New Living Translation
Galatians 4:15
15Where is that joyful and grateful spirit you felt then? I am sure you would have taken out your own eyes and given them to me if it had been possible.
Galatians 4:15 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.
- New International Version (NIV)Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.
- English Standard Version (ESV)What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me.
- New King James Version (NKJV)What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me.
Context of Galatians 4:15
13Surely you remember that I was sick when I first brought you the Good News. 14But even though my condition tempted you to reject me, you did not despise me or turn me away. No, you took me in and cared for me as though I were an angel from God or even Christ Jesus himself. Where is that joyful and grateful spirit you felt then? I am sure you would have taken out your own eyes and given them to me if it had been possible. 16Have I now become your enemy because I am telling you the truth? 17Those false teachers are so eager to win your favor, but their intentions are not good. They are trying to shut you off from me so that you will pay attention only to them.
Read all of Galatians 4Galatians 4:15 word by word
Ποῦ οὖν ὁ μακαρισμὸς ὑμῶν; μαρτυρῶ γὰρ ὑμῖν ὅτι, εἰ δυνατόν, τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ὑμῶν ἐξορύξαντες ἐδώκατέ μοι.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Whereτίςtis · which?G5101
- isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- thenοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
- the blessednessὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the blessednessμακαρισμόςmakarismos · blessednessG3108
- ye spake ofσύsu · youG4771
- forγάρgar · forG1063
- I bearμαρτυρέωmartureō · to testifyG3140
- thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
- ifεἰei · ifG1487
- possibleδυνατόςdunatos · ableG1415
- ye would have plucked outἐξορύσσωexorussō · to dig through/outG1846
- eyesὀφθαλμόςophthalmos · eyeG3788
- ·ἄνan · ifG302
- and have given themδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
- to meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
Cross-references for Galatians 4:15
- Galatians 3:14Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith.
- Galatians 5:22But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
- Galatians 6:4Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.
- Luke 8:13The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation.
- Romans 4:6David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it:
- Romans 5:2Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.
- Romans 15:13I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
- Romans 10:2I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal.
- 2 Corinthians 8:3For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will.
- Colossians 4:13I can assure you that he prays hard for you and also for the believers in Laodicea and Hierapolis.
- Galatians 4:19Oh, my dear children! I feel as if I’m going through labor pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives.
- Romans 9:3for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed—cut off from Christ!—if that would save them.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:8We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:13Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other.
- 1 John 3:16We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.
Commentaries on Galatians 4:15
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? - Ye spake of should be in italics, there being no corresponding word in the Greek text. Perhaps there is not a sentence in the New Testament more variously translated than this. I shall give the original: ̔ ̔· What was then your blessedness! Or, How great was your happiness at that time! Or, What blessings did ye then pour on me! It is worthy of remark, that, instead of , what, ABCFG, several others, the older…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15Where is then the blessedness - Margin, “What was” - in accordance with the Greek. The words “ye spake of” are not in the Greek, and should have been printed in italics. But they obscure the sense at any rate. This is not to be regarded as a question, asking what had become of the blessedness, implying that it had departed; but it is rather to be regarded as an exclamation, referring to the happiness of that moment, and their affection and joy when they…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. 15The Galatians were happy and thankful when Paul shared the good news about Jesus with them. you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me: Some think this means Paul had eye problems, but he might have used eyes as a symbol for something valuable (see Deuteronomy 32:10; Psalm 17:8; Matthew 18:9). The Galatians were thankful for Pual's message of good news. So, the Galatians would have given Paul their most valuable possession.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1515. Where, &c.--Of what value was your congratulation (so the Greek for "blessedness" expresses) of yourselves, on account of your having among you me, the messenger of the Gospel, considering how entirely you have veered about since? Once you counted yourselves blessed in being favored with my ministry. ye would have plucked out your own eyes--one of the dearest members of the body--so highly did you value me: a proverbial phrase for the greatest…Read the comment
Topics related to Galatians 4:15
In the dictionaries
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
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