Galatians 4 · Verse 15

Galatians 4:15

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.
Galatians 4:15, King James Version

Galatians 4:15 in other translations

BSBWhat then has become of your blessing? For I can testify that, if it were possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.
WEBWhat was the blessing you enjoyed? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.
ASVWhere then is that gratulation of yourselves? for I bear you witness, that, if possible, ye would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.
YLTwhat then was your happiness? for I testify to you, that if possible, your eyes having plucked out, ye would have given to me;
DARBYWhat then was your blessedness? for I bear you witness that, if possible, plucking out your own eyes ye would have given them to me.
BBEWhere then is that happy condition of yours? because I give you witness, that, if possible, you would have taken out your eyes and given them to me.
WebsterWhat then was the blessedness ye spoke of; for I bear you testimony, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.

What does Galatians 4:15 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
15. 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 self-sacrifice (Mt 5:29). Conybeare and Howson think that this particular form of proverb was used with reference to a weakness in Paul's eyes, connected with a nervous frame, perhaps affected by the brightness of the vision described, Ac 22:11; 2Co 12:1-7. "You would have torn out your own eyes to supply the lack of mine." The divine power of Paul's words and works, contrasting with the feebleness of his person (2Co 10:10), powerfully at first impressed the Galatians, who had all the impulsiveness of the Celtic race from which they sprang. Subsequently they soon changed with the fickleness which is equally characteristic of Celts.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 15. Where 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 Italic. 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 thus received him. "What blessedness you had then! How happy was that moment! What tenderness of affection! What overflowing joy!" It was a time full of joy, and love, and affectionate confidence. So Tindal well renders it, "How happy were ye then!" In this interpretation, Doddridge, Rosenmuller, Bloomfield, Koppe, Chandler, and others concur. Locke renders it, "What benedictions did you then pour out on me!"

For I bear you record. I testify.

Ye would have plucked out your own eyes, etc. No higher proof of attachment could have been given. They loved him so much that they would have given to him anything, however dear; they would have done anything to contribute to his welfare, How changed, now that they had abandoned his doctrines, and yielded themselves to the guidance of those who taught a wholly different doctrine!

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 15 Where 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: τις ουν ην ὁ μακαρισμος ὑμων· 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 τις, what, ABCFG, several others, the older Syriac, the later Syriac in the margin, the Armenian, Vulgate, one copy of the Itala, and some of the fathers, have που, where; and ην, was, is omitted by ACD, several others, also the Vulgate, Itala, and the Latin fathers. According to these authorities the text should be read thus: Where then is your blessedness? Having renounced the Gospel, you have lost your happiness. What have your false teachers given you to compensate the loss of communion with God, or that Spirit of adoption, that Spirit of Christ, by which you cried Abba, Father! If, however, we understand the words as implying the benedictions they then heaped on the apostle, the sense will be sufficiently natural, and agree well with the concluding part of the verse; for I bear you record, that, if possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me. You had then the strongest affection for me; you loved God, and you loved me for God's sake, and were ready to give me the most unequivocal proof of your love. Dearer than one's eyes, or to profess to give one's eyes for the sake of a person, appears to have been a proverbial expression, intimating the highest tokens of the strongest affection. We find a similar form of speech in Terence, Adelphi, act iv., scene 5, ver. 67. - Di me pater Omnes oderint, ni magis te quam oculos nunc ego amo meos. "O father, may all the gods hate me, if I do not love you now more than my own eyes."

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Galatians 4:12-18

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…

Read the full comment on Galatians 4:12-18 →

Galatians 4:15 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΠοῦPouWhereG4226
οὖνounthenG3767
ὁhotheG3588
μακαρισμὸςmakarismosblessednessG3108
ὑμῶν;humōnof you?G4771
μαρτυρῶmarturōI bear witnessG3140
γὰρgarforG1063
ὑμῖνhuminto youG4771
ὅτι,hotithat,G3754
εἰeiifG1487
δυνατόν,dunatonpossible,G1415
τοὺςtoustheG3588
ὀφθαλμοὺςophthalmouseyesG3788
ὑμῶνhumōnof youG4771
ἐξορύξαντεςexoruxanteshaving gouged outG1846
ἐδώκατέedōkateyou have given [them]G1325
μοι.moito me.G3165

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Galatians 4:15

  • Romans 5:2

    By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

  • Colossians 4:13

    For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.

  • 1 John 3:16-18

    Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

  • Romans 9:3

    For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:13

    And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

  • Galatians 6:4

    But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:8

    So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.

  • Romans 10:2

    For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

  • Galatians 4:19

    My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,

  • Romans 4:6-9

    Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.

  • Galatians 5:22

    But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

  • Romans 15:13

    Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Where is. or, What was. the blessedness.
3:14; 5:22; 6:4; Lu 8:13; Ro 4:6-9; 5:2; 15:13
I bear.
Ro 10:2; 2Co 8:3; Col 4:13
if.
19; Ro 9:3; 1Th 2:8; 5:13; 1Jo 3:16-18

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Galatians 4:14

    And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

  • Galatians 4:15

    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.

  • Galatians 4:16

    Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

Read all of Galatians 4

Galatians 4:15 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		¿Dónde está pues vuestra bienaventuranza? porque yo os doy testimonio que si se pudiera hacer, os hubierais sacado vuestros ojos para dármelos.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Quel était donc votre bonheur? Car je vous rends témoignage que, si cela avait été possible, arrachant vos propres yeux, vous me les auriez donnés.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Was war denn eure Glückseligkeit? Denn ich gebe euch Zeugnis, daß ihr, wenn möglich, eure Augen ausgerissen und mir gegeben hättet.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ubi est ergo beatitudo vestra? testimonium enim perhibeo vobis, quia, si fieri posset, oculos vestros eruissetis, et dedissetis mihi.