Galatians 4:15

Galatians 4:15 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.
• New International Version (NIV)Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.
• New King James Version (NKJV)What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me.
• New Living Translation (NLT)Where is that joyful and grateful spirit you felt then? I am sure you would have taken out your own eyes and given them to me if it had been possible.

Context of Galatians 4:15

13You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first, 14and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me. 16Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them.

Galatians 4:15 word by word

Ποῦ οὖν ὁ μακαρισμὸς ὑμῶν; μαρτυρῶ γὰρ ὑμῖν ὅτι, εἰ δυνατόν, τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ὑμῶν ἐξορύξαντες ἐδώκατέ μοι.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Whereτίςtis · which?G5101
• isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• thenοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• the blessednessὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the blessednessμακαρισμόςmakarismos · blessednessG3108
• ye spake ofσύsu · youG4771
• forγάρgar · forG1063
• I bearμαρτυρέωmartureō · to testifyG3140
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• ifεἰei · ifG1487
• possibleδυνατόςdunatos · ableG1415
• ye would have plucked outἐξορύσσωexorussō · to dig through/outG1846
• eyesὀφθαλμόςophthalmos · eyeG3788
• ·ἄνan · ifG302
• and have given themδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
• to meἐγώegō · I/weG1473

Cross-references for Galatians 4:15

• Galatians 3:14so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
• Galatians 5:22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
• Galatians 6:4But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor.
• Luke 8:13And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away.
• Romans 4:6just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:
• Romans 5:2Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
• Romans 15:13May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
• Romans 10:2For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
• 2 Corinthians 8:3For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord,
• Colossians 4:13For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis.
• Galatians 4:19my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!
• Romans 9:3For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:8So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:13and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.
• 1 John 3:16By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

Commentaries on Galatians 4:15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? - Ye spake of should be in italics, there being no corresponding word in the Greek text. Perhaps there is not a sentence in the New Testament more variously translated than this. I shall give the original: ̔ ̔· What was then your blessedness! Or, How great was your happiness at that time! Or, What blessings did ye then pour on me! It is worthy of remark, that, instead of , what, ABCFG, several others, the older…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15Where is then the blessedness - Margin, “What was” - in accordance with the Greek. The words “ye spake of” are not in the Greek, and should have been printed in italics. But they obscure the sense at any rate. This is not to be regarded as a question, asking what had become of the blessedness, implying that it had departed; but it is rather to be regarded as an exclamation, referring to the happiness of that moment, and their affection and joy when they…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-18Verses 12-18 The apostle desires that they would be of one mind with him respecting the law of Moses, as well as united with him in love. In reproving others, we should take care to convince them that our reproofs are from sincere regard to the honour of God and religion and their welfare. The apostle reminds the Galatians of the difficulty under which he laboured when he first came among them. But he notices, that he was a welcome messenger to them. Yet…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15The Galatians were happy and thankful when Paul shared the good news about Jesus with them. you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me: Some think this means Paul had eye problems, but he might have used eyes as a symbol for something valuable (see Deuteronomy 32:10; Psalm 17:8; Matthew 18:9). The Galatians were thankful for Pual's message of good news. So, the Galatians would have given Paul their most valuable possession.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1515. Where, &c.--Of what value was your congratulation (so the Greek for "blessedness" expresses) of yourselves, on account of your having among you me, the messenger of the Gospel, considering how entirely you have veered about since? Once you counted yourselves blessed in being favored with my ministry. ye would have plucked out your own eyes--one of the dearest members of the body--so highly did you value me: a proverbial phrase for the greatest…Read the comment

Topics related to Galatians 4:15

• Affections
• Love

In the dictionaries

• Doubt
• Flesh
• Observe
• Zealously
• Blessedness
• Galatians, Epistle to the
• Paul, the Apostle
• Thorn in the Flesh
• Paul

Commentaries on Galatians 4

• 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