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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)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.
• 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.

Context of Galatians 4:15

13You know that the first time I brought you the Good News I was ill. 14Even though my illness was difficult for you, you didn’t despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were God’s messenger or Christ Jesus himself. What happened to your positive attitude? It’s a fact that if it had been possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16Can it be that I have become your enemy for telling you the truth? 17These people ⌞who distort the Good News⌟ are devoted to you, but not in a good way. They don’t want you to associate with me so that you will be devoted only to 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 3:14⌞Christ paid the price⌟ so that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to all the people of the world through Jesus Christ and we would receive the promised Spirit through faith.
• Galatians 5:22But the spiritual nature produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
• Galatians 6:4Each of you must examine your own actions. Then you can be proud of your own accomplishments without comparing yourself to others.
• Luke 8:13Some people are like seeds on rocky soil. They welcome the word with joy whenever they hear it, but they don’t develop any roots. They believe for a while, but when their faith is tested, they abandon it.
• Romans 4:6David says the same thing about those who are blessed: God approves of people without their earning it. David said,
• Romans 5:2Through Christ we can approach God and stand in his favor. So we brag because of our confidence that we will receive glory from God.
• Romans 15:13May God, the source of hope, fill you with joy and peace through your faith in him. Then you will overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
• Romans 10:2I can assure you that they are deeply devoted to God, but they are misguided.
• 2 Corinthians 8:3I assure you that by their own free will they have given all they could, even more than they could afford.
• Colossians 4:13I assure you that he works hard for you and the people in Laodicea and Hierapolis.
• Galatians 4:19My children, I am suffering birth pains for you again until Christ is formed in you.
• Romans 9:3I wish I could be condemned and cut off from Christ for the sake of others who, like me, are Jewish by birth.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:8We felt so strongly about you that we were determined to share with you not only the Good News of God but also our lives. That’s how dear you were to us!
• 1 Thessalonians 5:13We ask you to love them and think very highly of them because of the work they are doing. Live in peace with each other.
• 1 John 3:16We understand what love is when we realize that Christ gave his life for us. That means we must give our lives for other believers.

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