Galatians 6:12

Galatians 6:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.
• New International Version (NIV)Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.
• English Standard Version (ESV)It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.
• New King James Version (NKJV)As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.

Context of Galatians 6:12

10Whenever we have the opportunity, we have to do what is good for everyone, especially for the family of believers. 11Look at how large the letters ⌞in these words⌟ are because I’m writing this myself. These people who want to make a big deal out of a physical thing are trying to force you to be circumcised. Their only aim is to avoid persecution because of the cross of Christ. 13It’s clear that not even those who had themselves circumcised did this to follow Moses’ laws. Yet, they want you to be circumcised so that they can brag about what was done to your body. 14But it’s unthinkable that I could ever brag about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. By his cross my relationship to the world and its relationship to me have been crucified.

Galatians 6:12 word by word

ὅσοι θέλουσιν εὐπροσωπῆσαι ἐν σαρκί, οὗτοι ἀναγκάζουσιν ὑμᾶς περιτέμνεσθαι, μόνον ἵνα τῷ σταυρῷ τοῦ Χριστοῦ μὴ διώκωνται·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• As many asὅσοςhosos · just as/how muchG3745
• desireθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• to make a fair shewεὐπροσωπέωeuprosōpeō · to impressG2146
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• the fleshσάρξsarx · fleshG4561
• theyοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• constrainἀναγκάζωanagkazō · to compelG315
• youσύsu · youG4771
• to be circumcisedπεριτέμνωperitemnō · to circumciseG4059
• onlyμόνονmonon · onlyG3440
• ·ἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• lestμήmē · notG3361
• they should suffer persecutionδιώκωdiōkō · to pursueG1377
• for the crossὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• for the crossσταυρόςstauros · crossG4716
• of ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547

Cross-references for Galatians 6:12

• Galatians 6:13It’s clear that not even those who had themselves circumcised did this to follow Moses’ laws. Yet, they want you to be circumcised so that they can brag about what was done to your body.
• Matthew 6:2So when you give to the poor, don’t announce it with trumpet fanfare. This is what hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets in order to be praised by people. I can guarantee this truth: That will be their only reward.
• Matthew 23:5“They do everything to attract people’s attention. They make their headbands large and the tassels on their shawls long.
• Luke 16:15So Jesus said to them, “You try to justify your actions in front of people. But God knows what’s in your hearts. What is important to humans is disgusting to God.
• Luke 20:47They rob widows by taking their houses and then say long prayers to make themselves look good. The experts in Moses’ Teachings will receive the most severe punishment.”
• John 7:18Those who speak their own thoughts are looking for their own glory. But the man who wants to bring glory to the one who sent him is a true teacher and doesn’t have dishonest motives.
• 2 Corinthians 10:12We wouldn’t put ourselves in the same class with or compare ourselves to those who are bold enough to make their own recommendations. Certainly, when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves to themselves, they show how foolish they are.
• 2 Corinthians 11:13People who brag like this are false apostles. They are dishonest workers, since they disguise themselves as Christ’s apostles.
• Philippians 1:15Some people tell the message about Christ because of their jealousy and envy. Others tell the message about him because of their good will.
• Philippians 2:4Don’t be concerned only about your own interests, but also be concerned about the interests of others.
• Colossians 2:23These things look like wisdom with their self-imposed worship, ⌞false⌟ humility, and harsh treatment of the body. But they have no value for holding back the constant desires of your corrupt nature.
• Galatians 2:3Titus was with me, and although he is Greek, no one forced him to be circumcised.
• Acts 15:1Some men came from Judea and started to teach believers that people can’t be saved unless they are circumcised as Moses’ Teachings require.
• Galatians 5:11Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching that circumcision is necessary, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the cross wouldn’t be offensive anymore.
• Philippians 3:18I have often told you, and now tell you with tears in my eyes, that many live as the enemies of the cross of Christ.

Commentaries on Galatians 6:12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12A fair show in the flesh - The Jewish religion was general in the region of Galatia, and it was respectable, as it appears that the principal inhabitants were either Jews or proselytes. As it was then professed and practiced among the Jews, this religion had nothing very grievous to the old man; an unrenewed nature might go through all its observances with little pain or cross-bearing. On the other hand, Christianity could not be very popular; it was too…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh - To be distinguished for their conformity to external rites and customs. To be known for their zeal in this cause. They sought to show their zeal by making converts, and by inducing others also to conform to those customs. Paul here refers, doubtless, to the Jewish teachers, and he says that their main object was to evince their zeal in the observance of rites and ceremonies. They constrain you - You who…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-15Verses 12-15 Proud, vain, and carnal hearts, are content with just so much religion as will help to keep up a fair show. But the apostle professes his own faith, hope, and joy; and that his principal glory was in the cross of Christ. By which is here meant, his sufferings and death on the cross, the doctrine of salvation by a crucified Redeemer. By Christ, or by the cross of Christ, the world is crucified to the believer, and he to the world. The more we…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12-13Despite their theological arguments, the false teachers were self-serving. They wanted approval from non-Christian Jews and cared more about their reputation than honoring God.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. Contrast between his zeal in their behalf, implied in Ga 6:11, and the zeal for self on the part of the Judaizers. make a fair show--(2Co 5:12). in the flesh--in outward things. they--it is "these" who constrain you--by example (Ga 6:13) and importuning. only lest--"only that they may not," &c. (compare Ga 5:11). suffer persecution--They escaped in a great degree the Jews' bitterness against Christianity and the offense of the cross of Christ, by…Read the comment

Topics related to Galatians 6:12

• Circumcision
• Cowardice
• Diplomacy
• Opinion, Public
• Persecution

In the dictionaries

• Christ
• Christ, Messiah
• Circumcision
• Communicate
• Cross
• Crucify
• Cutting
• Fault
• Overtake
• Reap

Commentaries on Galatians 6

• 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