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

10So then, while we have opportunity, let’s do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith. 11See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand! All 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. 13For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they want to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh. 14But far be it from me to boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

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

• Allὅσοςhosos · just as/how muchG3745
• wantθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• in the fleshσάρξsarx · fleshG4561
• compelἀναγκάζωanagkazō · to compelG315
• you to be circumcisedπεριτέμνωperitemnō · to circumciseG4059
• simplyμόνονmonon · onlyG3440
• soἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• will not be persecutedδιώκωdiōkō · to pursueG1377
• for the crossσταυρόςstauros · crossG4716
• of ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547

Cross-references for Galatians 6:12

• Galatians 6:13For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they want to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh.
• Matthew 6:2“So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, so that they will be praised by people. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
• Matthew 23:5And they do all their deeds to be noticed by other people; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments.
• Luke 16:15And He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the sight of people, but God knows your hearts; because that which is highly esteemed among people is detestable in the sight of God.
• Luke 20:47who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers. These will receive all the more condemnation.”
• John 7:18The one who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.
• 2 Corinthians 10:12For we do not presume to rank or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they have no understanding.
• 2 Corinthians 11:13For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
• Philippians 1:15Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from goodwill;
• Philippians 2:4do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
• Colossians 2:23These are matters which do have the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and humility and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.
• Galatians 2:3But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.
• Acts 15:1Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
• Galatians 5:11But as for me, brothers and sisters, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been eliminated.
• Philippians 3:18For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even as I weep, that they are 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