Galatians 5:12
What does Galatians 5:12 mean?
A plain-English look at Galatians 5:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Galatians 5:12 means
Paul’s words are intentionally sharp: he wishes that those unsettling the Galatians would go beyond circumcision—effectively cutting themselves off. The rhetoric underlines how destructive their teaching is and how seriously the apostle regards the purity of the gospel. This is not vindictiveness but pastoral zeal for the flock and the truth. By using strong language, Paul exposes the absurdity and danger of elevating a bodily ritual into a requirement for salvation. If cutting the body is thought to gain righteousness, where does it end? His severity aims to shock them back to clarity about grace.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000I would that they that unsettle you would even go beyond circumcision.
KJV
King James Version · 1611I would they were even cut off which trouble you.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901I would that they that unsettle you would even go beyond circumcision.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949My desire is that they who give you trouble might even be cut off themselves.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862O that even they would cut themselves off who are unsettling you!
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752I would they were even cut off, who trouble you.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890I would that they would even cut themselves off who throw you into confusion.
Context
Verse 11 discredited the rumor that Paul promotes circumcision; verse 12 turns his polemic on the agitators with fierce irony. With the false path starkly exposed, Paul will, in verses 13–15, teach the proper use of Christian liberty: not indulging the flesh but serving in love and fulfilling the law’s heart. The strong rebuke thus opens into pastoral guidance for community life shaped by grace rather than by ritualism or self-assertion.
v.11But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? then hath the stumbling-block of the cross been done away.
v.12This passage
v.13For ye, brethren, were called for freedom; only use not your freedom for an occasion to the flesh, but through love be servants one to another.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Titus 3:10
A factious man after a first and second admonition refuse;
- Acts 15:24
Forasmuch as we have heard that certain who went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls; to whom we gave no commandment;
- Acts 5:5
And Ananias hearing these words fell down and gave up the ghost: and great fear came upon all that heard it.
- Galatians 1:8
But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema.
- Joshua 7:25
And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? Jehovah shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones; and they burned them with fire, and stoned them with stones.
- Acts 15:1
And certain men came down from Judæa and taught the brethren, saying, Except ye be circumcised after the custom of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
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