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class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/colossians/3.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/colossians/3.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/colossians/3.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/colossians/3.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/colossians/3.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/colossians/3.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />Husbands, love the wives and do not be harsh toward them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/colossians/3.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Husbands, love <i>your</i> wives, and be not bitter against them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/colossians/3.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/colossians/3.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Husbands, love your wives and do not become bitter against them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/colossians/3.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/colossians/3.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Husbands, love your wives, and do not be embittered against them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/colossians/3.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/colossians/3.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Husbands, love your wives [with an affectionate, sympathetic, selfless love that always seeks the best for them] and do not be embittered <i>or</i> resentful toward them [because of the responsibilities of marriage].<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/colossians/3.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Husbands, love your wives and don’t be bitter toward them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/colossians/3.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Husbands, love your wives and don&#8217t be bitter toward them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/colossians/3.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/colossians/3.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />A husband must love his wife and not abuse her. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/colossians/3.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/colossians/3.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Husbands, love your wives, and don't be harsh with them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/colossians/3.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/colossians/3.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/colossians/3.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/colossians/3.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/colossians/3.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Husbands, love your wives, and do not be bitter against them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/colossians/3.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/colossians/3.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />Married men, be affectionate to your wives, and do not treat them harshly.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/colossians/3.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Husbands, love your wives, and don’t be bitter against them. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/colossians/3.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />the husbands: love your wives, and do not be bitter with them;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/colossians/3.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />Husbands, love the wives and do not be harsh toward them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/colossians/3.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> the husbands! love your wives, and be not bitter with them;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/colossians/3.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Men, love ye the wives, and be not embittered against them.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/colossians/3.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter towards them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/colossians/3.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Husbands, love your wives, and do not be bitter toward them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/colossians/3.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Husbands, love your wives, and avoid any bitterness toward them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/colossians/3.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/colossians/3.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter toward them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/aramaic-plain-english/colossians/3.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a></span><br />Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.<div class="vheading2"><b>NT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/anderson/colossians/3.htm">Anderson New Testament</a></span><br />Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.<CM><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/godbey/colossians/3.htm">Godbey New Testament</a></span><br />Ye husbands, love your wives with divine love, and be not harsh towards them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/haweis/colossians/3.htm">Haweis New Testament</a></span><br />Husbands, love your wives, and use no asperity against them.<CM><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/mace/colossians/3.htm">Mace New Testament</a></span><br />husbands, love your wives, and do not exasperate them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/colossians/3.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />Married men, be affectionate to your wives, and do not treat them harshly.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worrell/colossians/3.htm">Worrell New Testament</a></span><br />Husbands, love <i>your</i> wives, and be not bitter toward them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worsley/colossians/3.htm">Worsley New Testament</a></span><br /><i>and ye</i> husbands, love your wives, and be not embittered against them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/colossians/3-19.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7q-K-qsfihQ?start=667" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/colossians/3.htm">Christian Households</a></span><br><span class="reftext">18</span>Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. <span class="reftext">19</span><span class="highl"><a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: Hoi (Art-VMP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/435.htm" title="435: andres (N-VMP) -- A male human being; a man, husband. A primary word; a man.">Husbands,</a> <a href="/greek/25.htm" title="25: agapate (V-PMA-2P) -- To love, wish well to, take pleasure in, long for; denotes the love of reason, esteem. Perhaps from agan; to love.">love</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tas (Art-AFP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">your</a> <a href="/greek/1135.htm" title="1135: gynaikas (N-AFP) -- A woman, wife, my lady. Probably from the base of ginomai; a woman; specially, a wife.">wives</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">and</a> <a href="/greek/3361.htm" title="3361: mē (Adv) -- Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether.">do not</a> <a href="/greek/4087.htm" title="4087: pikrainesthe (V-PMM/P-2P) -- To make bitter, embitter; pass: I grow angry or harsh. From pikros; to embitter.">be harsh</a> <a href="/greek/4314.htm" title="4314: pros (Prep) -- To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward.">with</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autas (PPro-AF3P) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">them.</a> </span> <span class="reftext">20</span>Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ephesians/5-25.htm">Ephesians 5:25-33</a></span><br />Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her / to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, / and to present her to Himself as a glorious church, without stain or wrinkle or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/3-7.htm">1 Peter 3:7</a></span><br />Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as a delicate vessel, and with honor as fellow heirs of the gracious gift of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ephesians/4-31.htm">Ephesians 4:31-32</a></span><br />Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice. / Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/13-4.htm">1 Corinthians 13:4-7</a></span><br />Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. / It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs. / Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/31-10.htm">Proverbs 31:10-12</a></span><br />A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies. / The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he lacks nothing of value. / She brings him good and not harm all the days of her life.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/2-24.htm">Genesis 2:24</a></span><br />For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/malachi/2-14.htm">Malachi 2:14-16</a></span><br />Yet you ask, “Why?” It is because the LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have broken faith, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. / Has not the LORD made them one, having a portion of the Spirit? And why one? Because He seeks godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith with the wife of your youth. / “For I hate divorce,” says the LORD, the God of Israel. “He who divorces his wife covers his garment with violence,” says the LORD of Hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_john/4-7.htm">1 John 4:7-8</a></span><br />Beloved, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. / Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/19-4.htm">Matthew 19:4-6</a></span><br />Jesus answered, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ / and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? / So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/7-3.htm">1 Corinthians 7:3-5</a></span><br />The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. / The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife. / Do not deprive each other, except by mutual consent and for a time, so you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again, so that Satan will not tempt you through your lack of self-control.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/songs/8-6.htm">Song of Solomon 8:6-7</a></span><br />Set me as a seal over your heart, as a seal upon your arm. For love is as strong as death, its jealousy as unrelenting as Sheol. Its sparks are fiery flames, the fiercest blaze of all. / Mighty waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If a man were to give all the wealth of his house for love, his offer would be utterly scorned.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_timothy/5-8.htm">1 Timothy 5:8</a></span><br />If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/12-9.htm">Romans 12:9-10</a></span><br />Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good. / Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/24-5.htm">Deuteronomy 24:5</a></span><br />If a man is newly married, he must not be sent to war or be pressed into any duty. For one year he is free to stay at home and bring joy to the wife he has married.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/5-18.htm">Proverbs 5:18-19</a></span><br />May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth: / A loving doe, a graceful fawn—may her breasts satisfy you always; may you be captivated by her love forever.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2"> Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.</p><p class="hdg">love.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/2-23.htm">Genesis 2:23,24</a></b></br> And Adam said, This <i>is</i> now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/24-67.htm">Genesis 24:67</a></b></br> And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's <i>death</i>.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/5-18.htm">Proverbs 5:18,19</a></b></br> Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth… </p><p class="hdg">bitter.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/colossians/3-21.htm">Colossians 3:21</a></b></br> Fathers, provoke not your children <i>to anger</i>, lest they be discouraged.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/romans/3-14.htm">Romans 3:14</a></b></br> Whose mouth <i>is</i> full of cursing and bitterness:</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ephesians/4-31.htm">Ephesians 4:31</a></b></br> Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/romans/12-10.htm">Affectionate</a> <a href="/ephesians/4-31.htm">Bitter</a> <a href="/acts/14-2.htm">Embittered</a> <a href="/colossians/2-23.htm">Harsh</a> <a href="/mark/15-3.htm">Harshly</a> <a href="/colossians/3-18.htm">Husbands</a> <a href="/colossians/3-14.htm">Love</a> <a href="/colossians/3-18.htm">Married</a> <a href="/ephesians/6-9.htm">Treat</a> <a href="/colossians/3-18.htm">Wives</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/1_thessalonians/3-6.htm">Affectionate</a> <a href="/1_timothy/6-5.htm">Bitter</a> <a href="/exodus/1-14.htm">Embittered</a> <a href="/jude/1-15.htm">Harsh</a> <a href="/1_timothy/5-1.htm">Harshly</a> <a href="/1_timothy/3-12.htm">Husbands</a> <a href="/colossians/4-18.htm">Love</a> <a href="/1_timothy/4-3.htm">Married</a> <a href="/colossians/4-1.htm">Treat</a> <a href="/1_timothy/3-11.htm">Wives</a><div class="vheading2">Colossians 3</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/colossians/3-1.htm">He shows where we should seek Christ.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">5. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/colossians/3-5.htm">He exhorts to holiness;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">10. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/colossians/3-10.htm">to put off the old self, and put on Christ;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">12. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/colossians/3-12.htm">exhorting to charity, humility, </a></span><br><span class="reftext">18. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/colossians/3-18.htm">and other duties.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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In the Greco-Roman world, where the letter to the Colossians was written, husbands had significant authority over their households. This directive challenges cultural norms by emphasizing love over dominance. The Greek word for love here is "agape," which denotes unconditional, self-giving love. This reflects the covenantal love God shows His people throughout Scripture, such as in Hosea's depiction of God's enduring love for Israel.<p><b>and do not be harsh with them</b><br>This phrase addresses the potential for abuse of authority within the marital relationship. The cultural context of the time often permitted harsh treatment of wives, but this command calls for gentleness and understanding. The Greek term for "harsh" implies bitterness or resentment, which can erode the marital bond. This aligns with <a href="/1_peter/3-7.htm">1 Peter 3:7</a>, which instructs husbands to treat their wives with respect as co-heirs of the grace of life. The call to avoid harshness is a reflection of the fruit of the Spirit, particularly gentleness and kindness (<a href="/galatians/5-22.htm">Galatians 5:22-23</a>), and it echoes the character of Christ, who is described as gentle and humble in heart (<a href="/matthew/11-29.htm">Matthew 11:29</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/p/paul_the_apostle.htm">Paul the Apostle</a></b><br>The author of the letter to the Colossians, Paul was a key figure in the early Christian church, known for his missionary journeys and epistles.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/c/colossae.htm">Colossae</a></b><br>An ancient city in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) where the recipients of this letter, the Colossian church, were located.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/h/husbands.htm">Husbands</a></b><br>The specific group addressed in this verse, representing the male partners in a marital relationship within the Christian community.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/w/wives.htm">Wives</a></b><br>The female partners in a marital relationship, whom husbands are instructed to love.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_early_church.htm">The Early Church</a></b><br>The broader context in which this letter was written, a time when Christian teachings were being established and spread throughout the Roman Empire.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_command_to_love.htm">The Command to Love</a></b><br>Husbands are explicitly commanded to love their wives, which is a continuous, selfless, and sacrificial love modeled after Christ's love for the church.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/a/avoiding_harshness.htm">Avoiding Harshness</a></b><br>The instruction not to be harsh implies a call to gentleness, patience, and understanding in marital relationships, avoiding bitterness and resentment.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_leadership_in_marriage.htm">The Role of Leadership in Marriage</a></b><br>As leaders in the home, husbands are to lead with love and humility, reflecting Christ's servant leadership.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_communication.htm">The Importance of Communication</a></b><br>Effective communication is essential in avoiding harshness and fostering a loving relationship.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/reflecting_christ_in_marriage.htm">Reflecting Christ in Marriage</a></b><br>The marital relationship is a reflection of Christ's relationship with the church, and husbands are to embody Christ's love and grace.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_colossians_3.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Colossians 3</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/should_husbands_love_their_wives.htm">Should husbands love their wives?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_should_husbands_love_their_wives.htm">How should husbands love their wives?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_to_reconcile_col_3_18-19_with_gender_equality.htm">How do we address the cultural and ethical challenges of Colossians 3:18–19’s instructions on marital roles in light of modern views on gender equality? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_are_men's_roles_in_the_bible.htm">How should husbands love their wives?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/colossians/3.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(19) <span class= "bld">Be not bitter.</span>--Properly, <span class= "ital">grow not bitter, </span>suffer not yourselves to be exasperated. The word is used metaphorically only in this passage, literally in <a href="/revelation/8-11.htm" title="And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.">Revelation 8:11</a>; <a href="/context/revelation/10-9.htm" title="And I went to the angel, and said to him, Give me the little book. And he said to me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make your belly bitter, but it shall be in your mouth sweet as honey.">Revelation 10:9-10</a>.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/colossians/3.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 19.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Ye husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them</span> (<a href="/ephesians/5-25.htm">Ephesians 5:25-31</a>; <a href="/1_peter/3-7.htm">1 Peter 3:7</a>). "Love" is <span class="greek">ἀγαπάω</span>, the word which expresses the highest spiritual affection - "even as Christ loved the Church" (<a href="/ephesians/5-25.htm">Ephesians 5:25</a>). Here, first and most of all, the "new commandment" of <a href="/john/13-34.htm">John 13:34</a> applies. St. Paul only uses the verb <span class="greek">πικραίνω</span> ("to make bitter") here, but he has the noun <span class="greek">πικρία</span> ("bitterness") in a wider application in <a href="/ephesians/4-31.htm">Ephesians 4:31</a>. It denotes "exasperation," prompting to hasty severity. Bengel defines it as "odium amori mixtum" - hatred infused into love. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/colossians/3-19.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div><span class="word">Husbands,</span><br /><span class="grk">ἄνδρες</span> <span class="translit">(andres)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Vocative Masculine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_435.htm">Strong's 435: </a> </span><span class="str2">A male human being; a man, husband. A primary word; a man.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">love</span><br /><span class="grk">ἀγαπᾶτε</span> <span class="translit">(agapate)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_25.htm">Strong's 25: </a> </span><span class="str2">To love, wish well to, take pleasure in, long for; denotes the love of reason, esteem. Perhaps from agan; to love.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">[your]</span><br /><span class="grk">τὰς</span> <span class="translit">(tas)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article - Accusative Feminine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">wives</span><br /><span class="grk">γυναῖκας</span> <span class="translit">(gynaikas)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1135.htm">Strong's 1135: </a> </span><span class="str2">A woman, wife, my lady. Probably from the base of ginomai; a woman; specially, a wife.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and</span><br /><span class="grk">καὶ</span> <span class="translit">(kai)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> </span><span class="str2">And, even, also, namely. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">{do} not</span><br /><span class="grk">μὴ</span> <span class="translit">(mē)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3361.htm">Strong's 3361: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">be harsh</span><br /><span class="grk">πικραίνεσθε</span> <span class="translit">(pikrainesthe)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Imperative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4087.htm">Strong's 4087: </a> </span><span class="str2">To make bitter, embitter; pass: I grow angry or harsh. From pikros; to embitter.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">with</span><br /><span class="grk">πρὸς</span> <span class="translit">(pros)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4314.htm">Strong's 4314: </a> </span><span class="str2">To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">them.</span><br /><span class="grk">αὐτάς</span> <span class="translit">(autas)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Feminine 3rd Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> </span><span class="str2">He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/colossians/3-19.htm">Colossians 3:19 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/colossians/3-19.htm">Colossians 3:19 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/colossians/3-19.htm">Colossians 3:19 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/colossians/3-19.htm">Colossians 3:19 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/colossians/3-19.htm">Colossians 3:19 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/colossians/3-19.htm">Colossians 3:19 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/colossians/3-19.htm">Colossians 3:19 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/colossians/3-19.htm">Colossians 3:19 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/colossians/3-19.htm">Colossians 3:19 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/colossians/3-19.htm">Colossians 3:19 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/colossians/3-19.htm">NT Letters: Colossians 3:19 Husbands love your wives and don't be (Coloss. Col Co) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/colossians/3-18.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Colossians 3:18"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Colossians 3:18" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/colossians/3-20.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Colossians 3:20"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Colossians 3:20" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>