Galatians 5 · Verse 12

Galatians 5:12

I would they were even cut off which trouble you.
Galatians 5:12, King James Version

Galatians 5:12 in other translations

BSBAs for those who are agitating you, I wish they would proceed to emasculate themselves!
WEBI wish that those who disturb you would cut themselves off.
ASVI would that they that unsettle you would even go beyond circumcision.
YLTO that even they would cut themselves off who are unsettling you!
DARBYI would that they would even cut themselves off who throw you into confusion.
BBEMy desire is that they who give you trouble might even be cut off themselves.
WebsterI would they were even cut off who trouble you.

What does Galatians 5:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
12. they ... which trouble you--Translate, as the Greek is different from Ga 5:10, "they who are unsettling you." were even cut off--even as they desire your foreskin to be cut off and cast away by circumcision, so would that they were even cut off from your communion, being worthless as a castaway foreskin (Ga 1:7, 8; compare Php 3:2). The fathers, Jerome, Ambrose, Augustine, and Chrysostom, explain it, "Would that they would even cut themselves off," that is, cut off not merely the foreskin, but the whole member: if circumcision be not enough for them, then let them have excision also; an outburst hardly suitable to the gravity of an apostle. But Ga 5:9, 10 plainly point to excommunication as the judgment threatened against the troublers: and danger of the bad "leaven" spreading, as the reason for it.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 12. I would they were even cut off. That is, as I understand it, from the communion of the church. So far am I, says Paul, from agreeing with them, and preaching the necessity of circumcision as they do, that I sincerely wish they were excluded from the church as unworthy a place among the children of God. For a very singular and monstrous interpretation of this passage, though adopted by Chrysostom, Theodoret, Theophylact, Jerome, Grotius, Rosenmuller, Koppe, and others, the learned reader may consult Koppe on this verse. To my amazement, I find that this interpretation has also been adopted by Robinson in his Lexicon, on the word αποκοπτω. I will state the opinion in the words of Koppe: Non modo circumcidant se, sed, si velint, etiam mutilent se--ipsa genitalia resecent. The simple meaning is, I think, that Paul wished that the authors of these errors and disturbances were excluded from the church.

Which trouble you. Who pervert the true doctrines of salvation, and who thus introduce error into the church. Error always, sooner or later, causes trouble. Comp. 1Cor 5:7.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 I would they were even cut off which trouble you - This saying has puzzled many, and different interpretations of the place have been proposed by learned men. At first sight it seems as if the apostle was praying for the destruction of the false teachers who had perverted the Churches of Galatia. Mr. Wakefield thought οφελον αποκοψονται might be translated, I wish that they were made to weep; and in his translation of the New Testament the passage stands thus: "I wish that they who are unsettling you may lament it." I believe the apostle never meant any such thing. As the persons who were breeding all this confusion in the Churches of Galatia were members of that Church, the apostle appears to me to be simply expressing his desire that they might be cut off or excommunicated from the Church. Kypke has given an abundance of examples where the word is used to signify amputating; cutting off from society, office, etc.; excluding. In opposition to the notion of excommunication, it might be asked: "Why should the apostle wish these to be excommunicated when it was his own office to do it?" To this it may be answered: The apostle's authority was greatly weakened among that people by the influence of the false teachers, so that in all probability he could exercise no ecclesiastical function; he could therefore only express his wish. And the whole passage is so parallel to that, 1Cor 5:6, 1Cor 5:7, that I think there can be no reasonable doubt of the apostle's meaning: Let those who are unsettling the Church of Christ in your district be excommunicated; this is my wish, that they should no longer have any place among you."

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Galatians 5:7-12

The life of a Christian is a race, wherein he must run, and hold on, if he would obtain the prize. It is not enough that we profess Christianity, but we must run well, by living up to that profession. Many who set out fairly in religion, are hindered in their progress, or turn out of the way. It concerns those who begin to turn out of the way, or to tire in it, seriously to inquire what hinders them. The opinion or…

Read the full comment on Galatians 5:7-12 →

Galatians 5:12 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.

ὄφελονophelonI wishG3785
καὶkaialsoG2532
ἀποκόψονταιapokopsontaiwill emasculate themselvesG609
οἱhoithoseG3588
ἀναστατοῦντεςanastatountesupsettingG387
ὑμᾶς.humasyou.G4771

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

Cross references for Galatians 5:12

  • Galatians 5:10

    I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.

  • 1 Corinthians 5:13

    But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

  • Genesis 17:14

    And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.

  • Exodus 12:15

    Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.

  • Joshua 7:25

    And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the Lord shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones.

  • Leviticus 22:3

    Say unto them, Whosoever he be of all your seed among your generations, that goeth unto the holy things, which the children of Israel hallow unto the Lord, having his uncleanness upon him, that soul shall be cut off from my presence: I am the Lord.

  • Titus 3:10

    A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;

  • Galatians 2:4

    And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:

  • Exodus 30:33

    Whosoever compoundeth any like it, or whosoever putteth any of it upon a stranger, shall even be cut off from his people.

  • Joshua 7:12

    Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.

  • Acts 15:24

    Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:

  • Acts 5:5

    And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
cut.
10; 1:8,9; Ge 17:14; Ex 12:15; 30:33; Le 22:3; Jos 7:12,25; Joh 9:34
Ac 5:5,9; 1Co 5:13; Tit 3:10
trouble.
Ac 15:1,2,24

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

Context

  • Galatians 5:11

    And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.

  • Galatians 5:12

    I would they were even cut off which trouble you.

  • Galatians 5:13

    For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

Read all of Galatians 5

Galatians 5:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Ojalá fuesen también cortados los que os inquietan.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Je voudrais que ceux qui vous bouleversent se retranchent même.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ich wollte, daß sie sich auch abschnitten, die euch aufwiegeln!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Utinam et abscindantur qui vos conturbant.