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

11Now, brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. 12As for those who are agitating you, I wish they would proceed to emasculate themselves! For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love. 14The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15But if you keep on biting and devouring one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one 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

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• youσύsu · youG4771
• brothersἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
• were calledκαλέωkaleō · to call: callG2564
• toἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• freedomἐλευθερίαeleutheria · freedomG1657
• butμόνονmonon · onlyG3440
• notμήmē · notG3361
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• asεἰςeis · towardG1519
• an opportunityἀφορμήaphormē · opportunityG874
• fleshσάρξsarx · fleshG4561
• Ratherἀλλάalla · butG235
• serveδουλεύωdouleuō · be a slaveG1398
• one anotherἀλλήλωνallēlōn · one anotherG240
• inδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• loveἀγάπηagapē · loveG26

Cross-references for Galatians 5:13

• Galatians 5:1It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery.
• Galatians 4:5to redeem those under the law, that we might receive our adoption as sons.
• Isaiah 61:1The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners,
• Luke 4:18“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed,
• John 8:32Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
• Romans 6:18You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
• 1 Corinthians 8:9Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
• 1 Peter 2:16Live in freedom, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.
• 2 Peter 2:19They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves to depravity. For a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.
• Jude 1:4For certain men have crept in among you unnoticed—ungodly ones who were designated long ago for condemnation. They turn the grace of our God into a license for immorality, and they deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
• Galatians 5:14The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
• Galatians 6:2Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
• Mark 10:43But it shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,
• John 13:14So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.
• Acts 20:35In everything, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus Himself: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
• Romans 15:1We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings 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