Revised Literal Translation
Galatians 4:17
17They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect 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 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. 16Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth? They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. 18But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you. 19My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
Read all of Galatians 4Galatians 4:17 word by word
ζηλοῦσιν ὑμᾶς οὐ καλῶς, ἀλλ᾽ ἐκκλεῖσαι ὑμᾶς θέλουσιν, ἵνα αὐτοὺς ζηλοῦτε.Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Galatians 4:17
- Galatians 6:12As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.
- Matthew 23:15Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
- Romans 10:2For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
- Romans 16:18For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
- 1 Corinthians 11:2Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
- 2 Corinthians 11:3But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
- Philippians 2:21For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.
- 2 Peter 2:3And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
- 1 Corinthians 4:8Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign 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
Revised Literal Translation — © 2018 Michael W. Jones, Sr. — GPL
Commentaries