Colossians 1:18

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning, the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Καὶ αὐτός ἐστιν ἡ κεφαλὴ τοῦ σώματος, τῆς ἐκκλησίας: ὅς ἐστιν ἀρχή, πρωτότοκος ἐκ τῶν νεκρῶν· ἵνα γένηται ἐν πᾶσιν αὐτὸς πρωτεύων.

Transliteration

And he estin the kephalē of the sōmatos, of the ekklēsias: who estin archē, prōtotokos from the nekrōn; so that he might genētai in all things himself prōteuōn.

Grammar Details

• *estin*: present, active, indicative, 3rd person singular - is
• *kephalē*: nominative, feminine, singular - head
• *sōmatos*: genitive, neuter, singular - of body, possessive
• *ekklēsias*: genitive, feminine, singular - of church/assembly, apposition
• *archē*: nominative, feminine, singular - beginning/ruler
• *prōtotokos*: nominative, masculine, singular - firstborn
• *nekrōn*: genitive, masculine, plural - dead ones, source
• *genētai*: aorist, middle, subjunctive, 3rd person singular - might become
• *prōteuōn*: present, active, participle, nominative, masculine, singular - having first place

Word Meanings

• *kephalē*: head/ruler/source
• *sōmatos*: body/physical form
• *ekklēsias*: church/assembly/congregation
• *archē*: beginning/origin/ruler/first principle
• *prōtotokos*: firstborn/preeminent one
• *nekrōn*: dead ones/corpses
• *genētai*: might become/be/come to be
• *prōteuōn*: having first place/preeminent/holding supremacy

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And{G2532} he{G846} is{G2076} the head{G2776} of the body,{G4983} the church:{G1577} who{G3739} is{G2076} the beginning,{G746} the firstborn{G4416} from{G1537} the dead;{G3498} that{G2443} in{G1722} all{G3956} things he{G846} might{G1096} have the preeminence.{G4409}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And{G2532} he{G846} is{G2076}{(G5748)} the head{G2776} of the body{G4983}, the church{G1577}: who{G3739} is{G2076}{(G5748)} the beginning{G746}, the firstborn{G4416} from{G1537} the dead{G3498}; that{G2443} in{G1722} all{G3956} things he{G846} might have{G1096}{(G5638)} the preeminence{G4409}{(G5723)}.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  And he is the heed of the body that is to wit of the congregacion: he is the begynnynge and fyrst begotten of the deed that in all thynges he might have the preeminence.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  And he is the heade of the body, namely, of the cogregacion: he is the begynnynge and first begotten from the deed, that in all thinges he mighte haue the preemynence.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And hee is the head of the body of the Church: he is the beginning, and the first begotten of the dead, that in all thinges hee might haue the preeminence.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And he is the head of the body of the Churche: he is the begynnyng, the first borne of the dead, that in all thynges he myght haue the preeminence.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all [things] he might have the preeminence.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  He is the head of the body, the assembly, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And himself is the head of the body -- the assembly -- who is a beginning, a first-born out of the dead, that he might become in all `things' -- himself -- first,

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And he is the head of the body, the church: the starting point of all things, the first to come again from the dead; so that in all things he might have the chief place.

• World English Bible (2000)

  He is the head of the body, the assembly, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  He is the head of the body, the church, as well as the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he himself may become first in all things.

Referenced Verses

• Rev 1:5 : 5 And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood,
• Eph 1:22-23 : 22 And He put all things under His feet and made Him head over all things for the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
• Acts 26:23 : 23 that the Messiah must suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the light of the gospel to our people and to the Gentiles.
• 1 Cor 15:20-23 : 20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. 22 For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, at His coming, those who belong to Christ.
• 1 Cor 11:3 : 3 But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a woman is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.
• Eph 4:15-16 : 15 But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head—Christ. 16 From him the whole body, being joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love as each part does its work.
• Matt 28:18 : 18 Then Jesus came closer and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.'
• John 1:27 : 27 He is the one who comes after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.
• John 3:29-31 : 29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. But the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and listens to him, rejoices greatly at the sound of the bridegroom's voice. Therefore, this joy of mine is now complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease. 31 The one who comes from above is above all. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is above all.
• Ps 89:27 : 27 He will call to me, 'You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation.'
• Eph 5:23 : 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, His body, of which He is the Savior.
• Col 1:24 : 24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body, which is the church.
• John 11:25-26 : 25 Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live.' 26 'And everyone who lives and believes in me will never die forever. Do you believe this?'
• Rev 22:13 : 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.
• 1 Cor 15:25 : 25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.
• Heb 1:5-6 : 5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, 'You are My Son; today I have become Your Father'? Or again, 'I will be His Father, and He will be My Son'? 6 And again, when God brings His firstborn into the world, He says, 'Let all God's angels worship Him.'
• Rev 1:8 : 8 I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, the One who is, who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.
• Rev 1:18 : 18 'the living One. I was dead, but look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.'
• Rev 3:14 : 14 To the angel of the church in Laodicea, write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.
• Rev 5:9-9 : 9 And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals because you were slain, and with your blood, you purchased for God people from every tribe, language, people, and nation." 10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth. 11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne, the living creatures, and the elders. Their number was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands. 12 In a loud voice they said: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power, and wealth, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing!" 13 Then I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, and on the sea, and everything in them, saying, "To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing, honor, glory, and power forever and ever!"
• Rev 11:15 : 15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever."
• Rev 21:6 : 6 And He said to me, 'It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty, I will give freely from the spring of the water of life.'
• Rev 21:23-24 : 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory and honor into it.
• 1 John 1:1 : 1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have observed and our hands have touched, concerning the Word of life—
• Eph 1:10 : 10 for the administration of the fullness of the times, to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth—in Him.
• Rom 8:29 : 29 For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
• Col 2:10-14 : 10 And you have been made complete in him, who is the head over every ruler and authority. 11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not done by hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, through the circumcision of Christ. 12 Having been buried with him in baptism, you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And when you were dead in your trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ, forgiving us all our trespasses. 14 He erased the legal debt that stood against us with its decrees. He took it away, nailing it to the cross.
• Isa 52:13 : 13 Behold, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised up, lifted high, and greatly exalted.
• Matt 23:8 : 8 But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers.
• John 3:34-35 : 34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in His hands.
• John 1:1 : 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
• John 1:16 : 16 From His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
• Song 5:10 : 10 My beloved is radiant and ruddy, outstanding among ten thousand.
• Ps 45:2-5 : 2 My heart overflows with a good theme; I speak my composition to the king. My tongue is like the pen of a skillful writer. 3 You are the most beautiful of the sons of men; grace is poured upon your lips; therefore God has blessed you forever. 4 Gird your sword upon your thigh, O mighty one, in your splendor and your majesty. 5 In your majesty ride forth victoriously on behalf of truth, humility, and righteousness; let your right hand perform awesome deeds.