Galatians 5:3

Galatians 5:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
• English Standard Version (ESV)I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law.
• New Living Translation (NLT)I’ll say it again. If you are trying to find favor with God by being circumcised, you must obey every regulation in the whole law of Moses.

Context of Galatians 5:3

1It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. 2Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope.

Galatians 5:3 word by word

μαρτύρομαι δὲ πάλιν παντὶ ἀνθρώπῳ περιτεμνομένῳ ὅτι ὀφειλέτης ἐστὶν ὅλον τὸν νόμον ποιῆσαι.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forδέde · thenG1161
• I testifyμαρτύρομαιmarturomai · to testifyG3143
• againπάλινpalin · againG3825
• to everyπᾶςpas · allG3956
• manἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
• that is circumcisedπεριτέμνωperitemnō · to circumciseG4059
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• he isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• a debtorὀφειλέτηςopheiletēs · debtorG3781
• to doποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• theὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• theνόμοςnomos · lawG3551
• wholeὅλοςholos · allG3650

Cross-references for Galatians 5:3

• Deuteronomy 8:19If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed.
• Deuteronomy 31:21And when many disasters and calamities come on them, this song will testify against them, because it will not be forgotten by their descendants. I know what they are disposed to do, even before I bring them into the land I promised them on oath.”
• Nehemiah 9:29“You warned them in order to turn them back to your law, but they became arrogant and disobeyed your commands. They sinned against your ordinances, of which you said, ‘The person who obeys them will live by them.’ Stubbornly they turned their backs on you, became stiff-necked and refused to listen.
• Luke 16:28for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’
• Acts 2:40With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”
• Acts 20:21I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.
• Ephesians 4:17So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:6and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before.
• 1 John 4:14And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.
• Galatians 3:10For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”
• Deuteronomy 27:26“Cursed is anyone who does not uphold the words of this law by carrying them out.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
• Matthew 23:16“Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath.’
• James 2:10For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

Commentaries on Galatians 5:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3He is a debtor to do the whole law - Lays himself, by receiving circumcision, under the obligation to fulfill all its precepts, ordinances, etc.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3For I testify again - Probably he had stated this when he had preached the gospel to them first, and he now solemnly bears witness to the same thing again. Bloomfield, however, supposes that the word “again” here ( ́ palin) means, on the other hand, or, “furthermore,” or, as we would say, “and again.” That he is a debtor to do the whole law - He binds himself to obey all the Law of Moses. Circumcision was the distinguishing badge of the Jews, as baptism…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3People who try to be righteous by obeying the law must obey every one of its rules without exception (see 2:15–16; compare James 2:10).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. For--Greek, "Yea, more"; "Moreover." I testify ... to every man--as well as "unto you" (Ga 5:2). that is circumcised--that submits to be circumcised. Such a one became a "proselyte of righteousness." the whole law--impossible for man to keep even in part, much less wholly (Jas 2:10); yet none can be justified by the law, unless he keep it wholly (Ga 3:10).Read the comment

Topics related to Galatians 5:3

• Circumcision
• Obedience

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