Colossians 1:15
BSB · Public Domain (CC0)“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.”
What this verse means
A short, plain-language explanation of Colossians 1:15 goes here — the kind of answer a reader (or an AI assistant) can quote in one breath. Original meaning coming soon.
Compare translations
BSBPD
“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.”
Berean Standard Bible · Public Domain (CC0)KJVPD
“Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:”
King James Version · Public DomainASVPD
“who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation;”
American Standard Version · Public DomainYLTPD
“who is the image of the invisible God, first-born of all creation,”
Young's Literal Translation · Public DomainCross references
Other passages that echo Colossians 1:15 — 23 related verses from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Exodus 24:10and they saw the God of Israel. Under His feet was a work like a pavement made of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself.
- Numbers 12:8I speak with him face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you unafraid to speak against My servant Moses?”
- Psalms 89:27I will indeed appoint him as My firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.
- Proverbs 8:29when He set a boundary for the sea, so that the waters would not surpass His command, when He marked out the foundations of the earth.
- Ezekiel 1:26Above the expanse over their heads was the likeness of a throne with the appearance of sapphire, and on the throne high above was a figure like that of a man.
- John 1:1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
- John 1:14The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
- John 1:18No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father’s side, has made Him known.
- John 3:16For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
- John 14:9Jesus replied, “Philip, I have been with you all this time, and still you do not know Me? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
- John 15:24If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have seen and hated both Me and My Father.
- Romans 8:29For 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.
- 2 Corinthians 4:4The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
- 2 Corinthians 4:6For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
- Philippians 2:6Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
- Colossians 1:13He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son,
- Colossians 1:16For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him.
- 1 Timothy 1:17Now to the King eternal, immortal, and invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
- 1 Timothy 6:16He alone is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light. No one has ever seen Him, nor can anyone see Him. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.
- Hebrews 1:3The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
- Hebrews 1:6And again, when God brings His firstborn into the world, He says: “Let all God’s angels worship Him.”
- Hebrews 11:27By faith Moses left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible.
- Revelation 3:14To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Originator of God’s creation.
Cross-reference data: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain) via OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0).
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