Colossians 3:7
in Colossians 3When you lived among them, you also used to walk in these ways.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
wherein ye also once walked, when ye lived in these things;
KJV
In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
⋯
This verse in Colossians 3
Commentary
10 notes on this verseThis word is not without praise, because now they no longer live in lusts; but there was a time when they did live so, for they were pagans.
This site's exposition
When you lived among them
on Colossians 3:7-8
The next list, anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips, turns from bodily sins to the tongue and temper. To put aside is the garment language the chapter uses for putting on the new self.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"In the which ye also walked aforetime, when ye lived in them." In order to shame them, he saith, "when ye lived in them," and implying praise, as now no more so living: at that time they might.
"In the which ye also," he saith, "walked aforetime," and (afterward) became obedient. He points them out as still in them, and praises them, saying, "But now do ye also put away all these, anger, wrath, malice, railing, shameful speaking."
The Medieval Church1 voice
The other reason they have for avoiding these sins is that once they did live that way; and so Paul says, in these you once walked, from bad to worse. He gives them this reason, first, because of what Peter says: "Let the time that …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: 11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
In the which ye also walked some time,.... Either in or among the children of disobedience, Col 3:6, or rather in the afore mentioned sins, Col 3:
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
In the which - In all which evil passions. Ye also walked sometime - You formerly lived. These were the common vices of the pagan; Eph 5:8, note; 1Co 6:10-11, notes; compare Rom 1:24-32, notes.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
sometime--"once." walked . . . when ye lived in them--These sins were the very element in which ye "lived" (before ye became once for all dead with Christ to them); no wonder, then, that ye "walked" in them.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
In the which ye also walked sometime - When ye were in your unconverted state, ye served divers lusts and pleasures. See on Rom 7:5 (note), and Eph 2:2 (note).
The words behind it
10 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| οἷς | hois | which | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| καὶ | kai | also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ὑμεῖς | humeis | you yourselves | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| περιεπατήσατέ | periepatesate | walked | G4043 → | 94 times |
| ποτε, | pote | once | G4218 → | |
| ὅτε | hote | when | G3753 → | |
| ἐζῆτε | ezete | you were living | G2198 → | |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τούτοις.¶ | toutois | them. | G3778 → | 1381 times |
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
οἷςwhich
hoisG3739 →1405 times
καὶalso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ὑμεῖςyou yourselves
humeisG4771 →2973 times
περιεπατήσατέwalked
periepatesateG4043 →94 times
ποτε,once
poteG4218 →
ὅτεwhen
hoteG3753 →
ἐζῆτεyou were living
ezeteG2198 →
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
τούτοις.¶them.
toutoisG3778 →1381 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Ephesians 2:2in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ways of this world and of the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the…
it leads to
- Ephesians 6:12
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
- 1 John 5:19
We know that we are of God, and that the whole world is under the power of the evil one.
- Ephesians 2:3
All of us also lived among them at one time, fulfilling the cravings of our flesh and indulging its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature children of wrath.
- Colossians 3:6–7
Because of these, the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.
- John 12:31
Now judgment is upon this world; now the prince of this world will be cast out.
- Ephesians 6:12
Through
1 Corinthians 6:11And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 1:30
It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.
- Colossians 3:5–7
Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.
- 1 Corinthians 1:30
Through
Titus 3:3For at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, misled, and enslaved to all sorts of desires and pleasures—living in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.
it leads to
- Ephesians 2:1–3
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
- Ephesians 2:1–3
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies20
About Colossians
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Colossians 8; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Colossians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Colossians.