Galatians 6:15

THE MESSAGE

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
It doesn't matter if anyone is circumcised or not. The only thing that matters is this new life we have from God.

Revised Standard Version
For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
For in Christ Iesu nether circucision avayleth eny thinge at all nor vncircumcisio: but a new creature.

Hebrew Names Version
For in Messiah Yeshua neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

New American Standard Bible
For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

New Century Version
It is not important if a man is circumcised or uncircumcised. The important thing is being the new people God has made.

Update Bible Version
For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

Webster's Bible Translation
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

English Standard Version
For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

World English Bible
For in Christ Jesus neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision is any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

Weymouth's New Testament
For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is of any importance; but only a renewed nature.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For in Jhesu Crist nether circumcisioun is ony thing worth, ne prepucie, but a newe creature.

English Revised Version
For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

Berean Standard Bible
For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything. What counts is a new creation.

Contemporary English Version
It doesn't matter if you are circumcised or not. All that matters is that you are a new person.

Amplified Bible
For neither is circumcision anything [of any importance], nor uncircumcision, but [only] a new creation [which is the result of a new birth—a spiritual transformation—a new nature in Christ Jesus].

American Standard Version
For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

Bible in Basic English
For having circumcision is nothing, and not having circumcision is nothing, but only a new order of existence.

Complete Jewish Bible
For neither being circumcised nor being uncircumcised matters; what matters is being a new creation.

Darby Translation
For [in Christ Jesus] neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision; but new creation.

International Standard Version
For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision matters. Rather, what matters is beingwhat matters is being">[fn] a new creation.1 Corinthians 7:19; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 5:6; Colossians 3:11;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
For circumcision is not any thing, nor uncircumcision, but the new creature.

Murdock Translation
For circumcision is nothing; neither is uncircumcision; but a new creation.

King James Version (1611)
For in Christ Iesus neither circumcision auaileth any thing nor vncircumcision, but a new creature.

New Living Translation
It doesn't matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation.

New Life Bible
If a person does or does not go through the religious act of becoming a Jew, it is worth nothing. The important thing is to become a new person.

New Revised Standard
For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything; but a new creation is everything!

Geneva Bible (1587)
For in Christ Iesus neither circumcision auaileth any thing, nor vncircumcision, but a newe creature.

George Lamsa Translation
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision is anything, nor uncircumcision, but it is a new creation that counts.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For neither circumcision is anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation; -

Douay-Rheims Bible
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision: but a new creature.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
For in Christe Iesu, neither circumcision auayleth any thing, nor vncircumcision, but a newe creature.

Good News Translation
It does not matter at all whether or not one is circumcised; what does matter is being a new creature.

Christian Standard Bible®
For both circumcision and uncircumcision mean nothing; what matters instead is a new creation.

King James Version
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

Lexham English Bible
For neither is circumcision anything nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

Literal Translation
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision has any strength nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

Young's Literal Translation
for in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For in Christ Iesu nether circucision avayleth eny thinge, ner vncircumcision, but a new creature.

Mace New Testament (1729)
for in the dispensation of Jesus Christ, neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but the new creation.

New English Translation
For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that matters is a new creation!

New King James Version
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.

Simplified Cowboy Version
It don't matter if your pickle is clipped. It matters if you're a new man.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

Legacy Standard Bible
For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

Contextual Overview

¹¹Now, in these last sentences, I want to emphasize in the bold scrawls of my personal handwriting the immense importance of what I have written to you. These people who are attempting to force the ways of circumcision on you have only one motive: They want an easy way to look good before others, lacking the courage to live by a faith that shares Christ's suffering and death. All their talk about the law is gas. They themselves don't keep the law! And they are highly selective in the laws they do observe. They only want you to be circumcised so they can boast of their success in recruiting you to their side. That is contemptible! ¹⁴For my part, I am going to boast about nothing but the Cross of our Master, Jesus Christ. Because of that Cross, I have been crucified in relation to the world, set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns that they dictate. Can't you see the central issue in all this? It is not what you and I do—submit to circumcision, reject circumcision. It is what God is doing, and he is creating something totally new, a free life! All who walk by this standard are the true Israel of God—his chosen people. Peace and mercy on them! ¹⁷ Quite frankly, I don't want to be bothered anymore by these disputes. I have far more important things to do—the serious living of this faith. I bear in my body scars from my service to Jesus. ¹⁸ May what our Master Jesus Christ gives freely be deeply and personally yours, my friends. Oh, yes!

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

in: Galatians 5:6, Romans 8:1, 2 Corinthians 5:17

neither: 1 Corinthians 7:19

but: 2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 2:10, Ephesians 4:24, Colossians 3:10, Colossians 3:11, Revelation 21:5

Reciprocal: Genesis 17:23 - circumcised Joshua 5:5 - they had not Psalms 119:165 - Great Isaiah 19:25 - Blessed Isaiah 43:7 - for I Ezekiel 11:19 - I will put Ezekiel 36:26 - new heart Matthew 12:50 - do Matthew 13:21 - root John 3:3 - Except John 3:5 - cannot John 6:63 - the flesh Romans 2:25 - circumcision Romans 2:28 - For he Romans 3:30 - General Romans 4:10 - not in circumcision Romans 6:4 - even Romans 7:6 - serve Romans 14:18 - in Romans 16:7 - were 2 Corinthians 3:18 - are Ephesians 2:15 - one

Cross-References

Deuteronomy 3:11
Og king of Bashan was the last remaining Rephaite. His bed, made of iron, was over thirteen feet long and six wide. You can still see it on display in Rabbah of the People of Ammon.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For in Christ Jesus,.... These words are omitted in the Syriac and Ethiopic versions; :-,

:-, they contain a reason why the apostle gloried in a crucified Christ, and looked upon the world as dead to him, and he to that, in every state of it; particularly as it may design "the worldly sanctuary" of the Jews, and all the rites and ceremonies appertaining to it; and among the rest

circumcision, which availeth not anything; neither as a command, type, or privilege; or in the business of salvation, being abolished by Christ:

nor uncircumcision; being now no bar to the Gospel, Gospel ordinances, or a Gospel church state; or to any of the blessings of the everlasting covenant, which come upon the uncircumcision, as well as the circumcision. But to apply these words to baptism and non-baptism is a wretched perversion, and making a very ill use of them, whereby the minds of men are worked up to an indifference to a Christian institution; for though baptism is of no avail in the business of salvation, yet it cannot be said of it, as of circumcision, that it avails not anything as a command; for it is a standing ordinance of Christ; or as an emblem and sign, for it is significative of the death and burial, and resurrection of Christ; or as a privilege, for it is of use to lead the faith of God's people to his blood and righteousness for pardon and justification; for he that believes, and is baptized, shall be saved; and it is necessary to church communion: and, on the other hand, it cannot be said that non-baptism avails not; it is a bar to church fellowship; and a neglect of baptism in those who are the proper subjects of it, is resented by Christ, and is a rejecting of the counsel of God against themselves; which was the case of the Pharisees, in the time of John the Baptist:

but a new creature. The phrase is Rabbinical;

:- by which is meant, not a new creation of a man, as a man, of the members of his body, or of the faculties of his soul; nor of an external reformation, or a walking in newness of life, which is the fruit and effect of this new creation work; but an internal principle of grace, a good work of God begun in the soul, called the hidden man of the heart, the new man, Christ formed in us, of which faith that works by love is a part: this is called a "creature", and so not of man, but God; for none can create but himself; and in which work man is purely passive, as the heavens and the earth were in their creation: it is "but" a creature, and therefore needs divine support, fresh strength from God, and frequent supplies of grace to maintain and preserve it; nor is it to be trusted in, but the grace which is in Christ, from whence it comes, and by which it is secured. This is a "new" creature, in opposition to the old man; and because it is a principle in man, which never was there before; it consists of a new heart and spirit, of new eyes, ears, hands, and feet, expressive of new principles and actions, of new light, life, love, desires, joys, comforts, and duties: now this is of avail; it is a branch of the new covenant of grace, which God has therein promised to bestow on his people; it is an evidence of interest in Christ, the new and living way to the Father, and eternal life; such are newborn babes, regenerated persons, and have a right and meetness for the kingdom of God; shall possess the new Jerusalem, shall dwell in the new heavens and new earth; they are called by the Lord's new name, the adopted children of God; and have a new song put into their mouths, which none but redeemed and newborn souls can sing; and shall drink the new wine of endless joys and everlasting pleasures with Christ, in his Father's kingdom. These words are said to be taken out of the Apocalypse of Moses, a spurious book, but without any foundation.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For in Christ Jesus - In his religion; see the note at Galatians 5:6.

But a new creature - The fact that a man is created anew, or born again, constitutes the real difference between him and other people. This is what Christ requires; this is the distinction which he designs to make. It is not by conformity to certain rites and customs that a man is to be accepted; it is not by elevated rank, or by wealth, or beauty, or blood; it is not by the color of the complexion; but the grand inquiry is, whether a man is born again, and is in fact a new creature in Christ Jesus; see the note at 2 Corinthians 5:17, for an explanation of the phrase “a new creature.”

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 15. In Christ Jesus — Under the dispensation of the Gospel, of which he is head and supreme, neither circumcision- nothing that the Jew can boast of, nothing that the Gentile can call excellent, availeth any thing-can in the least contribute to the salvation of the soul.

But a new creature. — αλλα καινη κτισις. But a new creation; not a new creature merely, (for this might be restrained to any new power or faculty,) but a total renewal of the whole man, of all the powers and passions of the soul; and as creation could not be effected but by the power of the Almighty, so this change cannot be effected but by the same energy; no circumcision can do this; only the power that made the man at first can new make him. 1 Corinthians 7:19, and on "2 Corinthians 5:17".