Galatians 5 · Verse 14

Galatians 5:14

For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Galatians 5:14, King James Version

Galatians 5:14 in other translations

BSBThe entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
WEBFor the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
ASVFor the whole law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
YLTfor all the law in one word is fulfilled--in this: ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself;'
DARBYFor the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself;
BBEFor all the law is made complete in one word, even in this, Have love for your neighbour as for yourself.
WebsterFor all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

What does Galatians 5:14 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
14. all the law--Greek, "the whole law," namely, the Mosaic law. Love to God is presupposed as the root from which love to our neighbor springs; and it is in this tense the latter precept (so "word" means here) is said to be the fulfilling of "all the law" (Le 19:18). Love is "the law of Christ" (Ga 6:2; Mt 7:12; 22:39, 40; Ro 13:9, 10). is fulfilled--Not as received text "is being fulfilled," but as the oldest manuscripts read, "has been fulfilled"; and so "receives its full perfection," as rudimentary teachings are fulfilled by the more perfect doctrine. The law only united Israelites together: the Gospel unites all men, and that in relation to God [Grotius].

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 14. For all the law is fulfilled, etc. That is, this expresses the substance of the whole law; it embraces and comprises all. The apostle, of course, here alludes to the law in regard to our duty to our fellow-men, since that was the point which he particularly enforces. He is saying that this law would counteract all the evil workings of the flesh; and, if this were fulfilled, all our duty to others would be discharged. A similar sentiment he has expressed in Rom 13:8-10. Rom 13:8, Rom 13:9; Rom 13:10. The turn here in the discussion is worthy of particular notice. With great skill he changes the subject from a doctrinal argument to a strain of practical remark, and furnishes most important lessons for the right mode of overcoming our corrupt and sensual passions, and discharging our duty to others.

Thou shalt love thy neighbour, etc. Mt 19:19.

(a) "This" Lev 19:18, Mt 22:39,40, Jas 2:8

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 14 For all the law - Which respects our duty to our fellows, is fulfilled - is comprehended, in one word: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. See the notes on Mat 19:19, and Rom 13:9 (note).

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Galatians 5:13-15

The gospel is a doctrine according to godliness, 1Ti 6:3, and is so far from giving the least countenance to sin, that it lays us under the strongest obligation to avoid and subdue it. The apostle urges that all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. If Christians, who should help one another, and rejoice one another, quarrel, what can be expected but that the God…

Read the full comment on Galatians 5:13-15 →

Galatians 5:14 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.

ὁho<the>G3588
γὰρgarForG1063
πᾶςpasthe entireG3956
νόμοςnomosLawG3551
ἐνeninG1722
ἑνὶhenioneG1520
λόγῳlogōwordG3056
πεπλήρωται,peplērōtaihas been fulfilledG4137
ἐνeninG1722
τῷtōthisG3588
ἀγαπήσειςagapēseisYou will loveG25
τὸνtontheG3588
πλησίονplēsionneighbourG4139
σουsouof youG4771
ὡςhōsasG5613
σεαυτόν.seautonyourself.G4771

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

Cross references for Galatians 5:14

  • Matthew 7:12

    Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

  • Leviticus 19:18

    Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord.

  • Galatians 6:2

    Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

  • Romans 13:8-10

    Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

  • John 13:34

    A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

  • Mark 12:31

    And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

  • Matthew 22:39-40

    And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

  • Leviticus 19:34

    But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

  • 1 Timothy 1:5

    Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

  • James 2:8-11

    If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

  • Matthew 19:18-19

    He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

  • Mark 12:33

    And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
all.
Mt 7:12; 19:18,19; 22:39,40; Ro 13:8-10; Jas 2:8-11
Thou.
Le 19:18,34; Mr 12:31,33; Lu 10:27-37; 1Ti 1:5

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

Context

  • 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.

  • Galatians 5:14

    For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

  • Galatians 5:15

    But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

Read all of Galatians 5

Galatians 5:14 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque toda la ley en aquesta sola palabra se cumple: Amarás á tu prójimo como á ti mismo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		car toute la loi est accomplie dans une seule parole, dans celle-ci: « Tu aimeras ton prochain comme toi-même ».
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn das ganze Gesetz ist in einem Worte erfüllt, in dem: "Du sollst deinen Nächsten lieben wie dich selbst".
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Omnis enim lex in uno sermone impletur: Diliges proximum tuum sicut teipsum.