Colossians 2:21

Touch not Or, “handle not.” The Mosaic ritual was full of prohibitions against touching leprosy, unclean issues, dead bodies, and other unhallowed things (Leviticus 12-15; Numbers 19:11-22). The lesson taught by these prohibitions was that the true follower of God would keep himself clean and pure from every contamination, moral and physical, that he might glorify his God. The false teachers probably added other taboos.

Taste not The reference is doubtless to various dietary restrictions largely man made (see v. 8), such as those mentioned in 1 Timothy 4:3-5. See on Colossians 2:16 for evidence that Paul is not removing restriction from the use of foods hygienically unclean. The false teachers at Colossae probably urged many taboos in the matter of diet.

Handle not Or, “touch not.” The Greek verb is practically synonymous with that translated “touch” in this verse. Some commentators suggest the first should be translated “handle” and the last “touch.” The reference is to the various taboos the false teachers urged upon the Colossian Christians, some Judaic in origin and others drawn from Eastern philosophies.