2:21

In this verse Paul summarized the Jewish rules in a very general way. He may have only been referring to the Jewish food laws, but it is more likely that he also meant other rules that said that touching certain things caused a person to be ceremonially unclean. You do not need to specify details of the laws in your translation.

2:21a

Do not handle: This means not to hold something in one’s hands, not to use it.

2:21b

do not taste: This means not to eat even a little of something.

2:21c

do not touch!: This is similar to 2:21a, but it is stronger. It means not even to touch something. For example, the law of Moses commanded Jews not to touch the dead bodies of people or animals.

General Comment about 2:21

If it is necessary in your language to say what sort of things should not be handled, tasted, or touched, you should use very general words, like “these things”. For example:

Do not handle these things. Do not eat these foods. Do not touch these things.

General Comment about 2:21

In this verse, Paul was quoting the words of the false teachers. You must clarify this in your translation so that your readers do not think that Paul was commanding the Colossian believers not to touch or taste certain things. The Berean Standard Bible shows this by using quote marks, but it may be better in your language to begin the verse with an introductory phrase like:

There are people who teach you rules like this: “Do not handle…”
-or-
You do not have to follow rules that say, “Do not handle…”

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