Galaten 4:20

Staten Vertaling

Doch ik wilde, dat ik nu tegenwoordig bij u ware, en mijn stem mocht veranderen; want ik ben in twijfel over u.

Parallel Translations

Gereviseerde Leidse Vertaling
Ik zou nu wel bij u willen zijn en op een anderen toon tot u spreken; want ik ben met u ten einde raad.

Gereviseerde Lutherse Vertaling
ik wilde, dat ik nu bij u ware, en mijne stem veranderen kon; want ik ben over u in verlegenheid.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

to be: 1 Corinthians 4:19-21, 1 Thessalonians 2:17, 1 Thessalonians 2:18, 1 Thessalonians 3:9

stand in doubt of you: or, am perplexed for you, Galatians 4:11

Reciprocal: 2 Corinthians 7:5 - fears Galatians 4:18 - I am Galatians 5:10 - confidence

Gill's Notes on the Bible

I desire to be present with you now,.... His meaning is, either that be wished he was personally present among them; that he had but an opportunity of seeing them face to face, and telling them all his mind, and in such a manner as he could not in a single epistle; or that they would consider him, when they read this epistle, as if he was really among them; and as if they saw the concern of his mind, the agonies of his soul, the looks of his countenance, and heard the different tone of his voice:

and to change my voice; when present with them, either by a different way of preaching; that whereas before he preached the Gospel of the grace of God unto them, and his voice was charming to them like that of an angel, and even of Jesus Christ himself; but they having turned their backs upon it, and slighted it, he would now thunder out the law to them they seemed to be so fond of; even that voice of words, which when, the Israelites on Mount Sinai heard, entreated they might hear no more; as these Galatians also must when they heard the true voice of it, which is no other than a declaration of wrath, curse, and damnation; or by using a different way of speaking to them, as necessity might require, either softly or roughly, beseeching or chiding them, which might more move and affect them than an epistle could:

for I stand in doubt of you, The Vulgate Latin reads it, "I am confounded in you"; and the Syriac, דתמיה, "I am stupefied"; and to the same sense the Arabic. He was ashamed of them for their apostasy and degeneracy; he was amazed and astonished at their conduct; or, as the word may be rendered, be was "perplexed" on their account; he did not know what to think of them, and their state; sometimes he hoped well of them, at other times he was ready to despair; nor did he well know what course to take with them, whether to use them roughly or smoothly, and what arguments might be most proper and pertinent, in order to reclaim them.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

I desire to be present with you now - They had lost much by his absence; they had changed their views; they had in some measure become alienated from him; and he wishes that he might be again with them, as he was before. He would hope to accomplish much more by his personal presence than he could by letter.

And to change my voice - That is, from complaint and censure, to tones of entire confidence.

For I stand in doubt of you - Margin, “I am perplexed for you.” On the meaning of the word used here, see the note at 2 Corinthians 4:8. The sense is plain. Paul had much reason to doubt the sincerity and the solidity of their Christian principles, and he was deeply anxious on that account.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 20. I desire to be present with you — I wish to accommodate my doctrine to your state; I know not whether you need stronger reprehension, or to be dealt with more leniently.

I stand in doubt of you. — I have doubts concerning your state; the progress of error and conviction among you, which I cannot fully know without being among you, This appears to be the apostle's meaning, and tends much to soften and render palatable the severity of his reproofs.