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Colossians 3:19

New Testament Epistle (Pauline) ASV (1901)

What does Colossians 3:19 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
Colossians 3:19 — American Standard Version

Context — Colossians 3

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms [and] hymns [and] spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God.
17And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, [do] all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
18Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
19Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
20Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing in the Lord.
21Fathers, provoke not your children, that they be not discouraged.
22Servants, obey in all things them that are your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing the Lord:
← Colossians 3:18Colossians 3:20 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Husbands, love your wives, etc.] (See Gill on “<490525>Ephesians 5:25”). and be not bitter against them; turning love into hatred of their persons; ruling with rigour, and in a tyrannical manner; behaving towards them in a morose, churlish, and ill natured way; giving them either bitter words, or blows, and denying them their affection, care, provision, protection, and assistance, but using them as servants, or worse. All which is barbarous, brutish, and unchristian, and utterly unbecoming the Gospel.”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“(Eph 5:22-33.) be not bitter--ill-tempered and provoking. Many who are polite abroad, are rude and bitter at home because they are not afraid to be so there.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Husbands, love your wives ... - Notes, Ephesians 4:25-29. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Be not bitter - (Which may be without any appearance of anger) either in word or spirit. Colossians 3:21”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“3:19 The exhortation to wives to submit to their husbands is immediately followed by a command to the husbands to love their wives (see also Eph 5:25-30; 1 Pet 3:7).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“love: Gen 2:23, Gen 2:24, Gen 24:67; Pro 5:18, Pro 5:19; Ecc 9:9; Mal 2:14-16; Luk 14:26; Eph 5:25, Eph 5:28, Eph 5:29, Eph 5:33; Pe1 3:7 bitter: Col 3:21; Rom 3:14; Eph 4:31; Jam 3:14 Colossians 3:20”
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Related study paths

Read Colossians 3 in contextBrowse Greek word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification