New International Version
Galatians 6:3
3If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.
Galatians 6:3 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
- New Living Translation (NLT)If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.
Context of Galatians 6:3
1Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5for each one should carry their own load.
Read all of Galatians 6Galatians 6:3 word by word
εἰ γὰρ δοκεῖ τις εἶναί τι μηδὲν ὤν, φρεναπατᾷ ἑαυτόν·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Galatians 6:3
- Galatians 2:6As for those who were held in high esteem—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism—they added nothing to my message.
- Proverbs 25:14Like clouds and wind without rain is one who boasts of gifts never given.
- Proverbs 26:12Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them.
- Luke 18:11The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.
- Romans 12:3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.
- 1 Corinthians 3:18Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise.
- 1 Corinthians 8:2Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know.
- 1 Corinthians 13:2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
- 2 Corinthians 3:5Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.
- 2 Corinthians 12:11I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.
- 2 Timothy 3:13while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
- James 1:22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
- 1 John 1:8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
Commentaries on Galatians 6:3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3If a man think himself to be something - i.e. To be a proper Christian man; when he is nothing; being destitute of that charity which beareth, hopeth, and endureth all things. See 1 Corinthians 13:1, etc. Those who suppose themselves to excel all others in piety, understanding, etc., while they are harsh, censorious, and overbearing, prove that they have not the charity that thinketh no evil; and in the sight of God are only as sounding brass and a…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3For if a man think himself to be something - see Galatians 5:26. This is designed, evidently, to be another reason why we should be kind and tender to those who have erred. It is, that even those who are most confident may fall. They who feel secure, and think it impossible that they should sin, are not safe. They may be wholly deceived, and may be nothing, when they have the highest estimate of themselves. They may themselves fall into sin, and have…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3People with a proud attitude wrongly think they are too important to help those who are weak (see study note on 6:1).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. Self-conceit, the chief hindrance to forbearance and sympathy towards our fellow men, must be laid aside. something--possessed of some spiritual pre-eminence, so as to be exempt from the frailty of other men. when he is nothing--The Greek is subjective: "Being, if he would come to himself, and look on the real fact, nothing" [Alford] (Ga 6:2, 6; Ro 12:3; 1Co 8:2). deceiveth himself--literally, "he mentally deceives himself." Compare Jas 1:26…Read the comment
Topics related to Galatians 6:3
In the dictionaries
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
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