New American Standard Bible 1995

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Colossians

Note Journal Prayer

2

:

8

“

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Greek: Transliteration:
See to look (at) V-PMA-2P H991 βλέπετε blepete
to it that no not, that...not, lest (used for qualified negation) Adv H3361 μή mē
one a certain one, someone, anyone IPro-NMS H5100 τις tis
Analysis:

One: God

Refers to HaShem (God), Who is One. This number can also refer to unity. The first place the number "one" occurs is in Genesis 1:5. There one reads, "And there was an evening and there was a morning— one day". Later on in this same book of Genesis, it is stated concerning the man and his wife, "And they became one flesh" (Genesis 2:24). It is very significant that in both of these examples there was a multiplicity for the subject. In the first example, the evening and the morning became one day and in the second example, it was Adam and Eve who became one flesh.

One of the most famous passages in the Torah concerning HaShem is Deuteronomy 6:4 which states, "Hear O Israel the Lord your God the Lord is One." The question that a person must ask himself is what is the connection between the use of the Hebrew word אחד "one" which identifies a multiplicity being one and the fact that the Lord God of Israel is One? The answer is that the Hebrew word אחד can relate to the concept for one as in "unification". There is another Hebrew word that would have been possible to be used if the author wanted to refer to an absolute oneness or singleness. This is the Hebrew word יחיד. In fact, there is a well-known prayer in Judaism which states, "אחד ואין יחיד כיחודו". This phrase should be translated as, "(God is) One and there is no singularity as His singularity." The idea that is being expressed in this prayer is that the Lord God of Israel is One; but not an absolute One; rather there is a uniqueness and a complexity to His Oneness.

The number one is frequently employed to express in the Scriptures one object, such as one man or one tabernacle. This usage would be the simple or common purpose that the number one or for that matter any number, would appear in a Biblical text. Often the appearance of a number does not contain any of the significance that Hebrew numerology might offer. Therefore, the reader must always consider when coming across a verse which contains a number, that the number only expresses an amount and no additional significance. 

Because the number one is often associated with God, there is a unique phenomenon in the Scriptures concerning this number. Sometimes the number one is employed to express a unique relationship that the object has to HaShem. For example,

"And it will be one day, it will be known to HaShem..." Zechariah 14:7

In the text above, Zechariah could have stated simply, "And it will be a day…" The fact that the prophet said "one day" is to convey that this day is uniquely related to God. Similarly, it is stated by the prophet Ezekiel in chapter 37, "one King", "one nation" and "one Shepherd" (see Ezekiel 37:22, 24). Each of these objects—King, nation and Shepherd—has a connection to HaShem. The King and Shepherd is Messiah Yeshua, the Son of God and the one nation is Israel, the people of God.

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takes you captive to carry off as spoil V-PPA-NMS H4812 συλαγωγῶν sulagōgōn
through through, on account of, because of Prep H1223 διὰ dia
philosophy the love or pursuit of wisdom N-GFS H5385 φιλοσοφίας philosophias
and empty empty Adj-GFS H2756 κενῆς kenēs
deception, deceit N-GFS H539 ἀπάτης apatēs
according down, against, according to Prep H2596 κατὰ kata
to the tradition a handing down or over, a tradition N-AFS H3862 παράδοσιν paradosin
of men, a man, human, mankind N-GMP H444 ἀνθρώπων anthrōpōn
according down, against, according to Prep H2596 κατὰ kata
to the elementary principles one of a row, hence a letter (of the alphabet), by ext. the elements (of knowledge) N-ANP H4747 στοιχεῖα stoicheia
of the world, order, the world N-GMS H2889 κοσμοῦ kosmou
rather not, no Adv H3756 οὐ ou
than and, even, also Conj H2532 καὶ kai
according down, against, according to Prep H2596 κατὰ kata
to Christ. the Anointed One, Messiah, Christ N-AMS H5547 Χριστόν christon

Parallel Verses

Removed text
Added text
New American Standard Bible 1995 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.
King James Bible See to it that no one takes Beware lest any man spoil you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to vain deceit, after the tradition of men, according to after the elementary principles rudiments of the world, rather than according to and not after Christ.
Berean Bible See to it that no one takes Take heed lest there will be anyone taking you captive through philosophy and empty deception, deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than world and not according to Christ.
Hebrew Greek English See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.