Berean Standard Bible
Galatians 5:17
17For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want.
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 keep on biting and devouring one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another. 16So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery;
Read all of Galatians 5Galatians 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
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- theὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- fleshσάρξsarx · fleshG4561
- cravesἐπιθυμέωepithumeō · to long forG1937
- what is contraryκατάkata · according toG2596
- Spiritπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
- andδέde · thenG1161
- ·οὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- are opposedἀντίκειμαιantikeimai · be an opponentG480
- to each otherἀλλήλωνallēlōn · one anotherG240
- so thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
- you do not doμήmē · notG3361
- you do not doποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
- whatὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- you wantἐάνean · ifG1437
- you wantθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
Cross-references for Galatians 5:17
- Psalms 19:12Who can discern his own errors? Cleanse me from my hidden faults.
- Psalms 51:1Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your loving devotion; according to Your great compassion, blot out my transgressions.
- Psalms 65:3When iniquities prevail against me, You atone for our transgressions.
- Psalms 119:5Oh, that my ways were committed to keeping Your statutes!
- Psalms 119:176I have strayed like a lost sheep; seek Your servant, for I have not forgotten Your commandments.
- Ecclesiastes 7:20Surely there is no righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.
- Isaiah 6:5Then I said: “Woe is me, for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips dwelling among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts.”
- Matthew 16:17Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven.
- Matthew 26:41“Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
- John 3:6Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit.
- Romans 7:18I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh; for I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
- Romans 8:5Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh; but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
- James 4:5Or do you think the Scripture says without reason that the Spirit He caused to dwell in us yearns with envy?
- Galatians 3:21Is the law, then, opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come from the law.
- Matthew 12:30He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.
- Romans 7:7What then shall we say? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed, I would not have been mindful of sin if not for the law. For I would not have been aware of coveting if the law had not said, “Do 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
In the dictionaries
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
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