Galatians 5:7
What does Galatians 5:7 mean?
A plain-English look at Galatians 5:7 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Galatians 5:7 means
Paul pictures the Galatians as runners who had been making good progress in the gospel race. Something—or someone—cut in on them, hindering obedience to the truth. The issue is not mere confusion but disobedience, because the gospel is truth to be obeyed, not only believed. The hindrance suggests interference from false teachers who redirected their course. Paul appeals to their remembered experience of grace and urges them to recognize the detour. The Christian life is not finished at conversion; one must keep running in the right lane. The question “who hindered you?” encourages discernment about sources and influences.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Ye were running well; who hindered you that ye should not obey the truth?
KJV
King James Version · 1611Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Ye were running well; who hindered you that ye should not obey the truth?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949You were going on well; who was the cause of your not giving ear to what is true?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Ye were running well; who did hinder you--not to obey the truth?
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752You did run well. What hath hindered you, that you should not obey the truth?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Ye ran well; who has stopped you that ye should not obey the truth?
Context
Having stated that faith works through love (v.6), Paul now confronts the Galatians’ regression with vivid imagery. Verse 7 recalls their former vitality to highlight the tragedy of their present drift. Verse 8 will declare that this persuasion is not from God, and verse 9 will warn of the permeating danger of small errors. Together, these verses heighten urgency before Paul expresses confidence in verse 10 that they will return to sound thinking, even as the agitator faces judgment.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Romans 15:18
For I will not dare to speak of any things save those which Christ wrought through me, for the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed,
- Romans 16:26
but now is manifested, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, is made known unto all the nations unto obedience of faith:
- Romans 10:16
But they did not all hearken to the glad tidings. For Isaiah saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
- Romans 2:8
but unto them that are factious, and obey not the truth, but obey unrighteousness, shall be wrath and indignation,
- 2 Corinthians 10:5
casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;
- Matthew 13:21
yet hath he not root in himself, but endureth for a while; and when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, straightway he stumbleth.
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