Col. 1:15 in context
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Col. 1:14      Col. 1:16

Colossians 1:15

[The following passage may be an early Christian hymn or poem quoted by Paul. The passage is well structured with chiasms on several levels. In the literary form known as chiasm, the theme of the first paragraph is linked to the theme of the last, the theme of the second paragraph to the penultimate, and so on. Verses 15-17a summarize Jesus' role in creation. Similarly, and with similar words and expressions, Jesus' role in salvation is summarized in verses 18-20. Central between these two blocks is verse 17b – everything is held together through him!]
He is the image (portrait, icon) of the invisible God,
the firstborn (having the highest rank and ownership) of all creation.
[The Father, who is Spirit and invisible, see John 4:24, made himself visible to humanity in Jesus. The Greek word for image is eikon. The same word is used when Jesus asks “whose image” is on the coin, see Matt. 22:19–21. Jesus is God's portrait, a visible painting of God.
Firstborn can mean both “the one who is first created and born” and “the one who has the highest rank”. The meaning cannot be that Jesus was created by God, since the following verses clearly state that “all things were created through him” and that he existed “before all things.” David is also called the firstborn in Ps. 89:28 even though he is the youngest of his brothers. Jesus is God, he created, died, and rose again for humanity, see Phil. 2:6–18. He is the firstborn from the dead, see 1 Cor. 15:20.]
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The greek text BETA

Nestle-Aland and Textus Receptus

ὅς   ἐστιν   εἰκὼν   τοῦ   θεοῦ   τοῦ   ἀοράτου,   πρωτότοκος   πάσης   κτίσεως·  

Manuscript comments

The greek text has 10 words. There is no difference between NA and TR in this verse.


Interlinear — horizontal

Below is an interlinear translation which follows the original scripture word for word. We are still working on the lexicon. Please contact us if you want to help.





Interlinear — table

Below is an interlinear version in table form that follows the word order of the original text. Clicking on the Strongs number will show the words in their basic form (note that sometimes the grammar causes not only the endings to change, but also the initial letters of the word).


Strongs nr Greek English Grammar Code
G3739
 ὅς (os)
 [He]
Relative pron. Relative pronoun
nom. sing. ♂ Nominative singular masculine
R-NSM
G1510
 ἐστιν (estin)
 is
VERB Verb
pres. active ind. present active indicative
sing. third person singular
V-PAI-3S
G1504
 εἰκὼν (eikon)
 [the] image
Noun Noun
nom. sing. ♀ Nominative singular feminine
N-NSF
G3588
 τοῦ (toy)
 of the
Definite article Definite article
gen. sing. ♂ genitive singular masculine
T-GSM
G2316
 θεοῦ (theoy)
 God
Noun Noun
gen. sing. ♂ genitive singular masculine
N-GSM
G3588
 τοῦ (toy)
Definite article Definite article
gen. sing. ♂ genitive singular masculine
T-GSM
G0517
 ἀοράτου, (aoratoy,)
 invisible,
Adjective Adjective
gen. sing. ♂ genitive singular masculine
A-GSM
G4416
 πρωτότοκος (prototokos)
 [the] firstborn
Adjective Adjective
nom. sing. ♂ Nominative singular masculine
A-NSM
G3956
 πάσης (pases)
 over all
Adjective Adjective
gen. sing. ♀ genitive singular feminine
A-GSF
G2937
 κτίσεως· (ktiseos.)
 creation,
Noun Noun
gen. sing. ♀ genitive singular feminine
N-GSF

The color of the words tell you how rare the word is, the more red, the fewer uses.

Colorscale:  
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English:
 Biblegateway – Multiple English translations side by side
 Expanded Bible – Expanded translations with comments and references
 Amplified – The first expanded translation
 New International Version – One of the most popular English translations
 Complete Jewish Bible – Translation with many translitterated Jewish phrases
 American standard version
 New King James Version – One of the most common English translations, uses Textus Receptus
 Tree of Life Version – Messianic translation
 NET Bible – Has a lot of commentary, generous copyright policy
 The Voice – Reads like a script from a play
 The Passion Translation – Paraphrase
 Youngs Literal Translation – Word for word translation
 Bible Hub – Website with many English translations

Bible Hub:
 Luther's German Bible (1545)
 Multiple Spanish translations

Other Interlinear translations:
 Blueletterbible – Blueletterbible's interlinear version
 Bible Hub – Bible Hub's interlinear version

commentaries:
 Bible Hub – Commentaries on Biblehub
 Enduring Word – Commentaries on Enduring word (whole chapter)