What Does Colossians 1:11 Mean in the King James?

Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

Colossians 1:11 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

Here, divine strength shows itself as the capacity to endure, stay slow to heat, and keep joy present under pressure.

THE MEANING

You are strengthened for steadfast endurance and a slow-to-heat response, with joy alongside both. Joy does not erase difficulty; it remains present as you endure it.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

It undoes the belief that strength means hardship must disappear, or that joy has to wait until it does.

THE ROOT

μακροθυμία

makrothymia

GROWS FROM

⁨θυμός⁩ (thymos), joined to ⁨μακρός⁩ (makros)

⁨θυμός⁩ means heat, anger, or passion; ⁨μακρός⁩ means long. Together, they picture heat that is slow to rise.

English “longsuffering” can sound like passive tolerance; the Greek compound holds together time and heat. Here, strengthening makes room for endurance before the flare, with joy still present.

ALSO GROWS

makrothymos: long-tempered; patient

μακρόθυμος

Names the quality of being slow to heat that the verse places alongside endurance and joy.

makrothymeō: to be patient; to endure long

μακροθυμέω

Shows this quality as an ongoing way of bearing rather than a single moment of restraint.

ὑπομονή

hypomonē

GROWS FROM

⁨μένω⁩ (menō), with ⁨ὑπό⁩ (hypo)

⁨μένω⁩ means remain or stay; ⁨ὑπό⁩ means under. Together they form the image of remaining under a weight.

This patience is more than waiting as time passes; it is the capacity to remain under pressure. Beside slow-to-heat longsuffering, it shows strength as staying power.

ALSO GROWS

menō: remain; stay

μένω

The seed of hypomonē is staying, which gives patience its sense of persistence.

hypomenō: remain under; endure

ὑπομένω

The verb makes the image active: endurance is continuing to remain under what presses.

κράτος

kratos

GROWS FROM

κρατ-

krat-

Strength or might that prevails and holds sway.

The verse says this endurance comes according to divine might. Its measure is not display alone; the power carries the reader toward endurance, slow-to-heat patience, and joy.

ALSO GROWS

krateō: hold fast; take hold; master

κρατέω

Shows strength as the ability to hold fast, illuminating the endurance this might serves.

krataioō: strengthen; make strong

κραταιόω

Carries the same family from might toward the act of strengthening.

THE PATTERN

Strength from God becomes visible in the capacity to endure pressure while joy remains present.

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

Isaiah 40:29 · KJVStrength meets depletion by increasing capacity where human might is spent.

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

James 1:3 · KJVPressure gives rise to endurance as an inner capacity to remain.

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

Romans 5:3 · KJVRejoicing remains alongside tribulation as it works patience.

THE THREAD

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Galatians 5:22 · KJV

The same word, ⁨μακροθυμία⁩ (makrothymia, slow-to-heat patience), appears here beside joy. Colossians shows this quality as the outcome of strengthening; Galatians names it alongside joy among the fruit of the Breath.

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