Galatians 6:13
For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.
Galatians 6:13 in other translations
| BSB | For the circumcised do not even keep the law themselves, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. |
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| WEB | For even they who receive circumcision don’t keep the law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised, so that they may boast in your flesh. |
| ASV | For not even they who receive circumcision do themselves keep the law; but they desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. |
| YLT | for neither do those circumcised themselves keep the law, but they wish you to be circumcised, that in your flesh they may glory. |
| DARBY | For neither do they that are circumcised themselves keep the law; but they wish you to be circumcised, that they may boast in your flesh. |
| BBE | Because even those who undergo circumcision do not themselves keep the law; but they would have you undergo circumcision, so that they may have glory in your flesh. |
| Webster | For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. |
What does Galatians 6:13 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Barnes' Notes
Keep the law. The law of Moses, or the law of God. Paul's idea is, that if they were circumcised, they brought themselves under obligation to keep the whole law of God. Gal 5:3. But they did not do it.
(1.) No man perfectly observes the whole law of God.
(2.) The Jewish nation, as such, were very far from doing it.
(3.) It is probable that these persons did not pretend even to keep the whole law of Moses. Paul insists on it, that if they were circumcised, and depended on that for salvation, they were under obligation to keep the whole law. But they did not. Probably they did not offer sacrifice, or join in any of the numerous observances of the Jewish nation, except some of the more prominent, such as circumcision. This, says Paul, is inconsistent in the highest degree; and they thus show their insincerity and hypocrisy.
That they may glory in your flesh. In having you as converts, and in persuading you, to be circumcised, that they may show their zeal for the law, and thus escape persecution. The phrase "in your flesh," here is equivalent to "in your circumcision;" making use of your circumcision to promote their own importance, and to save themselves from persecution.
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Galatians 6:12-15
Proud, vain, and carnal hearts, are content with just so much religion as will help to keep up a fair show. But the apostle professes his own faith, hope, and joy; and that his principal glory was in the cross of Christ. By which is here meant, his sufferings and death on the cross, the doctrine of salvation by a crucified Redeemer. By Christ, or by the cross of Christ, the world is crucified to the believer, and he…
Galatians 6:13 in the original Greek
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Cross references for Galatians 6:13
- Philippians 3:3
For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
- 1 Corinthians 5:6
Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
- Romans 2:17-25
Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. …
- 2 Peter 2:19
While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
- Matthew 23:3
All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
- 2 Corinthians 11:18
Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.
- Matthew 23:15
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
- 1 Corinthians 3:21
Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
- Matthew 23:23
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
- Romans 3:9-19
What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. …
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- Galatians 6:12
As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.
- Galatians 6:13
For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.
- Galatians 6:14
But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
Galatians 6:13 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Porque ni aun los mismos que se circuncidan guardan la ley; sino que quieren que vosotros seáis circuncidados, para gloriarse en vuestra carne. |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Car ceux-là qui sont circoncis, eux-mêmes ne gardent pas la loi; mais ils veulent que vous soyez circoncis, afin de se glorifier dans votre chair. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Denn auch sie, die beschnitten sind, beobachten selbst das Gesetz nicht, sondern sie wollen, daß ihr beschnitten werdet, auf daß sie sich eures Fleisches rühmen. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Neque enim qui circumciduntur, legem custodiunt: sed volunt vos circumcidi, ut in carne vestra glorientur. |