Galatians 6 · Verse 15

Galatians 6:15

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
Galatians 6:15, King James Version

Galatians 6:15 in other translations

BSBFor neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything. What counts is a new creation.
WEBFor in Christ Jesus neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.
ASVFor neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
YLTfor in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation;
DARBYFor in Christ Jesus neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision; but new creation.
BBEFor having circumcision is nothing, and not having circumcision is nothing, but only a new order of existence.
WebsterFor in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

What does Galatians 6:15 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
15. availeth--The oldest manuscripts read, "is" (compare Ga 5:6). Not only are they of no avail, but they are nothing. So far are they from being matter for "glorying," that they are "nothing." But Christ's cross is "all in all," as a subject for glorying, in "the new creature" (Ep 2:10, 15, 16). new creature--(2Co 5:17). A transformation by the renewal of the mind (Ro 12:2).

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 15. For in Christ Jesus. In his religion. Gal 5:6.

But a new creature. The fact that a man is created anew, or born again constitutes the real difference between him and other men. This is what Christ requires; this is the distinction which he designs to make. It is not by conformity to certain rites and customs that a man is to be accepted; it is not by elevated rank, or by wealth, or beauty, or blood; it is not by the colour of the complexion; but the grand inquiry is, whether a man is born again, and is in fact a new creature in Christ Jesus. 2Cor 5:17, for an explanation of the phrase "a new creature."

(a) "For in Christ Jesus" Gal 5:6 (b) "new creature" 2Cor 5:17

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 15 In Christ Jesus - Under the dispensation of the Gospel, of which he is head and supreme, neither circumcision - nothing that the Jew can boast of, nothing that the Gentile can call excellent, availeth any thing - can in the least contribute to the salvation of the soul. But a new creature - Αλλα καινη κτισις· But a new creation; not a new creature merely, (for this might be restrained to any new power or faculty), but a total renewal of the whole man, of all the powers and passions of the soul; and as creation could not be effected but by the power of the Almighty, so this change cannot be effected but by the same energy; no circumcision can do this; only the power that made the man at first can new make him. See the note on 1Cor 7:19, and on 2Cor 5:17 (note).

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…

Read the full comment on Galatians 6:12-15 →

Galatians 6:15 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.

ἐνeninG1722
ΧριστῷChristōChristG5547
ἸησοῦIēsouJesusG2424
οὔτεouteNeitherG3777
γὰρgarforG1063
περιτομήperitomēcircumcisionG4061
τίtianythingG5101
ἐστινestinisG1510
οὔτεoutenorG3777
ἀκροβυστίαakrobustiauncircumcisionG203
ἀλλὰallainsteadG235
καινὴkainēa newG2537
κτίσις.ktisiscreation.G2937

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

Cross references for Galatians 6:15

  • 2 Corinthians 5:17

    Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

  • Colossians 3:10-11

    And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

  • Galatians 5:6

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

  • Ephesians 4:24

    And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

  • Ephesians 2:10

    For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

  • 1 Corinthians 7:19

    Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.

  • Romans 2:28

    For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

  • Romans 8:1

    There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

  • Revelation 21:5

    And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
in.
5:6; Ro 8:1; 2Co 5:17
neither.
1Co 7:19
but.
2Co 5:17; Eph 2:10; 4:24; Col 3:10,11; Re 21:5

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

Context

  • 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 6:15

    For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

  • Galatians 6:16

    And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

Read all of Galatians 6

Galatians 6:15 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque en Cristo Jesús, ni la circuncisión vale nada, ni la incircuncisión, sino la nueva criatura.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Car ni la circoncision, ni l’incirconcision ne sont rien, mais une nouvelle création.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn weder Beschneidung noch Vorhaut ist etwas, sondern eine neue Schöpfung.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		In Christo enim Jesu neque circumcisio aliquid valet, neque præputium, sed nova creatura.