Colossians 3:21 (YLT)

Passage

the fathers! vex not your children, lest they be discouraged.

Nearby Context

Colossians 3:19 the husbands! love your wives, and be not bitter with them;

Colossians 3:20 the children! obey the parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord;

Colossians 3:21 the fathers! vex not your children, lest they be discouraged.

Colossians 3:22 The servants! obey in all things those who are masters according to the flesh, not in eye-service as men-pleasers, but in simplicity of heart, fearing God;

Colossians 3:23 and all, whatever ye may do--out of soul work--as to the Lord, and not to men,

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "fathers", "children", "lest", and "discouraged". 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 "the children obey the parents in all..." into verse 22's "The servants obey in all things those...", 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.