Galatians 6:12
What does Galatians 6:12 mean?
A plain-English look at Galatians 6:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Galatians 6:12 means
Paul unmasks the motive of those pressing circumcision: they want to look good outwardly and avoid suffering for identifying with the cross of Christ. By urging a visible ritual, they can claim religious success and escape persecution aimed at the scandal of the crucified Messiah. Their concern is reputation, not truth. The cross offends because it declares human inability and God’s saving work through weakness. To retreat to fleshly badges is to trade costly allegiance to Jesus for social approval. Paul warns the Galatians not to be impressed by such display, for it hides fear and compromises the gospel.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, they compel you to be circumcised; only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.
KJV
King James Version · 1611As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, they compel you to be circumcised; only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Those who have the desire to seem important in the flesh, put force on you to undergo circumcision; only that they may not be attacked because of the cross of Christ.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862as many as are willing to make a good appearance in the flesh, these constrain you to be circumcised--only that for the cross of the Christ they may not be persecuted,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For as many as desire to please in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer the persecution of the cross of Christ.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890As many as desire to have a fair appearance in [the] flesh, these compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not be persecuted because of the cross of Christ.
Context
This follows Paul’s personal authentication (v. 11) and begins the final contrast between the Judaizers and the apostle. In verse 12 he exposes the social calculus behind their message. The next verse will add hypocrisy: they do not keep the law consistently but want to boast in others’ conformity. Against that, verse 14 will present Paul’s singular boast in the cross, setting up the true criterion of belonging in verse 15: the new creation, not circumcision.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Philippians 1:15
Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:
- Matthew 6:5
And when ye pray, ye shall not be as the hypocrites: for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward.
- Matthew 6:2
When therefore thou doest alms, sound not a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward.
- Galatians 2:14
But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Cephas before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest as do the Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, how compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
- Luke 20:47
who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater condemnation.
- Galatians 5:11
But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? then hath the stumbling-block of the cross been done away.
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