Galatians 4:17

Galatians 4:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.
• New International Version (NIV)Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them.
• English Standard Version (ESV)They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them.
• New King James Version (NKJV)They zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them.

Context of Galatians 4:17

15Where then is that sense of blessing you had? For I testify about you that, if possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth? They eagerly seek you, not in a commendable way, but they want to shut you out so that you will seek them. 18But it is good always to be eagerly sought in a commendable way, and not only when I am present with you. 19My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you--

Galatians 4:17 word by word

ζηλοῦσιν ὑμᾶς οὐ καλῶς, ἀλλ᾽ ἐκκλεῖσαι ὑμᾶς θέλουσιν, ἵνα αὐτοὺς ζηλοῦτε.Read the interlinear

• They eagerlyζηλόωzēloō · be eagerG2206
• in a commendableκαλῶςkalōs · wellG2573
• but they wantθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• to shutἐκκλείωekkleiō · to excludeG1576
• soἵναhina · in order that/toG2443

Cross-references for Galatians 4:17

• Galatians 6:12All who want to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.
• Matthew 23:15“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.
• Romans 10:2For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge.
• Romans 16:18For such people are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.
• 1 Corinthians 11:2Now I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold firmly to the traditions, just as I handed them down to you.
• 2 Corinthians 11:3But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his trickery, your minds will be led astray from sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
• Philippians 2:21For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus.
• 2 Peter 2:3and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
• 1 Corinthians 4:8You are already filled, you have already become rich, you have become kings without us; and indeed, I wish that you had become kings so that we also might reign with you!

Commentaries on Galatians 4:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17They zealously affect you, but not well - It is difficult for common readers to understand the meaning of these words: perhaps it would be better to translate ̔ , these false teachers endeavor to conciliate your esteem, but not in honest or true principles; they work themselves into your good graces; they wish you to place all your affection upon themselves. They would exclude you - They wish to shut you out from the affection of your apostle, that you…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17They zealously affect you - See 1 Corinthians 12:31 (Greek); 1 Corinthians 14:39. The word used here ( ́ Zēloō), means to be “zealous” toward, that is, for or against any person or thing; usually, in a good sense, to be eager for. Here it means, that the false teachers made a show of zeal toward the Galatians, or professed affection for them in order to gain them as their followers. They were full of ardor, and professed an extraordinary concern for…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. 17Those people are zealous for you: The Greek word here can mean have a positive meaning, like "eagerness," or a negative meaning, like "jealousy" and "envy." they want to isolate you from us: The Judaizers (Jewish Christians insisting on following Jewish laws) might have been so eager because they envied the Galatians’ devotion to Paul and instead wanted the Galatians to be devoted to them (compare 2 Corinthians; see also Luke 11:46–52). Another…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. They--your flatterers: in contrast to Paul himself, who tells them the truth. zealously--zeal in proselytism was characteristic especially of the Jews, and so of Judaizers (Ga 1:14; Mt 23:15; Ro 10:2). affect you--that is, court you (2Co 11:2). not well--not in a good way, or for a good end. Neither the cause of their zealous courting of you, nor the manner, is what it ought to be. they would exclude you--"They wish to shut you out" from the kingdom…Read the comment

Topics related to Galatians 4:17

• Affections
• Love
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Doubt
• Flesh
• Observe
• Zealously
• Affect; Affection
• Galatians, Epistle to the
• zeal, zealous

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