Galatians 5:3

Galatians 5:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
• New International Version (NIV)Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.
• English Standard Version (ESV)I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law.

Context of Galatians 5:3

1Christ has freed us so that we may enjoy the benefits of freedom. Therefore, be firm ⌞in this freedom⌟, and don’t become slaves again. 2I, Paul, can guarantee that if you allow yourselves to be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you. Again, I insist that everyone who allows himself to be circumcised must realize that he obligates himself to do everything Moses’ Teachings demand. 4Those of you who try to earn God’s approval by obeying his laws have been cut off from Christ. You have fallen out of God’s favor. 5However, in our spiritual nature, faith causes us to wait eagerly for the confidence that comes with God’s approval.

Galatians 5:3 word by word

μαρτύρομαι δὲ πάλιν παντὶ ἀνθρώπῳ περιτεμνομένῳ ὅτι ὀφειλέτης ἐστὶν ὅλον τὸν νόμον ποιῆσαι.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forδέde · thenG1161
• I testifyμαρτύρομαιmarturomai · to testifyG3143
• againπάλινpalin · againG3825
• to everyπᾶςpas · allG3956
• manἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
• that is circumcisedπεριτέμνωperitemnō · to circumciseG4059
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• he isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• a debtorὀφειλέτηςopheiletēs · debtorG3781
• to doποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• theὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• theνόμοςnomos · lawG3551
• wholeὅλοςholos · allG3650

Cross-references for Galatians 5:3

• Deuteronomy 8:19I warn you today that if you forget the Lord your God and follow other gods, and if you serve them and bow down to them, you will certainly be destroyed.
• Deuteronomy 31:21When many terrible disasters happen to them, this song will testify against them, because it will never be forgotten by their descendants. I know what their hearts are set on doing, even now before I bring them into the land that I swore to give them.”
• Nehemiah 9:29You warned them in order to bring them back to your teachings, but they became arrogant and would not obey your commandments. They sinned by not following your regulations. If anyone follows them, he will find life in them. But they gave you the cold shoulder, became impossible to deal with, and wouldn’t listen.
• Luke 16:28I have five brothers. He can warn them so that they won’t end up in this place of torture.’
• Acts 2:40Peter said much more to warn them. He urged, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”
• Acts 20:21I warned Jews and Greeks to change the way they think and act and to believe in our Lord Jesus.
• Ephesians 4:17So I tell you and encourage you in the Lord’s name not to live any longer like other people in the world. Their minds are set on worthless things.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:6No one should take advantage of or exploit other believers that way. The Lord is the one who punishes people for all these things. We’ve already told you and warned you about this.
• 1 John 4:14We have seen and testify to the fact that the Father sent his Son as the Savior of the world.
• Galatians 3:10Certainly, there is a curse on all who rely on their own efforts because Scripture says, “Whoever doesn’t obey everything that is written in Moses’ Teachings is cursed.”
• Deuteronomy 27:26“Whoever doesn’t obey every word of these teachings will be cursed.” Then all the people will say amen.
• Matthew 23:16“How horrible it will be for you, you blind guides! You say, ‘To swear an oath by the temple doesn’t mean a thing. But to swear an oath by the gold in the temple means a person must keep his oath.’
• James 2:10If someone obeys all of God’s laws except one, that person is guilty of breaking all of them.

Commentaries on Galatians 5:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3He is a debtor to do the whole law - Lays himself, by receiving circumcision, under the obligation to fulfill all its precepts, ordinances, etc.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3For I testify again - Probably he had stated this when he had preached the gospel to them first, and he now solemnly bears witness to the same thing again. Bloomfield, however, supposes that the word “again” here ( ́ palin) means, on the other hand, or, “furthermore,” or, as we would say, “and again.” That he is a debtor to do the whole law - He binds himself to obey all the Law of Moses. Circumcision was the distinguishing badge of the Jews, as baptism…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3People who try to be righteous by obeying the law must obey every one of its rules without exception (see 2:15–16; compare James 2:10).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. For--Greek, "Yea, more"; "Moreover." I testify ... to every man--as well as "unto you" (Ga 5:2). that is circumcised--that submits to be circumcised. Such a one became a "proselyte of righteousness." the whole law--impossible for man to keep even in part, much less wholly (Jas 2:10); yet none can be justified by the law, unless he keep it wholly (Ga 3:10).Read the comment

Topics related to Galatians 5:3

• Circumcision
• Obedience

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