Galatians 4:20

Galatians 4:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.
• New International Version (NIV)how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!
• English Standard Version (ESV)I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
• New King James Version (NKJV)I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about you.

Context of Galatians 4:20

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. I wish I were with you right now so I could change my tone. But at this distance I don’t know how else to help you. 21Tell me, you who want to live under the law, do you know what the law actually says? 22The Scriptures say that Abraham had two sons, one from his slave wife and one from his freeborn wife.

Galatians 4:20 word by word

ἤθελον δὲ παρεῖναι πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἄρτι καὶ ἀλλάξαι τὴν φωνήν μου, ὅτι ἀποροῦμαι ἐν ὑμῖν.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• I desireθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• ·δέde · thenG1161
• to be presentπάρειμιpareimi · be presentG3918
• withπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• youσύsu · youG4771
• nowἄρτιarti · nowG737
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• to changeἀλλάσσωallassō · to changeG236
• myἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• voiceὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• voiceφωνήphōnē · voice/sound: voiceG5456
• forὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• I stand in doubtἀπορέωaporeō · be perplexedG639
• ofἐνen · in/on/amongG1722

Cross-references for Galatians 4:20

• 1 Corinthians 4:19But I will come—and soon—if the Lord lets me, and then I’ll find out whether these arrogant people just give pretentious speeches or whether they really have God’s power.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:17Dear brothers and sisters, after we were separated from you for a little while (though our hearts never left you), we tried very hard to come back because of our intense longing to see you again.
• 1 Thessalonians 3:9How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God’s presence.
• Galatians 4:11I fear for you. Perhaps all my hard work with you was for nothing.

Commentaries on Galatians 4:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20I desire to be present with you - I wish to accommodate my doctrine to your state; I know not whether you need stronger reprehension, or to be dealt with more leniently. I stand in doubt of you - I have doubts concerning your state; the progress of error and conviction among you, which I cannot fully know without being among you, This appears to be the apostle's meaning, and tends much to soften and render palatable the severity of his reproofs.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20I desire to be present with you now - They had lost much by his absence; they had changed their views; they had in some measure become alienated from him; and he wishes that he might be again with them, as he was before. He would hope to accomplish much more by his personal presence than he could by letter. And to change my voice - That is, from complaint and censure, to tones of entire confidence. For I stand in doubt of you - Margin, “I am perplexed for…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 19-20Verses 19-20 The Galatians were ready to account the apostle their enemy, but he assures them he was their friend; he had the feelings of a parent toward them. He was in doubt as to their state, and was anxious to know the result of their present delusions. Nothing is so sure a proof that a sinner has passed into a state of justification, as Christ being formed in him by the renewal of the Holy Spirit; but this cannot be hoped for, while men depend on the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20If Paul had been there in person, he could have understood his listeners better and adjusted his message to fit their spiritual and emotional needs. From a distance, he was not sure if his tone would be effective.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. Translate as Greek, "I could wish." If circumstances permitted (which they do not), I would gladly be with you [M. Stuart]. now--as I was twice already. Speaking face to face is so much more effective towards loving persuasion than writing (2Jo 12; 3Jo 13, 14). change my voice--as a mother (Ga 4:19): adapting my tone of voice to what I saw in person your case might need. This is possible to one present, but not to one in writing [Grotius and Estius]…Read the comment

Topics related to Galatians 4:20

• Love

In the dictionaries

• Doubt
• Flesh
• Observe
• Zealously
• Galatians, Epistle to the

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