Galatians 5:17

Galatians 5:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
• New Living Translation (NLT)The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.

Context of Galatians 5:17

15If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. 16So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;

Galatians 5:17 word by word

ἡ γὰρ σὰρξ ἐπιθυμεῖ κατὰ τοῦ πνεύματος τὸ δὲ πνεῦμα κατὰ τῆς σαρκός· ταῦτα γὰρ ἀλλήλοις ἀντίκειται, ἵνα μὴ ἃ ἐὰν θέλητε, ταῦτα ποιῆτε.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• the fleshσάρξsarx · fleshG4561
• lustethἐπιθυμέωepithumeō · to long forG1937
• againstκατάkata · according toG2596
• the Spiritὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the Spiritπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
• andδέde · thenG1161
• theseοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• are contraryἀντίκειμαιantikeimai · be an opponentG480
• the one to the otherἀλλήλωνallēlōn · one anotherG240
• so thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• yeποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• cannotμήmē · notG3361
• thatὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• ·ἄνan · ifG302
• ye wouldθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309

Cross-references for Galatians 5:17

• Psalms 19:12But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults.
• Psalms 51:1Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
• Psalms 65:3When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions.
• Psalms 119:5Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees!
• Psalms 119:176I have strayed like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I have not forgotten your commands.
• Ecclesiastes 7:20Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins.
• Isaiah 6:5“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”
• Matthew 16:17Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.
• Matthew 26:41“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
• John 3:6Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.
• Romans 7:18For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
• Romans 8:5Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
• James 4:5Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us?
• Galatians 3:21Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law.
• Matthew 12:30“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
• Romans 7:7What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”

Commentaries on Galatians 5:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit - God still continues to strive with you, notwithstanding your apostasy, showing you whence you have fallen, and exciting you to return to him; but your own obstinacy renders all ineffectual; and through the influence of these different principles, you are kept in a state of self-opposition and self-distraction, so that you cannot do the things that ye would. You are convinced of what is right, and ye wish to do…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit - The inclinations and desires of the flesh are contrary to those of the Spirit. They draw us away in an opposite direction, and while the Spirit of God would lead us one way, our carnal nature would lead us another, and thus produce the painful controversy which exists in our minds. The word “Spirit” here refers to the Spirit of God, and to his influences on the heart. And these are contrary … - They are opposite…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-26Verses 16-26 If it be our care to act under the guidance and power of the blessed Spirit, though we may not be freed from the stirrings and oppositions of the corrupt nature which remains in us, it shall not have dominion over us. Believers are engaged in a conflict, in which they earnestly desire that grace may obtain full and speedy victory. And those who desire thus to give themselves up to be led by the Holy Spirit, are not under the law as a covenant…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17We cannot just choose to follow the law and not sin. There is a struggle between God's Spirit and our sinful nature (see Romans 7:14–25; 1 Peter 2:11; compare Genesis 4:7). The solution is not trying harder to follow the law, but living by God's Spirit. When we are resurrected, we will finally be free from sin (see Romans 8:18–25).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. For--the reason why walking by the Spirit will exclude fulfilling the lusts of the flesh, namely, their mutual contrariety. the Spirit--not "lusteth," but "tendeth (or some such word is to be supplied) against the flesh." so that ye cannot do the things that ye would--The Spirit strives against the flesh and its evil influence; the flesh against the Spirit and His good influence, so that neither the one nor the other can be fully carried out into…Read the comment

Topics related to Galatians 5:17

• Depravity of Man
• Holy Spirit
• Self-Denial
• Temptation
• War

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