Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Colossians 2:21

21. Μὴ ἅψῃ μηδὲ γεύσῃ μηδὲ θίγῃς, “Handle not, nor taste, nor touch.”

On the force of the aor. subj. in prohibitions, and its infrequency in St Paul’s Epp., see Moulton, Gram. Proleg. 1906, pp. 122–126.

The three prohibitions indicate the nature of the δόγματα, and are on a scale both descending, apparently, in material appropriation and ascending in religious scrupulosity.

On the relation of ἅπτομαι to θιγγάνω see Trench, Synon. § xvii.

Apparently foods are the chief object of the prohibition (cf. Colossians 2:16), and it is not impossible that it concerns them exclusively. In this case “handle” may refer primarily to taking food from the dish as they still do in the East, “taste” to perhaps eating anything above the size of an olive, “touch” to even grazing the forbidden food. Compare Wetstein’s quotation from Xen. Cyr. I. 3. 5, ὅταν μὲν τοῦ ἄρτου ἅψῃ, εἰς οὐδὲν τὴν χεῖρα�· ὅταν δὲ τούτων τινὸς θίγῃς, εὐθὺς�.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Colossians 2:21

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