Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY

Colossians 4:6

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures
- 6 Let your words always be gracious, seasoned with salt,+ so that you will know how you should answer each person.+

Colossians 4:6

The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures
- 6 ὁ The λόγος word ὑμῶν of YOU πάντοτε always ἐν in χάριτι, graciousness, ἅλατι to salt ἠρτυμένος, having been seasoned, εἰδέναι to know πῶς how δεῖ it is binding ὑμᾶς YOU ἑνὶ to one ἑκάστῳ to each (one) ἀποκρίνεσθαι. to be answering.

Colossians 4:6

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures—With References
- 6 Let YOUR utterance be always with graciousness,*+ seasoned with salt,+ so as to know how YOU ought to give an answer+ to each one.

Colossians 4:6

The Bible in Living English
- 6 let your talk be always in grace, seasoned with salt to know how you need to answer each one.

Colossians 4:6

American Standard Version
- 6 Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one.

Colossians 4:6

The Emphasized Bible
- 6 Your discourse being always with benefit, With salt seasoned,—That ye may know how it behoveth you unto each one to be making answer.

Colossians 4:6

King James Version
- 6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

Colossians Study Notes—Chapter 4

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)
- 4:6
  
  gracious: The Greek word khaʹris, generally used in the Scriptures to describe God’s undeserved kindness, has a broad range of meanings. Here Paul uses it to convey the idea of speech that is beneficial, kind, appealing, even charming. (Compare Eph 4:29, where khaʹris is rendered “beneficial.”) The same word is rendered “gracious” at Lu 4:22 regarding Jesus’ speech in his hometown of Nazareth. (Compare Ps 45:2 [44:3, LXX], where the Septuagint uses khaʹris to describe the gracious speech of the Messianic King.) A Christian’s words should always be beneficial, kind, appealing, even charming. Paul thus suggests that gracious speech is not to be reserved for selected individuals or special occasions; rather, it is to be a Christian’s habit.
  
  seasoned with salt: Salt is mentioned several times in the Christian Greek Scriptures, in both a literal and a figurative sense. These occurrences help to explain what Paul means. (See study notes on Mt 5:13; Mr 9:50.) Paul seems to be referring to the ability of salt to enhance the taste of food, add flavor, and act as a preservative. So he is urging Christians to use speech that is “seasoned” to make it palatable as they convey a message that can help to preserve the life of the hearer.