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Colossians 2:21

The law

19 He has lost connection to the head, from whom the whole body, supported and knit together by its joints and ligaments, grows as God causes it to grow.

20 If you have died with Christ to the spiritual forces of the world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its regulations:

“Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!”?

22 These will all perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings.

23 Such restrictions indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-prescribed worship, their false humility, and their harsh treatment of the body; but they are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

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This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
“Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!”?
KJV
(Touch not; taste not; handle not;
WEB
“Don’t handle, nor taste, nor touch”
ASV
Handle not, nor taste, nor touch
DARBY
Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch,
BLB
“You should not handle! You should not taste! You should not touch!”—
ÅB
Ta ikke! smak ikke! rør ikke!
OTB
"Du må ikke håndtere, du må ikke smake, du må ikke berøre!"?
B1930
Ta ikke! smak ikke! rør ikke!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 1 Timothy 4:3

    They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from certain foods that God has created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

    Read in context

  • Isaiah 52:11

    Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing; come out from it, purify yourselves, you who carry the vessels of the LORD.

    Read in context

  • Genesis 3:3

    but about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You must not eat of it or touch it, or you will die.’”

    Read in context

  • 2 Corinthians 6:17

    “Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”

    Read in context