Galatians 5:17

Galatians 5:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
• New International Version (NIV)For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

Context of Galatians 5:17

15But if you bite and devour one another [in bickering and strife], watch out that you [along with your entire fellowship] are not consumed by one another. 16But I say, walk habitually in the [Holy] Spirit [seek Him and be responsive to His guidance], and then you will certainly not carry out the desire of the sinful nature [which responds impulsively without regard for God and His precepts]. For the sinful nature has its desire which is opposed to the Spirit, and the [desire of the] Spirit opposes the sinful nature; for these [two, the sinful nature and the Spirit] are in direct opposition to each other [continually in conflict], so that you [as believers] do not [always] do whatever [good things] you want to do. 18But if you are guided and led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the Law. 19Now the practices of the sinful nature are clearly evident: they are sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality (total irresponsibility, lack of self-control),

Galatians 5:17 word by word

ἡ γὰρ σὰρξ ἐπιθυμεῖ κατὰ τοῦ πνεύματος τὸ δὲ πνεῦμα κατὰ τῆς σαρκός· ταῦτα γὰρ ἀλλήλοις ἀντίκειται, ἵνα μὴ ἃ ἐὰν θέλητε, ταῦτα ποιῆτε.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• the fleshσάρξsarx · fleshG4561
• lustethἐπιθυμέωepithumeō · to long forG1937
• againstκατάkata · according toG2596
• the Spiritὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the Spiritπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
• andδέde · thenG1161
• theseοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• are contraryἀντίκειμαιantikeimai · be an opponentG480
• the one to the otherἀλλήλωνallēlōn · one anotherG240
• so thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• yeποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• cannotμήmē · notG3361
• thatὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• ·ἄνan · ifG302
• ye wouldθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309

Cross-references for Galatians 5:17

• Psalms 19:12Who can understand his errors or omissions? Acquit me of hidden (unconscious, unintended) faults.
• Psalms 51:1Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.
• Psalms 65:3Wickedness and guilt prevail against me; Yet as for our transgressions, You forgive them [removing them from Your sight].
• Psalms 119:5Oh, that my ways may be established To observe and keep Your statutes [obediently accepting and honoring them]!
• Psalms 119:176I have gone astray like a lost sheep; Seek Your servant, for I do not forget Your commandments.
• Ecclesiastes 7:20Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who always does good and who never sins.
• Isaiah 6:5Then I said, “Woe is me! For I am ruined, Because I am a man of [ceremonially] unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”
• Matthew 16:17Then Jesus answered him, “Blessed [happy, spiritually secure, favored by God] are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood (mortal man) did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
• Matthew 26:41Keep actively watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
• John 3:6That which is born of the flesh is flesh [the physical is merely physical], and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
• Romans 7:18For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh [my human nature, my worldliness—my sinful capacity]. For the willingness [to do good] is present in me, but the doing of good is not.
• Romans 8:5For those who are living according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh [which gratify the body], but those who are living according to the Spirit, [set their minds on] the things of the Spirit [His will and purpose].
• James 4:5Or do you think that the Scripture says to no purpose that the [human] spirit which He has made to dwell in us lusts with envy?
• Galatians 3:21Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a system of law had been given which could impart life, then righteousness (right standing with God) would actually have been based on law.
• Matthew 12:30He who is not with Me [once and for all on My side] is against Me; and he who does not [unequivocally] gather with Me scatters.
• Romans 7:7What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, if it had not been for the Law, I would not have recognized sin. For I would not have known [for example] about coveting [what belongs to another, and would have had no sense of guilt] if the Law had not [repeatedly] said, “You shall not covet.”

Commentaries on Galatians 5:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit - God still continues to strive with you, notwithstanding your apostasy, showing you whence you have fallen, and exciting you to return to him; but your own obstinacy renders all ineffectual; and through the influence of these different principles, you are kept in a state of self-opposition and self-distraction, so that you cannot do the things that ye would. You are convinced of what is right, and ye wish to do…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit - The inclinations and desires of the flesh are contrary to those of the Spirit. They draw us away in an opposite direction, and while the Spirit of God would lead us one way, our carnal nature would lead us another, and thus produce the painful controversy which exists in our minds. The word “Spirit” here refers to the Spirit of God, and to his influences on the heart. And these are contrary … - They are opposite…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-26Verses 16-26 If it be our care to act under the guidance and power of the blessed Spirit, though we may not be freed from the stirrings and oppositions of the corrupt nature which remains in us, it shall not have dominion over us. Believers are engaged in a conflict, in which they earnestly desire that grace may obtain full and speedy victory. And those who desire thus to give themselves up to be led by the Holy Spirit, are not under the law as a covenant…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17We cannot just choose to follow the law and not sin. There is a struggle between God's Spirit and our sinful nature (see Romans 7:14–25; 1 Peter 2:11; compare Genesis 4:7). The solution is not trying harder to follow the law, but living by God's Spirit. When we are resurrected, we will finally be free from sin (see Romans 8:18–25).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. For--the reason why walking by the Spirit will exclude fulfilling the lusts of the flesh, namely, their mutual contrariety. the Spirit--not "lusteth," but "tendeth (or some such word is to be supplied) against the flesh." so that ye cannot do the things that ye would--The Spirit strives against the flesh and its evil influence; the flesh against the Spirit and His good influence, so that neither the one nor the other can be fully carried out into…Read the comment

Topics related to Galatians 5:17

• Depravity of Man
• Holy Spirit
• Self-Denial
• Temptation
• War

In the dictionaries

• Affection
• Bite
• Contrary
• Cross
• Crucify
• Debtor
• Flesh
• Gentleness
• Goodness
• Meekness

Commentaries on Galatians 5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings