Galatians 5 · Verse 2

Galatians 5:2

Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
Galatians 5:2, King James Version

Galatians 5:2 in other translations

BSBTake notice: I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all.
WEBBehold, I, Paul, tell you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing.
ASVBehold, I Paul say unto you, that, if ye receive circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing.
YLTlo, I Paul do say to you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing;
DARBYBehold, I, Paul, say to you, that if ye are circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
BBESee, I Paul say to you, that if you undergo circumcision, Christ will be of no use to you.
WebsterBehold, I Paul say to you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing.

What does Galatians 5:2 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
2. Behold--that is, Mark what I say. I Paul--Though you now think less of my authority, I nevertheless give my name and personal authority as enough by itself to refute all opposition of adversaries. if ye be circumcised--not as Alford, "If you will go on being circumcised." Rather, "If ye suffer yourselves to be circumcised," namely, under the notion of its being necessary to justification (Ga 5:4; Ac 15:1). Circumcision here is not regarded simply by itself (for, viewed as a mere national rite, it was practiced for conciliation's sake by Paul himself, Ac 16:3), but as the symbol of Judaism and legalism in general. If this be necessary, then the Gospel of grace is at an end. If the latter be the way of justification, then Judaism is in no way so. Christ ... profit ... nothing--(Ga 2:21). For righteousness of works and justification by faith cannot co-exist. "He who is circumcised [for justification] is so as fearing the law, and he who fears, disbelieves the power of grace, and he who disbelieves can profit nothing by that grace which he disbelieves [Chrysostom].

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 2. Behold, I Paul say unto you. I, who at first preached the gospel to you; I, too, who have been circumcised, and who was formerly a strenuous asserter of the necessity of observing the laws of Moses; and I, too, who am charged Gal 5:11 with still preaching the necessity of circumcision, now solemnly say to you, that if you are circumcised with a view to being justified by that, in whole or in part, it amounts to a rejection of the doctrine of justification by Christ, and an entire apostasy from him. He is to be "a whole Saviour." No one is to share with him in the honour of saving men; and no rite, no custom, no observance of law, is to divide the honour with his death. The design of Paul is to give them the most solemn assurance on this point; and by his own authority and experience to guard them from the danger, and to put the matter to rest.

That if ye be circumcised. This must be understood with reference to the subject under consideration. If you are circumcised with such a view as is maintained by the false teachers that have come among you; that is, with an idea that it is necessary in order to your justification. He evidently did not mean that if any of them had been circumcised before their conversion to Christianity; nor could he mean to say that circumcision, in all cases, amounted to a rejection of Christianity, for he had himself procured the circumcision of Timothy, Acts 16:3. If it was done, as it was then, for prudential considerations, and with a wish not unnecessarily to irritate the Jews, and to give one a more ready access to them, it was not to be regarded as wrong. But if, as the false teachers in Galatia claimed, as a thing essential to salvation, as indispensable to justification and acceptance with God, then the matter assumed a different aspect; and then it became, in fact, a renouncing of Christ as himself sufficient to save us. So with anything else. Rites and ceremonies in religion may be in themselves well enough, if they are held to be matters not essential; but the moment they are regarded as vital and essential, that moment they begin to infringe on the doctrine of justification by faith alone, and that moment they are to be rejected; and it is because of the danger that this will be the case, that they are to be used sparingly in the Christian church. Who does not know the danger of depending upon prayers, and alms, and the sacraments, and extreme unction, and penance, and empty forms, for salvation? And who does not know how much in the Papal communion the great doctrine of justification has been obscured by numberless such rites and forms?

Christ shall profit you nothing. Will be of no advantage to you. Your dependence on circumcision, in these circumstances, will in fact amount to a rejection of the Saviour, and of the doctrine of justification by him.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 2 If ye be circumcised - By circumcision you take on you the whole obligation of the Jewish law, and consequently profess to seek salvation by means of its observances; and therefore Christ can profit you nothing; for, by seeking justification by the works of the law, you renounce justification by faith in Christ.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Galatians 5:1-6

And to walk in the Spirit, and not to fulfil the lusts of the flesh: the works of both are described. (16-26) Verses 1-6 Christ will not be the Saviour of any who will not own and rely upon him as their only Saviour. Let us take heed to the warnings and persuasions of the apostle to stedfastness in the doctrine and liberty of the gospel. All true Christians, being taught by the Holy Spirit, wait for eternal life…

Read the full comment on Galatians 5:1-6 →

Galatians 5:2 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.

ἼδεIdeBeholdG2396
ἐγὼegōI myselfG1473
ΠαῦλοςPaulosPaulG3972
λέγωlegōsayG3004
ὑμῖνhuminto youG4771
ὅτιhotithatG3754
ἐὰνeanifG1437
περιτέμνησθε,peritemnēstheyou shall become circumcised,G4059
ΧριστὸςChristosChristG5547
ὑμᾶςhumasyouG4771
οὐδὲνoudenno [thing]G3762
ὠφελήσει·ōphelēseiwill profit;G5623

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

Cross references for Galatians 5:2

  • Galatians 5:6

    For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

  • Acts 15:1

    And certain men which came down from Judea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

  • Galatians 2:3-5

    But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised: 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: To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

  • Romans 9:31-32

    But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

  • 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 5:3-4

    For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

  • Acts 16:3-4

    Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek. And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.

  • Hebrews 4:2

    For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

  • Romans 10:2-3

    For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

  • 2 Corinthians 10:1

    Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward 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:

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:18

    Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
I Paul.
1Co 16:21; 2Co 10:1; 1Th 2:18; Phm 1:9
that.
4,6; 2:3-5; Ac 15:1,24; 16:3,4; Ro 9:31,32; 10:2,3; Heb 4:2

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

Context

  • Galatians 5:1

    Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

  • Galatians 5:2

    Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.

  • Galatians 5:3

    For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

Read all of Galatians 5

Galatians 5:2 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		He aquí yo Pablo os digo, que si os circuncidareis, Cristo no os aprovechará nada.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Voici, moi Paul, je vous dis que si vous êtes circoncis, Christ ne vous profitera de rien;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Siehe, ich, Paulus, sage euch, daß wenn ihr beschnitten werdet, Christus euch nichts nützen wird.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ecce ego Paulus dico vobis: quoniam si circumcidamini, Christus vobis nihil proderit.