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

11But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished. 12I wish that those who are troubling you would even mutilate themselves. For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not 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

• For you were calledκαλέωkaleō · to call: callG2564
• freedomἐλευθερίαeleutheria · freedomG1657
• brethrenἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
• onlyμόνονmonon · onlyG3440
• into an opportunityἀφορμήaphormē · opportunityG874
• for the fleshσάρξsarx · fleshG4561
• but throughδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• loveἀγάπηagapē · loveG26
• serveδουλεύωdouleuō · be a slaveG1398
• oneἀλλήλωνallēlōn · one anotherG240

Cross-references for Galatians 5:13

• Galatians 5:1It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
• Galatians 4:5so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
• Isaiah 61:1The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners;
• Luke 4:18“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, To set free those who are oppressed,
• John 8:32and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
• Romans 6:18and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
• 1 Corinthians 8:9But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.
• 1 Peter 2:16Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.
• 2 Peter 2:19promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved.
• Jude 1:4For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
• Galatians 5:14For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
• Galatians 6:2Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
• Mark 10:43But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant;
• John 13:14If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
• Acts 20:35In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
• Romans 15:1Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just 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