Colossians 3:21 (DBY)

Passage

Fathers, do not vex your children, to the end that they be not disheartened.

Nearby Context

Colossians 3:19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

Colossians 3:20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing in [the] Lord.

Colossians 3:21 Fathers, do not vex your children, to the end that they be not disheartened.

Colossians 3:22 Bondmen, obey in all things your masters according to flesh; not with eye-services, as men-pleasers, but in simplicity of heart, fearing the Lord.

Colossians 3:23 Whatsoever ye do, labour at it heartily, as [doing it] to the Lord, and not to men;

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "fathers", "children", and "disheartened". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "fathers" and "children", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 20's "Children obey your parents in all things..." into verse 22's "Bondmen obey in all things your masters...", so "fathers" and "children" belong inside that flow. In Colossians context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "fathers" and "children" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.