Galatians 5:16

The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
So I tell you, live the way the Spirit leads you. Then you will not do the evil things your sinful self wants.

Revised Standard Version
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
I saye walke in the sprete and fulfill not ye lustes of ye flesshe.

Hebrew Names Version
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won't fulfill the lust of the flesh.

New American Standard Bible
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.

New Century Version
So I tell you: Live by following the Spirit. Then you will not do what your sinful selves want.

Update Bible Version
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the desire of the flesh.

Webster's Bible Translation
[This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye will not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

English Standard Version
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

World English Bible
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won't fulfill the lust of the flesh.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
I say then, walk by the Spirit, and fulfil not the desire of the flesh.

Weymouth's New Testament
This then is what I mean. Let your lives be guided by the Spirit, and then you will certainly not indulge the cravings of your lower natures.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Y seie you in Crist, walke ye in spirit, and ye schulen not performe the desiris of the fleisch.

English Revised Version
But I say, Walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

Contemporary English Version
If you are guided by the Spirit, you won't obey your selfish desires.

Amplified Bible
But I say, walk habitually in the [Holy] Spirit [seek Him and be responsive to His guidance], and then you will certainly not carry out the desire of the sinful nature [which responds impulsively without regard for God and His precepts].

American Standard Version
But I say, Walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Bible in Basic English
But I say, Go on in the Spirit, and you will not come under the rule of the evil desires of the flesh.

Complete Jewish Bible
What I am saying is this: run your lives by the Spirit. Then you will not do what your old nature wants.

Darby Translation
But I say, Walk in [the] Spirit, and ye shall no way fulfil flesh's lust.

International Standard Version
So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will never fulfill the desires of the flesh.Romans 6:12; 13:14; Galatians 5:25; 1 Peter 2:11;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
But I say to you, Walk in the Spirit, and the desires of the flesh you will not work.

Murdock Translation
And I say: Walk ye in the Spirit; and never follow the cravings of the flesh.

King James Version (1611)
This I say then, Walke in the spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

New Living Translation
So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves.

New Life Bible
I say this to you: Let the Holy Spirit lead you in each step. Then you will not please your sinful old selves.

New Revised Standard
Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Then I say, Walke in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lustes of the flesh.

George Lamsa Translation
This I say then: Lead a spiritual life, and you shall never commit the lust of the flesh.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
I say, moreover - by Spirit, be walking, and, fleshly coveting, ye will in nowise fulfil;

Douay-Rheims Bible
I say then: Walk in the spirit: and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Then I say, walke in the spirite, and ye shall not fulfyll the lust of the flesshe.

Good News Translation
What I say is this: let the Spirit direct your lives, and you will not satisfy the desires of the human nature.

Christian Standard Bible®
I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh.

King James Version
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Lexham English Bible
But I say, live by the Spirit, and you will never carry out the desire of the flesh.

Literal Translation
But I say, Walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

Young's Literal Translation
And I say: In the Spirit walk ye, and the desire of the flesh ye may not complete;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
I saye: Walke in the sprete, and so shal ye not fulfill the lustes off the flesshe.

Mace New Testament (1729)
I say then, conduct yourselves by the spirit, and you will not then gratify the animal passions.

THE MESSAGE
My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God's Spirit. Then you won't feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day. Why don't you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence?

New English Translation
But I say, live by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh.

New King James Version
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

Simplified Cowboy Version
You can either follow the Holy Ghost or you can follow your human nature. You'll have to pick one because you can't ride for both.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.

Legacy Standard Bible
But I say, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.

Contextual Overview

¹³For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love. ¹⁴The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: "Love your neighbor as yourself." ¹⁵But if you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out, or you will be consumed by each other. ¹⁶So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.¹⁷For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want. ¹⁸But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. ¹⁹The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; ²⁰idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, ²¹and envy; drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. ²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

I say: Galatians 3:17, 1 Corinthians 7:29

Walk: Galatians 5:25, Galatians 6:8, Romans 8:1, Romans 8:4, Romans 8:5, Romans 8:12-14, 1 Peter 1:22, 1 Peter 4:6, Jude 1:19 -21

and: Galatians 5:19-21, Romans 6:12, Romans 13:13, Romans 13:14, 2 Corinthians 7:1, Ephesians 2:3, Colossians 2:11, Colossians 3:5-10, 1 Peter 1:14, 1 Peter 2:11, 1 Peter 4:1-4, 1 John 2:15, 1 John 2:16

ye shall not fulfil: or, fulfil not

Reciprocal: Genesis 6:3 - My Ezekiel 36:27 - cause Matthew 26:41 - the spirit John 3:6 - born of the flesh John 15:7 - ye shall Romans 7:5 - in the flesh Romans 8:14 - led 1 Corinthians 13:2 - and have 1 Corinthians 15:50 - this 2 Corinthians 9:6 - I say 2 Corinthians 10:2 - we walked Galatians 5:18 - if Galatians 5:22 - the fruit Galatians 5:24 - crucified Galatians 6:16 - walk 1 Thessalonians 2:12 - walk 3 John 1:14 - Peace

Gill's Notes on the Bible

This I say then, walk in the Spirit,.... The advice the apostle thinks fit to give, and which he would have observed, is, to "walk in the Spirit", that is, either after the Spirit of God; making the word inspired by him the rule of behaviour, which as it is the standard of faith, so of practice, and is the lamp unto our feet, and the light unto our path; taking him himself for a guide, who not only guides into all truth, but in the way of holiness and righteousness unto the land of uprightness; and depending upon his grace and strength for assistance throughout the whole of our walk and conversation: or in the exercise of the graces of the Spirit of God; as in the exercise of faith upon the person and grace of Christ, of which the Spirit is the author; and in love to God, Christ, and one another, which is a fruit of the Spirit; and in humility, lowliness of mind, meekness and condescension; all which is to walk in the Spirit, or spiritually, and strengthens the argument for love the apostle is upon: and this he encourages to by observing,

and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh; he does not say there shall be no flesh, nor any lust of the flesh in them if they walk spiritually; or that the flesh should not act and operate in them; or that they should do no sinful action; all which is only true of Christ; and the contrary is to be found and observed in all true Christians, though ever so spiritual; but that they should not fulfil or perfect the lust of the flesh; should not give up themselves entirely to the power and dictates of the flesh, so as to be under it and at its command, and be obedient servants and slaves unto it; for, in this sense only, such that are spiritual do not, commit sin, they do not make a trade of it, it is not their constant employ or course of conversation.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

This I say then - This is the true rule about overcoming the propensities of your carnal natures, and of avoiding the evils of strife and contention.

Walk - The Christian life is often represented as a journey, and the word walk, in the scripture, is often equivalent to live; Mark 7:5. See the notes at Romans 4:12; Romans 6:4, note; Romans 8:1, note.

In the Spirit - Live under the influences of the Holy Spirit; admit those influences fully into your hearts. Do not resist him, but yield to all his suggestions; see the note at Romans 8:1. What the Holy Spirit would produce, Paul states in Galatians 5:22-23. If a man would yield his heart to those influences, he would be able to overcome all his carnal propensities; and it is because he resists that Spirit, that he is ever overcome by the corrupt passions of his nature. Never was a better, a safer, or a more easy rule given to overcome our corrupt and sensual desires than that here furnished; compare notes, Romans 8:1-13.

And ye shall not fulfil ... - Margin, “Fulfil not” - as if it were a command. So Tyndale renders it. But the more common interpretation, as it is the more significant, is that adopted by our translators. Thus, it is not merely a command, it is the statement of an important and deeply interesting truth - that the only way to overcome the corrupt desires and propensities of our nature, is by submitting to the influences of the Holy Spirit. It is not by philosophy; it is not by mere resolutions to resist them; it is not by the force of education and laws; it is only by admitting into our souls the influence of religion, and yielding ourselves to the guidance of the Holy Spirit of God. If we live under the influences of that Spirit, we need not fear the power of the sensual and corrupt propensities of our nature.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 16. Walk in the Spirit — Get back that Spirit of God which you have grieved and lost; take up that spiritual religion which you have abandoned.

Ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. — If the Spirit of God dwell in and rule your heart, the whole carnal mind will be destroyed; and then, not only carnal ordinances will be abandoned, but also the works and propensities of the flesh.