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Colossians 2

Col. 2:21 KJV (With Strong’s)

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21
(Touch
haptomai (Greek #680)
properly, to attach oneself to, i.e. to touch (in many implied relations)
KJV usage: touch.
Pronounce: hap'-tom-ahee
Origin: reflexive of 681
not
me (Greek #3361)
(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas 3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether
KJV usage: any but (that), X forbear, + God forbid, + lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, (can-)not, nothing, that not, un(-taken), without. Often used in compounds in substantially the same relations. See also 3362, 3363, 3364, 3372, 3373, 3375, 3378.
Pronounce: may
Origin: a primary particle of qualified negation (whereas 3756 expresses an absolute denial)
; taste
geuomai (Greek #1089)
to taste; by implication, to eat; figuratively, to experience (good or ill)
KJV usage: eat, taste.
Pronounce: ghyoo'-om-ahee
Origin: a primary verb
not
mede (Greek #3366)
but not, not even; in a continued negation, nor
KJV usage: neither, nor (yet), (no) not (once, so much as).
Pronounce: may-deh'
Origin: from 3361 and 1161
; handle
thiggano (Greek #2345)
to manipulate, i.e. have to do with; by implication, to injure
KJV usage: handle, touch.
Pronounce: thing-gan'-o
Origin: a prolonged form of an obsolete primary θίγω (to finger)
not
mede (Greek #3366)
but not, not even; in a continued negation, nor
KJV usage: neither, nor (yet), (no) not (once, so much as).
Pronounce: may-deh'
Origin: from 3361 and 1161
;

Cross References

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Gen. 3:3• 3But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. (Gen. 3:3)
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Isa. 52:11• 11Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord. (Isa. 52:11)
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2 Cor. 6:17• 17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, (2 Cor. 6:17)
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1 Tim. 4:3• 3Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. (1 Tim. 4:3)

J. N. Darby Translation

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21
Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch,

W. Kelly Translation

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21
Handle nota, neither taste, nor even touch

WK Translation Notes

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a
The climax is really inverted in the KJV. The order appears in a way exactly contrary to the truth; for the real thought is, first of all, "handle not"; then, "taste not"; and finally, not even "touch." Thus, it is a descending climax, if I may so say, the most familiar thing of all, the handling, being put first; then the tasting, which might be considerably less; and, finally, not even a touch. This is the manner of human safeguards; this is man’s way of preserving flesh in this world.