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 and sisters, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. 12I wish those who are disturbing you might also let themselves be mutilated! For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love. 14For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself. 15But if you bite and devour 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• brethrenἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
• yeσύsu · youG4771
• have been calledκαλέωkaleō · to call: callG2564
• untoἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• libertyἐλευθερίαeleutheria · freedomG1657
• onlyμόνονmonon · onlyG3440
• notμήmē · notG3361
• libertyὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• forεἰςeis · towardG1519
• an occasionἀφορμήaphormē · opportunityG874
• to the fleshσάρξsarx · fleshG4561
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• byδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• loveἀγάπηagapē · loveG26
• serveδουλεύωdouleuō · be a slaveG1398
• one anotherἀλλήλωνallēlōn · one anotherG240

Cross-references for Galatians 5:13

• Galatians 5:1For freedom, Christ set us free. Stand firm, then, and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery.
• Galatians 4:5to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
• Isaiah 61:1The Spirit of the Lord God is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners;
• Luke 4:18The 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 release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed,
• John 8:32You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
• Romans 6:18and having been set free from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness.
• 1 Corinthians 8:9But be careful that this right of yours in no way becomes a stumbling block to the weak.
• 1 Peter 2:16Submit as free people, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but as God’s slaves.
• 2 Peter 2:19They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption, since people are enslaved to whatever defeats them.
• Jude 1:4For some people, who were designated for this judgment long ago, have come in by stealth; they are ungodly, turning the grace of our God into sensuality and denying Jesus Christ, our only Master and Lord.
• Galatians 5:14For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself.
• Galatians 6:2Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
• Mark 10:43But it is not so among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant,
• John 13:14So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
• Acts 20:35In every way I’ve shown you that it is necessary to help the weak by laboring like this and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, because he said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
• Romans 15:1Now we who are strong have an obligation to bear the weaknesses of those without strength, 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