Galatians 5:26
What does Galatians 5:26 mean?
A plain-English look at Galatians 5:26 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Galatians 5:26 means
Paul ends with a communal check: do not become vainglorious, provoking and envying one another. Vanity seeks applause, provocation seeks to stir rivalry, and envy resents others’ gifts. These are the seeds of the biting and devouring earlier warned about. Spirit-led people resist such motives by embracing humility, patience, and contentment. The verse brings the fruit of the Spirit down to the level of everyday relationships in the church. True freedom in Christ does not inflate the self; it frees us to esteem others without competition, trusting God for our worth and place. Unity grows where conceit dies.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Let us not become vainglorious, provoking one another, envying one another.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Let us not become vainglorious, provoking one another, envying one another.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Let us not be full of self-glory, making one another angry, having envy of one another.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862let us not become vain-glorious--one another provoking, one another envying!
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Let us not be made desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Let us not become vain-glorious, provoking one another, envying one another.
Context
After calling believers to walk by the Spirit (v.25), Paul specifies three relational vices to avoid, closing the chapter on a practical note. This caps the contrast between flesh and Spirit by showing how pride and rivalry fracture communities, whereas the Spirit’s fruit promotes harmony. The admonition also bridges into the next section’s concern for gentle restoration and burden-bearing, keeping the focus on lived-out love rather than mere theory about freedom and law.
v.25If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also walk.
v.26This passage
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Peter 5:5
Likewise, ye younger, be subject unto the elder. Yea, all of you gird yourselves with humility, to serve one another: for God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.
- James 4:16
But now ye glory in your vauntings: all such glorying is evil.
- Philippians 2:1
If there is therefore any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassions,
- James 3:14
But if ye have bitter jealousy and faction in your heart, glory not and lie not against the truth.
- Luke 14:10
But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest place; that when he that hath bidden thee cometh, he may say to thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have glory in the presence of all that sit at meat with thee.
- Galatians 5:15
But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
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