Galatians 6:13

Galatians 6:13 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.
• New International Version (NIV)Not even those who are circumcised keep the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.

Context of Galatians 6:13

11See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. 12Those who want to make a good impression in public [before the Jews] try to compel you to be circumcised, just so they will escape being persecuted for [faithfulness to] the cross of Christ. For even the circumcised [Jews] themselves do not [really] keep the Law, but they want to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh [that is, in the fact that they convinced you to be circumcised]. 14But far be it from me to boast [in anything or anyone], except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15For neither is circumcision anything [of any importance], nor uncircumcision, but [only] a new creation [which is the result of a new birth—a spiritual transformation—a new nature in Christ Jesus].

Galatians 6:13 word by word

οὐδὲ γὰρ οἱ περιτεμνόμενοι αὐτοὶ νόμον φυλάσσουσιν, ἀλλὰ θέλουσιν ὑμᾶς περιτέμνεσθαι, ἵνα ἐν τῇ ὑμετέρᾳ σαρκὶ καυχήσωνται.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• neitherοὐδέoude · norG3761
• themselvesαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• are circumcisedπεριτέμνωperitemnō · to circumciseG4059
• keepφυλάσσωphulassō · to keep/guard: observeG5442
• the lawνόμοςnomos · lawG3551
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• desireθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• youσύsu · youG4771
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• they may gloryκαυχάομαιkauchaomai · to boastG2744
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• yourὑμέτεροςhumeteros · yourG5212
• fleshσάρξsarx · fleshG4561

Cross-references for Galatians 6:13

• Matthew 23:3so practice and observe everything they tell you, but do not do as they do; for they preach [things], but do not practice them.
• Romans 2:17But if you bear the name “Jew” and rely on the Law [for your salvation] and boast in [your special relationship to] God,
• Romans 3:9Well then, are we [Jews] better off than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks (Gentiles) are under the control of sin and subject to its power.
• 2 Peter 2:19They promise them liberty, when they themselves are the slaves of depravity—for by whatever anyone is defeated and overcome, to that [person, thing, philosophy, or concept] he is continually enslaved.
• 1 Corinthians 3:21So let no one boast in men [about their wisdom, or of having this or that one as a leader]. For all things are yours,
• 1 Corinthians 5:6Your boasting [over the supposed spirituality of your church] is not good [indeed, it is vulgar and inappropriate]. Do you not know that [just] a little leaven ferments the whole batch [of dough, just as a little sin corrupts a person or an entire church]?
• 2 Corinthians 11:18Since many boast [of worldly things and brag] about human accomplishments, I will boast too.

Commentaries on Galatians 6:13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13Neither they themselves who are circumcised - They receive circumcision and profess Judaism, not from a desire to be conformed to the will of God; but Judaism was popular, and the more converts the false teachers could make; the more occasion of glorying they had, and they wished to get those Christian converts, who had been before proselytes of the gate, to receive circumcision, that they might glory in their flesh. Behold my converts! Thus they gloried…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13For neither they themselves who are circumcised - The Jewish teachers, or perhaps all Jews. It was true in general that the Jews did not wholly and entirely obey the Law of Moses, but it is probable that the apostle refers particularly here to the judaizing teachers in Galatia. Keep the law - The Law of Moses, or the Law of God. Paul‘s idea is, that if they were circumcised they brought themselves under obligation to keep the whole law of God; see the…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-15Verses 12-15 Proud, vain, and carnal hearts, are content with just so much religion as will help to keep up a fair show. But the apostle professes his own faith, hope, and joy; and that his principal glory was in the cross of Christ. By which is here meant, his sufferings and death on the cross, the doctrine of salvation by a crucified Redeemer. By Christ, or by the cross of Christ, the world is crucified to the believer, and he to the world. The more we…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12-13Despite their theological arguments, the false teachers were self-serving. They wanted approval from non-Christian Jews and cared more about their reputation than honoring God.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1313. Translate, "For not even do they who submit to circumcision, keep the law themselves (Ro 2:17-23), but they wish you (emphatical) to be circumcised," &c. They arbitrarily selected circumcision out of the whole law, as though observing it would stand instead of their non-observance of the rest of the law. that they may glory in your flesh--namely, in the outward change (opposed to an inward change wrought by the Spirit) which they have effected in…Read the comment

Topics related to Galatians 6:13

• Circumcision
• Hypocrisy

In the dictionaries

• Communicate
• Crucify
• Cutting
• Fault
• Overtake
• Reap
• Rejoicing
• Restore
• Galatians, Epistle to the

Commentaries on Galatians 6

• 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