Galatians 4:15
What does Galatians 4:15 mean?
A plain-English look at Galatians 4:15 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Galatians 4:15 means
Paul asks where their earlier joy and sense of blessedness went. He testifies that their affection had been so strong they would have made extreme sacrifices for him. The point is not the specific act but the depth of love and gratitude they once felt for the gospel and its messenger. Their present coolness exposes how the legalists have chilled their hearts. The verse invites self-examination: what changed? If the message and messenger are the same, the shift must come from misplaced trust. Paul longs for them to recover the glad freedom they knew when Christ, not rituals, held their focus.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Where then is that gratulation of yourselves? for I bear you witness, that, if possible, ye would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Where then is that gratulation of yourselves? for I bear you witness, that, if possible, ye would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Where then is that happy condition of yours? because I give you witness, that, if possible, you would have taken out your eyes and given them to me.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862what then was your happiness? for I testify to you, that if possible, your eyes having plucked out, ye would have given to me;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Where is then your blessedness? For I bear you witness that, if it could be done, you would have plucked out your own eyes and would have given them to me.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890What then [was] your blessedness? for I bear you witness that, if possible, plucking out your own eyes ye would have given [them] to me.
Context
After recalling the Galatians’ generous reception (v. 14), Paul laments the loss of that blessedness. Verse 15 prepares for the sharp question in verse 16 about becoming an enemy for telling the truth. The narrative arc is clear: past joy, present alienation, cause for concern. This memory frames the next contrast between Paul’s truth-telling and the zeal of the false teachers who court the Galatians for selfish ends (v. 17).
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 John 3:16
Hereby know we love, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
- Romans 4:6
Even as David also pronounceth blessing upon the man, unto whom God reckoneth righteousness apart from works,
- Luke 8:13
And those on the rock are they who, when they have heard, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
- Galatians 4:19
My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ be formed in you—
- Romans 10:2
For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
- Romans 9:3
For I could wish that I myself were anathema from Christ for my brethren’s sake, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
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