Galatians 5 · Verse 7

Galatians 5:7

Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
Galatians 5:7, King James Version

Galatians 5:7 in other translations

BSBYou were running so well. Who has obstructed you from obeying the truth?
WEBYou were running well! Who interfered with you that you should not obey the truth?
ASVYe were running well; who hindered you that ye should not obey the truth?
YLTYe were running well; who did hinder you--not to obey the truth?
DARBYYe ran well; who has stopped you that ye should not obey the truth?
BBEYou were going on well; who was the cause of your not giving ear to what is true?
WebsterYe did run well, who hindered you that ye should not obey the truth?

What does Galatians 5:7 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
7. Translate, "Ye were running well" in the Gospel race (1Co 9:24-26; Php 3:13, 14). who, &c.--none whom you ought to have listened to [Bengel]: alluding to the Judaizers (compare Ga 3:1). hinder--The Greek means, literally, "hinder by breaking up a road." not obey the truth--not submit yourselves to the true Gospel way of justification.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 7. Ye did run well. The Christian life is often represented as a race. 1Cor 9:24; also 1Cor 9:25-26. Paul means here that they began the Christian life with ardour and zeal. Comp. Gal 4:1.

Who did hinder you. Marg., drive you back. The word used here ανακοπτω means, properly, to beat or drive back. Hence it means to hinder, check, or retard. Dr. Doddridge remarks that this is "an Olympic expression, and properly signifies coming across the course while a person is running in it, in such a manner as to jostle, and throw him out of the way." Paul asks, with emphasis, who it could have been that retarded them in their Christian course, implying that it could have been done only by their own consent, or that there was really no cause why they should not have continued as they began.

That ye should not obey the truth? The true system of justification by faith in the Redeemer. That you should have turned aside, and embraced the dangerous errors in regard to the necessity of obeying the laws of Moses.

(1) "hinder" "drive you back"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 7 Ye did run well - Ye once had the faith that worked by love - ye were genuine, active, useful Christians. Who doth hinder - Who prevented you from continuing to obey the truth? Ye could only be turned aside by your own consent. St. Paul here, as in 1Cor 9:24 (note), compares Christianity to a race. See the notes on the above text.

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 persuasion, ver. #(8), was, no doubt, that of mixing the works of the law with faith in Christ in justification. The apostle leaves them to judge whence it must arise, but sufficiently shows that it could be owing to none but Satan. It is dangerous for Christian churches to encourage those who follow, but especially who spread, destructive errors. And in reproving sin and error, we should always distinguish between the leaders and the led. The Jews were offended, because Christ was preached as the only salvation for sinners. If Paul and others would have admitted that the observance of the law of Moses was to be joined with faith in Christ, as necessary to salvation, then believers might have avoided many of the sufferings they underwent. The first beginnings of such leaven should be opposed. And assuredly those who persist in disturbing the church of Christ must bear their judgment.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Galatians 5:7 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.

ἐτρέχετεetrecheteYou were runningG5143
καλῶς·kalōswell;G2573
τίςtisWhoG5101
ὑμᾶςhumasyouG4771
ἐνέκοψενenekopsenimpededG1465
τῇtēatheG3588
ἀληθείᾳalētheiatruthG225
μὴmēnotG3361
πείθεσθαι;peithesthaito obey?G3982

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

Cross references for Galatians 5:7

  • 1 Corinthians 9:24

    Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

  • Galatians 3:1

    O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

  • Hebrews 12:1

    Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

  • Matthew 13:21

    Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

  • 1 Peter 1:22

    Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

  • Hebrews 5:9

    And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

  • 2 Corinthians 10:5

    Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

  • Romans 10:16

    But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?

  • Romans 2:8

    But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,

  • Romans 15:18

    For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,

  • Romans 16:26

    But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

  • Romans 6:17

    But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
run.
Mt 13:21; 1Co 9:24; Heb 12:1
hinder you. or, drive you back.
3:1
obey.
Ac 6:7; Ro 2:8; 6:17; 10:16; 15:18; 16:26; 2Co 10:5; 2Th 1:8; Heb 5:9
Heb 11:8; 1Pe 1:22

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

Context

  • Galatians 5:6

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

  • Galatians 5:7

    Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?

  • Galatians 5:8

    This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.

Read all of Galatians 5

Galatians 5:7 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Vosotros corríais bien: ¿quién os embarazó para no obedecer á la verdad?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Vous couriez bien, qui est-ce qui vous a arrêtés pour que vous n’obéissiez pas à la vérité?
German
Elberfelder 1871
Ihr liefet gut; wer hat euch aufgehalten, daß ihr der Wahrheit nicht gehorchet?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Currebatis bene: quis vos impedivit veritati non obedire?