Passage

Colossians 4.6

Book: Colossians · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

Immediate context (±2 verses)

ASV (ASV)

"4. that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. 5. Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time."

"6. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one."

"7. All my affairs shall Tychicus make known unto you, the beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow-servant in the Lord: 8. whom I have sent you for this very purpose, that ye may know our state, and that he may comfort your hearts;" (Colossians 4:4-8, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"4. that I may reveal it as I ought to speak. 5. Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time."

"6. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one."

"7. All my affairs will be made known to you by Tychicus, the beloved brother, faithful servant, and fellow bondservant in the Lord. 8. I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts," (Colossians 4:4-8, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"4. That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. 5. Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time."

"6. Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man."

"7. All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord: 8. Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;" (Colossians 4:4-8, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"4. that I may manifest it, as it behoveth me to speak; 5. in wisdom walk ye toward those without, the time forestalling;"

"6. your word always in grace, with salt being seasoned, to know how it behoveth you to answer each one."

"7. All the things concerning me make known to you shall Tychicus, the beloved brother, and faithful ministrant, and fellow-servant in the Lord, 8. whom I did send unto you for this very thing, that he might know the things concerning you, and might comfort your hearts," (Colossians 4:4-8, YLT)

Setting

Speaker: Paul the Apostle (imprisonment) + Timothy
Audience: Christian believers in Colossae (Asia Minor)
Location: composed during Roman imprisonment
Time period: composed c. AD 60-62

Theological reading

Key words

G1520 - heis, heis (Strong's G1520). Also appears in: Matthew 5.17-18, Matthew 6.24, Matthew 6.25-34.
G3056 - logos, logos (Strong's G3056). Also appears in: Matthew 7.24-27, Matthew 8.5-12, Matthew 8.16.
G5485 - charis, charis (Strong's G5485). Also appears in: Luke 1.29-38, Luke 2.40, Luke 2.52.

Quoted in

Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.