What Does Colossians 2:7 Mean in the King James?

Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

Colossians 2:7 · 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

In him, the same life is already rooted and still being built, with thanksgiving as its overflow.

THE MEANING

You are rooted in him already, and your life is still being built up and made firm through the trust you have been taught. Its growth overflows in thanksgiving.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

Being rooted does not mean your growth is finished; the verse holds settled roots and ongoing building together.

THE ROOT

ἐρριζωμένοι

errizōmenoi

GROWS FROM

ῥιζ-

rhiz-

Root; to take root or plant with roots

“rooted” in this verse is errizōmenoi. The Greek form is a perfect passive participle: the rooting has occurred and its result remains. Beside the ongoing action of being built up, the verse holds an established source and continuing growth together.

ALSO GROWS

rhiza: root

ῥίζα

The noun names the hidden source that anchors and feeds visible growth.

ekrizoo: uproot

ἐκριζόω

The same word family can name removal from the source, showing that rootedness is continued attachment, not surface appearance.

πίστει

pistei

GROWS FROM

πιστ-

pist-

Trust; reliance

Here, faith is trust you can lean your full weight on, not an isolated opinion. The verse joins that trust to what you have been taught, making steadiness relational and received.

ALSO GROWS

pisteuō: trust, entrust

πιστεύω

The verb shows trust as reliance placed in someone, not merely an idea held.

pistos: steady, reliable

πιστός

This related word shows the family’s connection between trust and steadiness.

εὐχαριστίᾳ

eucharistia

GROWS FROM

χάρις

charis

Favor; the word family also gives rise to gratitude and thanks

The Greek word for thanksgiving belongs to the charis, or favor, word family, while its meaning here remains thanksgiving. That places thanks beside abundance as the response that voices what is received.

ALSO GROWS

charis: favor

χάρις

The shared word family links thanksgiving with favor while preserving the verse’s meaning of thanks.

charizomai: grant freely, show favor, forgive

χαρίζομαι

This related verb speaks of favor given, illuminating thanksgiving as a response to what is received.

THE PATTERN

Life rooted in a sustaining source remains fruitful through changing conditions.

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Psalm 1:3 · KJVA life planted by a steady source continues to grow and bear fruit.

For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

Jeremiah 17:8 · KJVRoots reaching the waters sustain fruitfulness even through heat and drought.

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

John 15:5 · KJVThe branch bears fruit by remaining joined to the source of its life.

THE THREAD

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

Ephesians 3:17 · KJV

Ephesians uses the same Greek word for “rooted,” joining that image to trust and love. Colossians opens the picture further: the rooted life is also still being built up in him.

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