Galatians 5:13

Galatians 5:13 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
• New International Version (NIV)You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Context of Galatians 5:13

11But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? then hath the stumbling-block of the cross been done away. 12I would that they that unsettle you would even go beyond circumcision. For ye, brethren, were called for freedom; only use not your freedom for an occasion to the flesh, but through love be servants one to another. 14For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 15But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

Galatians 5:13 word by word

ὑμεῖς γὰρ ἐπ᾽ ἐλευθερίᾳ ἐκλήθητε, ἀδελφοί· μόνον μὴ τὴν ἐλευθερίαν εἰς ἀφορμὴν τῇ σαρκί, ἀλλὰ διὰ τῆς ἀγάπης δουλεύετε ἀλλήλοις.Read the interlinear

• calledκαλέωkaleō · to call: callG2564
• freedomἐλευθερίαeleutheria · freedomG1657
• onlyμόνονmonon · onlyG3440
• occasionἀφορμήaphormē · opportunityG874
• fleshσάρξsarx · fleshG4561
• loveἀγάπηagapē · loveG26
• oneἀλλήλωνallēlōn · one anotherG240

Cross-references for Galatians 5:13

• Galatians 5:1For freedom did Christ set us free: stand fast therefore, and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage.
• Galatians 4:5that he might redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
• Isaiah 61:1The Spirit of the Lord Jehovah is upon me; because Jehovah hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
• Luke 4:18The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, Because he anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor: He hath sent me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovering of sight to the blind, To set at liberty them that are bruised,
• John 8:32and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
• Romans 6:18and being made free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness.
• 1 Corinthians 8:9But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to the weak.
• 1 Peter 2:16as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.
• 2 Peter 2:19promising them liberty, while they themselves are bondservants of corruption; for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he also brought into bondage.
• Jude 1:4For there are certain men crept in privily, even they who were of old written of beforehand unto this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
• Galatians 5:14For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
• Galatians 6:2Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
• Mark 10:43But it is not so among you: but whosoever would become great among you, shall be your minister;
• John 13:14If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
• Acts 20:35In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring ye ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
• Romans 15:1Now we that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

Commentaries on Galatians 5:13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13Ye have been called unto liberty - A total freedom from all the burthensome rites and ceremonies of the Mosaic law. Only use not that liberty for an occasion to the flesh. By flesh, here, we may understand all the unrenewed desires and propensities of the mind; whatsoever is not under the influence and guidance of the Holy Spirit of God. Your liberty is from that which would oppress the spirit; not from that which would lay restraints on the flesh. The…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty - Freedom from Jewish rites and ceremonies; see the notes at Galatians 3:28; Galatians 4:9, note, Galatians 4:21-31, note. The meaning here is, that Paul wished the false teachers removed because true Christians had been called unto liberty, and they were abridging and destroying that liberty. They were not in subjection to the Law of Moses, or to anything else that savored of bondage. They were free; free…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-15Verses 13-15 The gospel is a doctrine according to godliness, 1Ti 6:3, and is so far from giving the least countenance to sin, that it lays us under the strongest obligation to avoid and subdue it. The apostle urges that all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. If Christians, who should help one another, and rejoice one another, quarrel, what can be expected but that the God of love should deny his…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13-26Paul explains that justification (being in right relationship with God) comes by faith alone. He then asks, "If we do not follow the law, what guides our behavior?" He answers that the Holy Spirit provides righteousness. The Judaizers (Jewish Christians who believed in following traditional Jewish laws) likely warned that Paul's message of freedom could lead believers to moral failure (5:1). Paul argues that freedom is not an excuse to sin because love…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1313. The "ye" is emphatical, from its position in the Greek, "Ye brethren"; as opposed to those legalists "who trouble you." unto liberty--The Greek expresses, "on a footing of liberty." The state or condition in which ye have been called to salvation, is one of liberty. Gospel liberty consists in three things, freedom from the Mosaic yoke, from sin, and from slavish fear. only, &c.--Translate, "Only turn not your liberty into an occasion for the flesh."…Read the comment

Topics related to Galatians 5:13

• Anarchy
• Love
• Servant

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