Galatians 5 · Verse 16

Galatians 5:16

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Galatians 5:16, King James Version

Galatians 5:16 in other translations

BSBSo I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
WEBBut I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh.
ASVBut I say, Walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
YLTAnd I say: In the Spirit walk ye, and the desire of the flesh ye may not complete;
DARBYBut I say, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall no way fulfil flesh's lust.
BBEBut I say, Go on in the Spirit, and you will not come under the rule of the evil desires of the flesh.
WebsterThis I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye will not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

What does Galatians 5:16 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
16. This I say then--Repeating in other words, and explaining the sentiment in Ga 5:13, What I mean is this." Walk in the Spirit--Greek, "By (the rule of) the (Holy) Spirit." Compare Ga 5:16-18, 22, 25; Ga 6:1-8, with Ro 7:22; 8:11. The best way to keep tares out of a bushel is to fill it with wheat. the flesh--the natural man, out of which flow the evils specified (Ga 5:19-21). The spirit and the flesh mutually exclude one another. It is promised, not that we should have no evil lusts, but that we should "not fulfil" them. If the spirit that is in us can be at ease under sin, it is not a spirit that comes from the Holy Spirit. The gentle dove trembles at the sight even of a hawk's feather.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 16. This I say then. This is the true rule about overcoming the propensities of your carnal natures, and of avoiding the evils of strife and contention.

Walk. The Christian life is often represented as a journey; and the word walk, in the Scripture, is often equivalent to live, Mk 7:5. Rom 4:12; Rom 6:4; Rom 8:1.

In the Spirit. Live under the influences of the Holy Spirit; admit those influences fully into your hearts. Do not resist him, but yield to all his suggestions. Rom 8:1. What the Holy Spirit would produce, Paul states in Gal 5:22,23. If a man would yield his heart to those influences, he would be able to overcome all his evil propensities; and it is because he resists that Spirit that he is ever overcome by the corrupt passions of his nature. Never was a better, safer, or a more easy rule given to overcome our corrupt and sensual desires than that here furnished. Comp. Rom 8:1, and Rom 8:2-13.

And ye shall not fulfil, etc. Marg., Fulfil not--as if it were a command. So Tindal renders it. But the more common interpretation, as it is the more significant, is that adopted by our translators. Thus it is not merely a command; it is the statement of an important and deeply interesting truth--that the only way to overcome the corrupt desires and propensities of our nature, is by submitting to the influences of the Holy Spirit. It is not by philosophy; it is not by mere resolutions to resist them; it is not by the force of education and laws; it is only by admitting into our souls the influence of religion, and yielding ourselves to the guidance of the Holy Spirit of God. If we live under the influences of that Spirit, we need not fear the power of the sensual and corrupt propensities of our nature.

(b) "Walk" Rom 8:1,4,13 (1) "ye shall not fulfill the lust" "fulfil not" (*) "lust" "desire"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 16 Walk in the Spirit - Get back that Spirit of God which you have grieved and lost; take up that spiritual religion which you have abandoned. Ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh - If the Spirit of God dwell in and rule your heart, the whole carnal mind will be destroyed; and then, not only carnal ordinances will be abandoned, but also the works and propensities of the flesh.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Galatians 5:16-26
If it be our care to act under the guidance and power of the blessed Spirit, though we may not be freed from the stirrings and oppositions of the corrupt nature which remains in us, it shall not have dominion over us. Believers are engaged in a conflict, in which they earnestly desire that grace may obtain full and speedy victory. And those who desire thus to give themselves up to be led by the Holy Spirit, are not under the law as a covenant of works, nor exposed to its awful curse. Their hatred of sin, and desires after holiness, show that they have a part in the salvation of the gospel. The works of the flesh are many and manifest. And these sins will shut men out of heaven. Yet what numbers, calling themselves Christians, live in these, and say they hope for heaven! The fruits of the Spirit, or of the renewed nature, which we are to do, are named. And as the apostle had chiefly named works of the flesh, not only hurtful to men themselves, but tending to make them so to one another, so here he chiefly notices the fruits of the Spirit, which tend to make Christians agreeable one to another, as well as to make them happy. The fruits of the Spirit plainly show, that such are led by the Spirit. By describing the works of the flesh and fruits of the Spirit, we are told what to avoid and oppose, and what we are to cherish and cultivate; and this is the sincere care and endeavour of all real Christians. Sin does not now reign in their mortal bodies, so that they obey it, Ro 6:12, for they seek to destroy it. Christ never will own those who yield themselves up to be the servants of sin. And it is not enough that we cease to do evil, but we must learn to do well. Our conversation will always be answerable to the principle which guides and governs us, Ro 8:5. We must set ourselves in earnest to mortify the deeds of the body, and to walk in newness of life. Not being desirous of vain-glory, or unduly wishing for the esteem and applause of men, not provoking or envying one another, but seeking to bring forth more abundantly those good fruits, which are, through Jesus Christ, to the praise and glory of God.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Galatians 5:16 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.

ΛέγωLegōI sayG3004
δέ,denow,G1161
πνεύματιpneumatiby [the] SpiritG4151
περιπατεῖτεperipateitedo walkG4043
καὶkaiandG2532
ἐπιθυμίανepithumian[the] desireG1939
σαρκὸςsarkos[of the] fleshG4561
οὐoucertainlyG3756
μὴmēnotG3361
τελέσητε.telesēteyou may gratify.G5055

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

Cross references for Galatians 5:16

  • Galatians 5:24-25

    And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

  • Romans 8:12-14

    Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

  • Galatians 6:8

    For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

  • Galatians 5:19-21

    Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

  • Colossians 3:5-10

    Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. …

  • Romans 8:4-5

    That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

  • 1 Peter 2:11

    Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

  • 1 John 2:15-16

    Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

  • 2 Corinthians 7:1

    Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

  • Romans 13:13-14

    Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

  • Romans 6:12

    Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

  • Jude 1:19-21

    These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
I say.
3:17; 1Co 7:29
Walk.
25; 6:8; Ro 8:1,4,5,12-14; 1Pe 1:22; 4:6; Jude 1:19-21
and.
19-21; Ro 6:12; 13:13,14; 2Co 7:1; Eph 2:3; Col 2:11; 3:5-10
1Pe 1:14; 2:11; 4:1-4; 1Jo 2:15,16
ye shall not fulfil. or, fulfil not.

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

Context

  • Galatians 5:15

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

  • Galatians 5:16

    This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

  • Galatians 5:17

    For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Read all of Galatians 5

Galatians 5:16 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Digo pues: Andad en el Espíritu, y no satisfagáis la concupiscencia de la carne.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mais je dis: Marchez par l’Esprit, et vous n’accomplirez point la convoitise de la chair.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ich sage aber: Wandelt im Geiste, und ihr werdet die Lust des Fleisches nicht vollbringen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Dico autem: Spiritu ambulate, et desideria carnis non perficietis.