a meal, (c) rust. From the base of bibrosko; eating; by extension food.

or
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

drink,
πόσει (posei)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4213: Drinking, drink, beverage. From the alternate of pino; a drinking, i.e. a draught.

or
(ē)
Conjunction
Strong's 2228: Or, than. A primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than.

with
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

regard
μέρει (merei)
Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3313: A part, portion, share. From an obsolete but more primary form of meiromai; a division or share.

to a festival,
ἑορτῆς (heortēs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 1859: A festival, feast, periodically recurring. Of uncertain affinity; a festival.

a New Moon,
νεομηνίας (neomēnias)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3561: The new moon, first of the month. Feminine of a compound of neos and men; the festival of new moon.

or
(ē)
Conjunction
Strong's 2228: Or, than. A primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than.

a Sabbath.
σαββάτων (sabbatōn)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural
Strong's 4521: The Sabbath, a week.


Links
Colossians 2:16 NIV
Colossians 2:16 NLT
Colossians 2:16 ESV
Colossians 2:16 NASB
Colossians 2:16 KJV

Colossians 2:16 BibleApps.com
Colossians 2:16 Biblia Paralela
Colossians 2:16 Chinese Bible
Colossians 2:16 French Bible
Colossians 2:16 Catholic Bible

NT Letters: Colossians 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you (Coloss. Col Co)
Colossians 2:15
Top of Page
Top of Page