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Read the Bible

The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible

Galatians 5:26

Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying one another.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Contentment;   Envy;   Humility;   Love;   Meekness;   Righteous;   Thompson Chain Reference - Envy;   The Topic Concordance - Desire;   Envy;   Vainglory;  

Dictionaries:

- Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Envy;   Holy Spirit;   Spirit;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Liberty;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Galatians, the Epistle to the;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Church;   Envy;   Galatians, Letter to the;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Children of God;   Envy;   Galatians Epistle to the;   Perseverance;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Envy;   Galatians, Epistle to the;   Salvation;   Vainglory;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Anger;  

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for May 18;   Every Day Light - Devotion for April 22;  

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
We must not feel proud and boast about ourselves. We must not cause trouble for each other or be jealous of each other.
Revised Standard Version
Let us have no self-conceit, no provoking of one another, no envy of one another.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Let vs not be vayne glorious provokinge one another and envyinge one another.
Hebrew Names Version
Let's not become conceited, provoking one another, and envying one another.
New American Standard Bible
Let's not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.
New Century Version
We must not be proud or make trouble with each other or be jealous of each other.
Update Bible Version
Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Webster's Bible Translation
Let us not be desirous of vain-glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
English Standard Version
Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
World English Bible
Let's not become conceited, provoking one another, and envying one another.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Be not desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
Weymouth's New Testament
Let us not become vain-glorious, challenging one another, envying one another.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
be we not made coueytouse of veyn glorie, stirynge ech othere to wraththe, or hauynge enuye ech to othere.
English Revised Version
Let us not be vainglorious, provoking one another, envying one another.
Contemporary English Version
But don't be conceited or make others jealous by claiming to be better than they are.
Amplified Bible
We must not become conceited, challenging or provoking one another, envying one another.
American Standard Version
Let us not become vainglorious, provoking one another, envying one another.
Bible in Basic English
Let us not be full of self-glory, making one another angry, having envy of one another.
Complete Jewish Bible
Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Darby Translation
Let us not become vain-glorious, provoking one another, envying one another.
International Standard Version
Let us stop being arrogant, provoking one another and envying one another.Philippians 2:3;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
and let us not be vain-glorious, contemning one another, envying one another.
Murdock Translation
And let us not be vain-glorious, despising one another, and envying one another.
King James Version (1611)
Let vs not be desirous of vaine glory, prouoking one another, enuying one another.
New Living Translation
Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.
New Life Bible
Let us not become proud in ways in which we should not. We must not make hard feelings among ourselves as Christians or make anyone jealous.
New Revised Standard
Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Let vs not be desirous of vaine glorie, prouoking one another, enuying one another.
George Lamsa Translation
Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Let us not become vain-glorious, - one another, challenging, one another, envying.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Let us not be made desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Let vs not be desirous of vayne glorie, prouoking one another, enuying one another.
Good News Translation
We must not be proud or irritate one another or be jealous of one another.
Christian Standard Bible®
Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
King James Version
Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
Lexham English Bible
We must not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Literal Translation
Let us not become vainglorious, provoking one another, envying one another.
Young's Literal Translation
let us not become vain-glorious -- one another provoking, one another envying!
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Let vs not be vayne glorious, prouokinge one another, and envyenge another.
Mace New Testament (1729)
let us not be vain-glorious, provoking one another, envying one another.
New English Translation
Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, being jealous of one another.
New King James Version
Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Simplified Cowboy Version
Do not be proud, irritating, or jealous of one another.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.
Legacy Standard Bible
Let us not become those with vain glory, challenging one another, envying one another.

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

desirous: Luke 14:10, 1 Corinthians 3:7, Philippians 2:1-3, James 4:16

provoking: Galatians 5:15, James 3:14-16, 1 Peter 5:5

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 19:43 - our advice 2 Kings 17:17 - used Luke 9:46 - General Acts 17:5 - moved Romans 13:13 - strife 1 Corinthians 1:11 - that there 1 Corinthians 13:3 - though I bestow 1 Corinthians 13:4 - envieth 2 Corinthians 12:20 - debates Philippians 2:3 - nothing Philippians 2:14 - disputings Colossians 3:8 - anger 1 Thessalonians 2:6 - of men 1 Timothy 6:4 - words James 5:9 - Grudge not

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Let us not be desirous of vain glory,.... Ambitious of being thought wiser, and richer, and more valuable than others; of having the preeminence in the management of all affairs, and of having honour, esteem, and popular applause from men: this may well be called vain glory, since it is only in outward things, as wisdom, riches, strength, and honour, and not in God the giver of them, and who can easily take them away; and therefore is but for a time, and is quickly gone, and lies only in the opinion and breath of men.

Provoking one another; not to good works, which would be right, but to anger and wrath, which is contrary to Christian charity, or true love; which, as it is not easily provoked, so neither will it provoke others to evil things. The Syriac version renders it by

מקלין, "slighting", or "despising one another"; and the Arabic version, "insulting one another"; vices to which men, and even Christian brethren in the same communion, are too prone.

Envying one another; their gifts and abilities, natural and spiritual; their rank and station in the world, or in the church. These were sins the Galatians very probably were subject to; and where they prevail, there is confusion, and every evil work, and are therefore to be watched and guarded against.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Let us not be desirous of vainglory - The word used here (κενόδοξοι kenodoxoi) means “proud” or “vain” of empty advantages, as of birth, property, eloquence, or learning. The reference here is probably to the paltry competitions which arose on account of these supposed advantages. It is possible that this might have been one cause of the difficulties existing in the churches of Galatia, and the apostle is anxious wholly to check and remove it. The Jews prided themselves on their birth, and people are everywhere prone to overvalue the supposed advantages of birth and blood. The doctrines of Paul are, that on great and most vital respects people are on a level; that these things contribute nothing to salvation (notes, Galatians 3:28); and that Christians should esteem them of little importance, and that they should not be suffered to interfere with their fellowship, or to mar their harmony and peace.

Provoking one another - The sense is, that they who are desirous of vainglory, do provoke one another. They provoke those whom they regard as inferiors by a haughty carriage and a contemptuous manner toward them. They look upon them often with contempt; pass them by with disdain; treat them as beneath their notice; and this provokes on the other hand hard feeling, and hatred. and a disposition to take revenge. When people regard themselves as equal in their great and vital interests; when they feel that they are fellow-heirs of the grace of life; when they feel that they belong to one great family, and are in their great interests on a level; deriving no advantage from birth and blood; on a level as descendants of the same apostate father; as being themselves sinners; on a level at the foot of the cross, at the communion table, on beds of sickness, in the grave, and at the bar of God; when they feel this, then the consequences here referred to will be avoided. There will be no haughty carriage such as to provoke opposition; and on the other hand there will be no envy on account of the superior rank of others.

Envying one another - On account of their superior wealth, rank, talent, learning. The true way to cure envy is to make people feel that in their great and important interests they are on a level. Their great interests are beyond the grave. The distinctions of this life are temporary, and are comparative trifles. Soon all will be on a level in the grave, and at the bar of God and in heaven. Wealth, and honor, and rank do not avail there. The poorest man will wear as bright a crown as the rich; the man of most humble birth will be admitted as near the throne as he who can boast the longest line of illustrious ancestors. Why should a man who is soon to wear a “crown incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away,” envy him who has a ducal coronet here, or a royal diadem - baubles that are soon to be laid aside forever? Why should he, though poor here, who is soon to inherit the treasures of heaven where “moth and rust do not corrupt,” envy him who can walk over a few acres as his own, or who has accumulated a glittering pile of dust, soon to be left forever?

Why should he who is soon to wear the robes of salvation, made “white in the blood of the Lamb,” envy him who is “clothed in purple and fine linen,” or who can adorn himself and his family in the most gorgeous attire which art and skill can make, soon to give place to the winding-sheet; soon to be succeeded by the simple garb which the most humble wears in the grave? If men feel that their great interests are beyond the tomb: that in the important matter of salvation they are on a level; that soon they are to be undistinguished beneath the clods of the valley, how unimportant comparatively would it seem to adorn their bodies, to advance their name and rank and to improve their estates! The rich and the great would cease to look down with contempt on those of more humble rank, and the poor would cease to envy those above them, for they are soon to be their equals in the grave; their equals, perhaps their superiors in heaven!

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Galatians 5:26. Let us not be desirous of vain glory — κενοδοξοι. Let us not be vain glorious-boasting of our attainments; vaunting ourselves to be superior to others; or seeking honour from those things which do not possess moral good; in birth, riches, eloquence, c., c.

Provoking one another — What this may refer to we cannot tell whether to the Judaizing teachers, endeavouring to set themselves up beyond the apostle, and their attempts to lessen him in the people's eyes, that they might secure to themselves the public confidence, and thus destroy St. Paul's influence in the Galatian Churches or whether to some other matter in the internal economy of the Church, we know not. But the exhortation is necessary for every Christian, and for every Christian Church. He who professes to seek the honour that comes from God, should not be desirous of vain glory. He who desires to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, should not provoke another. He who knows that he never deserved any gift or blessing from God should not envy another those blessings which the Divine goodness may have thought proper to bestow upon him. May not God do what he will with his own? If Christians in general would be content with the honour that comes from God, if they would take heed to give no provocations to their fellow Christians, if they would cease from envying those on whom either God or man bestows honours or advantages, we should soon have a happier and more perfect state of the Christian Church than we now see. Christianity requires us to esteem each other better than ourselves, or in honour to prefer one another. Had not such a disposition been necessary to the Christian character, and to the peace and perfection of the Church of Christ, it would not have been so strongly recommended. But who lays this to heart, or even thinks that this is indispensably necessary to his salvation? Where this disposition lives not, there are both the seed and fruit of the flesh. Evil tempers are the bane of religion and totally contrary to Christianity.


 
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