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Colossians 1

Col. 1:15 KJV (With Strong’s)

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15
Who
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
hos (Greek #3739)
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
KJV usage: one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc. See also 3757.
Pronounce: hos
Origin: ἥ (hay), and neuter ὅ (ho) probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article 3588)
is
esti (Greek #2076)
he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are
KJV usage: are, be(-long), call, X can(-not), come, consisteth, X dure for a while, + follow, X have, (that) is (to say), make, meaneth, X must needs, + profit, + remaineth, + wrestle.
Pronounce: es-tee'
Origin: third person singular present indicative of 1510
the image
eikon (Greek #1504)
a likeness, i.e. (literally) statue, profile, or (figuratively) representation, resemblance
KJV usage: image.
Pronounce: i-kone'
Origin: from 1503
r of the invisible
aoratos (Greek #517)
invisible
KJV usage: invisible (thing).
Pronounce: ah-or'-at-os
Origin: from 1 (as a negative particle) and 3707
God
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
theos (Greek #2316)
a deity, especially (with 3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very
KJV usage: X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward).
Pronounce: theh'-os
Origin: of uncertain affinity
, the firstborn
prototokos (Greek #4416)
first-born (usually as noun, literally or figuratively)
KJV usage: firstbegotten(-born).
Pronounce: pro-tot-ok'-os
Origin: from 4413 and the alternate of 5088
of every
pas (Greek #3956)
apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole
KJV usage: all (manner of, means), alway(-s), any (one), X daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no(-thing), X thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever.
Pronounce: pas
Origin: including all the forms of declension
creature
ktisis (Greek #2937)
original formation (properly, the act; by implication, the thing, literally or figuratively)
KJV usage: building, creation, creature, ordinance.
Pronounce: ktis'-is
Origin: from 2936
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r
Heb. 1:3• 3Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; (Heb. 1:3)

More on:

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God,
Image

Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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the image.
Ex. 24:10• 10And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness. (Ex. 24:10)
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Num. 12:8• 8With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? (Num. 12:8)
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Ezek. 1:26‑28• 26And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.
 27And I saw as the color of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about.
 28As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake. (Ezek. 1:26‑28)
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John 1:18• 18No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. (John 1:18)
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John 14:9• 9Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? (John 14:9)
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John 15:24• 24If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. (John 15:24)
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2 Cor. 4:4,6• 4In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
 6For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Cor. 4:4,6)
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Phil. 2:6• 6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: (Phil. 2:6)
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Heb. 1:3• 3Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; (Heb. 1:3)
the invisible.
1 Tim. 1:17• 17Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Tim. 1:17)
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1 Tim. 6:16• 16Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen. (1 Tim. 6:16)
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Heb. 11:27• 27By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. (Heb. 11:27)
the firstborn.
Col. 1:13• 13Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: (Col. 1:13)
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Psa. 89:27• 27Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. (Psa. 89:27)
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John 1:14• 14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)
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John 3:16• 16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
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Heb. 1:6• 6And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. (Heb. 1:6)
of every.
Col. 1:16‑17• 16For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
 17And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. (Col. 1:16‑17)
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Prov. 8:29‑31• 29When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
 30Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
 31Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men. (Prov. 8:29‑31)
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Rev. 3:14• 14And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; (Rev. 3:14)
• The Apostle, having thus introduced the Son in His relationship to the Father, as the central and mighty object which was to attract the heart of the Colossians and set them free from the yoke of ordinances, sketches now the different parts of the glory of that Person. (“Colossians 1” by J.N. Darby)
• He is the firstborn of all creation; this is a relative name, not one of date with regard to time. It is said of Solomon, “I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.” Thus the Creator, when He takes a place in creation, is necessarily its Head. (“Colossians 1” by J.N. Darby)
• Utterly impossible that man should see Him who is invisible: he needed one to bring God down to him, and display His word and ways, and Christ is that one image of the invisible God. (“Colossians 1” by W. Kelly)
• “The firstborn of every creature.” Literally, “Firstborn of all creation.” Unhallowed false teachers would here reduce the Creator to being a creature. Instead of referring to mere order of birth, “firstborn” in Scripture emphasizes title, preeminence and first place, and it ever points on to Christ (John 1:13; 8:58; 18:6; Rom. 8:29; Col. 1:16-17; Heb. 1:2,6,8; 1 John 1:2; 5:20; Rev. 1:8). (“Help on Hard Verses” by A.C. Brown)
• The Colossian saints needed to understand the fullness that resides in Christ. If they could see that everything they needed was in Him, they wouldn’t think of looking anywhere else to fill their spiritual needs. This would deliver them from giving their ear to the mystic teachers circulating in their region. (“The Fulness That Resides in Christ: Colossians 1-2:3” by B. Anstey)
• Using the typology in Israel’s conquest of the land of Canaan, we have before us in this next series of verses the antitype of the vision that Joshua saw of “the Captain of the Host of the LORD” (Josh. 5:13-15). This glorious and mighty Captain met Joshua at Jericho and announced that He had come to lead the children of Israel into their promised inheritance in Canaan. Likewise, in this passage we are given a glimpse of the glorious Person of Christ as the One who leads the saints into the knowledge and enjoyment of their heavenly portion of blessing—of which Canaan is a type. (“The Fulness That Resides in Christ: Colossians 1-2:3” by B. Anstey)
• Being divine, He is “the express image of His Person” (Heb. 1:3). This confirms His deity, for no less than a divine Person can fully reveal and perfectly represent a divine Person. (“The Fulness That Resides in Christ: Colossians 1-2:3” by B. Anstey)
• David was not born first in Jesse’s family (1 Chron. 2:13-15), yet the Lord called him the “firstborn” (Psa. 89:27). Likewise, Ephraim was not born first in Joseph’s family (Gen. 48:14) but the Lord called him His “firstborn” (Jer. 31:9). (“The Fulness That Resides in Christ: Colossians 1-2:3” by B. Anstey)

J. N. Darby Translation

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15
who is image of the invisible God, firstborn of all creationi;

JND Translation Notes

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i
See Note h, ver. 23.

W. Kelly Translation

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15
who is [the] imagea of the invisible God, firstbornb of all creation;

WK Translation Notes

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a
The word "image" is continually used in Scripture for representation.
b
Some [who misunderstand the passage] have changed the rendering to "Born before all creation." It is unnatural to take it so, spite of some ancients and moderns.