New Living Translation
Galatians 4:17
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.
Galatians 4:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.
- New International Version (NIV)Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them.
- English Standard Version (ESV)They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them.
- New King James Version (NKJV)They zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them.
Context of Galatians 4:17
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. 16Have I now become your enemy because I am telling you the truth? Those 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. 18If someone is eager to do good things for you, that’s all right; but let them do it all the time, not just when I’m with you. 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.
Read all of Galatians 4Galatians 4:17 word by word
ζηλοῦσιν ὑμᾶς οὐ καλῶς, ἀλλ᾽ ἐκκλεῖσαι ὑμᾶς θέλουσιν, ἵνα αὐτοὺς ζηλοῦτε.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Galatians 4:17
- Galatians 6:12Those who are trying to force you to be circumcised want to look good to others. They don’t want to be persecuted for teaching that the cross of Christ alone can save.
- Matthew 23:15“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn that person into twice the child of hell you yourselves are!
- Romans 10:2I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal.
- Romans 16:18Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people.
- 1 Corinthians 11:2I am so glad that you always keep me in your thoughts, and that you are following the teachings I passed on to you.
- 2 Corinthians 11:3But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent.
- Philippians 2:21All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ.
- 2 Peter 2:3In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed.
- 1 Corinthians 4:8You think you already have everything you need. You think you are already rich. You have begun to reign in God’s kingdom without us! I wish you really were reigning already, for then we would be reigning with you.
Commentaries on Galatians 4:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17They zealously affect you, but not well - It is difficult for common readers to understand the meaning of these words: perhaps it would be better to translate ̔ , these false teachers endeavor to conciliate your esteem, but not in honest or true principles; they work themselves into your good graces; they wish you to place all your affection upon themselves. They would exclude you - They wish to shut you out from the affection of your apostle, that you…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17They zealously affect you - See 1 Corinthians 12:31 (Greek); 1 Corinthians 14:39. The word used here ( ́ Zēloō), means to be “zealous” toward, that is, for or against any person or thing; usually, in a good sense, to be eager for. Here it means, that the false teachers made a show of zeal toward the Galatians, or professed affection for them in order to gain them as their followers. They were full of ardor, and professed an extraordinary concern for…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. 17Those people are zealous for you: The Greek word here can mean have a positive meaning, like "eagerness," or a negative meaning, like "jealousy" and "envy." they want to isolate you from us: The Judaizers (Jewish Christians insisting on following Jewish laws) might have been so eager because they envied the Galatians’ devotion to Paul and instead wanted the Galatians to be devoted to them (compare 2 Corinthians; see also Luke 11:46–52). Another…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. They--your flatterers: in contrast to Paul himself, who tells them the truth. zealously--zeal in proselytism was characteristic especially of the Jews, and so of Judaizers (Ga 1:14; Mt 23:15; Ro 10:2). affect you--that is, court you (2Co 11:2). not well--not in a good way, or for a good end. Neither the cause of their zealous courting of you, nor the manner, is what it ought to be. they would exclude you--"They wish to shut you out" from the kingdom…Read the comment
Topics related to Galatians 4:17
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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