Colossians 3:2

American Standard Version (1901)

Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Τὰ ἄνω φρονεῖτε, μὴ τὰ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς.

Transliteration

The things anō phroneite, not the things epi the gēs.

Grammar Details

• *anō*: adverb - above/upward
• *phroneite*: present active imperative, 2nd person plural - think on/set mind on
• *mē*: negative particle - not
• *epi*: preposition with genitive - on/upon
• *gēs*: genitive, feminine, singular - earth/land/ground

Word Meanings

• *phroneite*: think on/set your mind on/be concerned with/focus attention on
• *anō*: above/upward/heavenly things
• *gēs*: earth/land/world/territory

Referenced Verses

• 1 Chr 22:19 : 19 Now set your heart and your soul to seek after Jehovah your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of Jehovah God, to bring the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of Jehovah.
• Matt 16:23 : 23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art a stumbling-block unto me: for thou mindest not the things of God, but the things of men.
• 1 John 2:15-17 : 15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vain glory of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
• Col 3:1 : 1 If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God.
• Rom 8:4-6 : 4 that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5 For they that are after the flesh mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For the mind of the flesh is death; but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace:
• Ps 119:36-37 : 36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, And not to covetousness. 37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity, And quicken me in thy ways.
• Phil 3:19-20 : 19 whose end is perdition, whose god is the belly, and [whose] glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven; whence also we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
• Luke 12:15 : 15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and keep yourselves from all covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
• Ps 91:14 : 14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
• Col 3:5 : 5 Put to death therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry;
• Luke 16:8-9 : 8 And his lord commended the unrighteous steward because he had done wisely: for the sons of this world are for their own generation wiser than the sons of the light. 9 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends by means of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when it shall fail, they may receive you into the eternal tabernacles.
• Luke 16:11 : 11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true [riches] ?
• Matt 6:19 : 19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal:
• Phil 1:23 : 23 But I am in a strait betwixt the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ; for it is very far better:
• Luke 16:19-25 : 19 Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, faring sumptuously every day: 20 and a certain beggar named Lazarus was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 and desiring to be fed with the [crumbs] that fell from the rich man's table; yea, even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and that he was carried away by the angels into Abraham's bosom: and the rich man also died, and was buried. 23 And in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things: but now here he is comforted, and thou art in anguish.
• Eccl 7:14 : 14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; yea, God hath made the one side by side with the other, to the end that man should not find out anything [that shall be] after him.
• 1 Chr 29:3 : 3 Moreover also, because I have set my affection on the house of my God, seeing that I have a treasure of mine own of gold and silver, I give it unto the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house,
• Ps 49:11-17 : 11 Their inward thought is, [that] their houses [shall continue] for ever, [And] their dwelling-places to all generations; They call their lands after their own names. 12 But man [being] in honor abideth not: He is like the beasts that perish. 13 This their way is their folly: Yet after them men approve their sayings. {{Selah 14 They are appointed as a flock for Sheol; Death shall be their shepherd; And the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; And their beauty shall be for Sheol to consume, That there be no habitation for it. 15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol; For he will receive me. {{Selah 16 Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, When the glory of his house is increased. 17 For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away; His glory shall not descend after him.
• Ps 62:10 : 10 Trust not in oppression, And become not vain in robbery: If riches increase, set not your heart [thereon] .
• Prov 23:5 : 5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? For [riches] certainly make themselves wings, Like an eagle that flieth toward heaven.