Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (Colossians 3:16 – King James Version)
Let 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. (Colossians 3:16 – American Standard Version)
Let the word of the Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another, in psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to God. (Colossians 3:16 – Darby’s Translation)
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing each other, in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, in grace singing in your hearts to the Lord; (Colossians 3:16 – Young’s Literal Translation)
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord. (Colossians 3:16 – World English Bible)
Interlinear
Let <enoikeo> the word <logos> of Christ <Christos> dwell <enoikeo> in <en> you <humin> richly <plousios> in <en> all <pas> wisdom; <sophia> teaching <didasko> and <kai> admonishing <noutheteo> one another <heautou> in psalms <psalmos> and <kai> hymns <humnos> and <kai> spiritual <pneumatikos> songs, <ode> singing <ado> with <en> grace <charis> in <en> your <humon> hearts <kardia> to the Lord. <kurios> (Colossians 3:16 – King James Version)
Albert Barnes’ Commentary
Verse 16. Let the word of Christ. The doctrine of Christ.
Dwell in you richly in all wisdom. Abundantly, producing the spirit of true wisdom. That doctrine is adapted to make you wise. The meaning is, that they were to lay up the doctrines of the gospel in their hearts; to meditate upon them; to allow them to be their guide, and to endeavour wisely to improve them to the best purpose.
Teaching and admonishing, etc. See this explained See Barnes for Eph 5:19. The only additional thought here is, that their psalms and hymns were to be regarded as a method of “teaching” and “admonishing;” that is, they were to be imbued with truth, and to be such as to elevate the mind, and withdraw it from error and sin. Dr. Johnson once said, that if he were allowed to make the ballads of a nation, he cared not who made the laws. It is true, in a more important sense, that he who is permitted to make the hymns of a church need care little who preaches, or who makes the creed. He will more effectually mould the sentiments of a church than they who preach or make creeds and confessions. Hence, it is indispensable, in order to the preservation of the truth, that the sacred songs of a church should be imbued with sound evangelical sentiment.
{d} “word of Christ” Ps 119:11
{e} “psalms and hymns” Eph 5:19