Galatians 6:16

THE MESSAGE

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
Peace and mercy to those who follow this rule—to all God's people.

Revised Standard Version
Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And as many as walke accordinge to this rule peace be on them and mercy and vpon Israel that pertayneth to God.

Hebrew Names Version
As many as will walk by this rule, shalom and mercy be on them, and on God's Yisra'el.

New American Standard Bible
And all who will follow this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

New Century Version
Peace and mercy to those who follow this rule—and to all of God's people.

Update Bible Version
And as many as shall walk by this rule, peace [be] on them, and mercy, and on the Israel of God.

Webster's Bible Translation
And as many as walk according to this rule, peace [be] on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

English Standard Version
And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

World English Bible
As many as will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be on them, and on God's Israel.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And as many as walk by this rule, peace be upon them and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

Weymouth's New Testament
And all who shall regulate their lives by this principle--may peace and mercy be given to them--and to the true Israel of God.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And who euere suwen this reule, pees on hem, and merci, and on Israel of God.

English Revised Version
And as many as shall walk by this rule, peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

Berean Standard Bible
Peace and mercy to all who walk by this rule, even to the Israel of God.

Contemporary English Version
If you follow this rule, you will belong to God's true people. God will treat you with undeserved kindness and will bless you with peace.

Amplified Bible
Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule [who discipline themselves and conduct their lives by this principle], and upon the [true] Israel of God (Jewish believers).

American Standard Version
And as many as shall walk by this rule, peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

Bible in Basic English
And on all who are guided by this rule be peace and mercy, and on the Israel of God.

Complete Jewish Bible
And as many as order their lives by this rule, shalom upon them and mercy, and upon the Isra'el of God!

Darby Translation
And as many as shall walk by this rule, peace upon them and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

International Standard Version
Now may peace be on all those who live by this principle, and may mercy be on the Israel of God.Psalm 125:5; Romans 2:29; 4:12; 9:6-8; Galatians 3:7,9, 29; Philippians 3:3,16, 29;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
And they who this pathway accomplish, peace be upon them and mercy, and upon the Israel of Aloha.

Murdock Translation
And they who press forward in this path, peace be on them, and mercy; and on the Israel of God.

King James Version (1611)
And as many as walke according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercie, and vpon the Israel of God.

New Living Translation
May God's peace and mercy be upon all who live by this principle; they are the new people of God.

New Life Bible
Those who follow this way will have God's peace and loving-kindness. They are the people of God.

New Revised Standard
As for those who will follow this rule—peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

Geneva Bible (1587)
And as many as walke according to this rule, peace shalbe vpon them, and mercie, and vpon the Israel of God.

George Lamsa Translation
And upon those who follow this path be peace and mercy; and upon the Israel of God, be peace and mercy.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, as many as, by this rule, shall walk, peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And whosoever shall follow this rule, peace on them and mercy: and upon the Israel of God.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And as many as walke accordyng to this rule, peace be on them, and mercie, and vpon the Israel [that is] of God.

Good News Translation
As for those who follow this rule in their lives, may peace and mercy be with them—with them and with all of God's people!

Christian Standard Bible®
May peace come to all those who follow this standard, and mercy even to the Israel of God!

King James Version
And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

Lexham English Bible
And all those who follow this rule, peace and mercy be on them and on the Israel of God.

Literal Translation
And as many as shall walk by this rule, peace and mercy be on them and on the Israel of God.

Young's Literal Translation
and as many as by this rule do walk -- peace upon them, and kindness, and on the Israel of God!

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And as many as walke acordynge to this rule, peace and mercy be vpon the, and vpon Israel of God.

Mace New Testament (1729)
as many as walk by this rule, peace and mercy be on them, even upon the Israel of God.

New English Translation
And all who will behave in accordance with this rule, peace and mercy be on them, and on the Israel of God.

New King James Version
And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

Simplified Cowboy Version
May peace and mercy ride with you every step of your journey with God.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

Legacy Standard Bible
And those who will walk in step with this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

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

walk: Galatians 5:16, Galatians 5:25, Psalms 125:4, Psalms 125:5, Philippians 3:16

peace: Galatians 1:3, Numbers 6:23-27, 1 Chronicles 12:18, Psalms 125:5, John 14:27, John 16:33, Romans 1:7, Philippians 4:7

the Israel: Galatians 3:7-9, Galatians 3:29, Psalms 73:1, Isaiah 45:25, Hosea 1:10, John 1:47, Romans 2:28, Romans 2:29, Romans 4:12, Romans 9:6-8, Philippians 3:3, 1 Peter 2:5-9

Reciprocal: Genesis 50:17 - servants Exodus 35:29 - the Lord Psalms 50:23 - to him Psalms 118:2 - General Psalms 119:165 - Great Isaiah 44:5 - the name Jeremiah 31:31 - with Jeremiah 33:21 - that he Luke 1:33 - the Romans 4:11 - father Romans 6:4 - even Romans 14:18 - in 1 Corinthians 10:18 - Israel 2 Corinthians 1:2 - General Ephesians 6:23 - Peace

Cross-References

2 Kings 9:30
When Jezebel heard that Jehu had arrived in Jezreel, she made herself up—put on eyeshadow and arranged her hair—and posed seductively at the window. When Jehu came through the city gate, she called down, "So, how are things, ‘Zimri,' you dashing king-killer?"

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And as many as walk according to this rule,.... Or canon; meaning not the canon of the Scriptures in general, which is the perfect rule, and only standard of faith and practice; according to which we are to walk, believe, and act; but either the doctrine of justification by the righteousness of Christ, the subject of this epistle, the truth the apostle had been explaining, vindicating, and confirming; and which to depart from, is going out of the way of truth; and an abiding by it, is walking in it; and is a good rule and standard, by which to distinguish between truth and error; for whatever is contrary to that article of faith cannot be true: or else the rule delivered in the preceding verse, declaring circumcision and uncircumcision to be of no avail in salvation, but a new creature; and to walk according to this rule, is to renounce all trust in, and dependence upon any outward things; to believe alone in Christ, for righteousness and life; to live by faith upon him, and to walk in newness of life, under the influences of his Spirit and grace:

peace be on them, and mercy. This is the apostle's godly wish, unfeigned desire, and hearty prayer for all such persons, be they who they will; Jews or Gentiles, circumcised or uncircumcised: by peace he means, a view of their peace with God, made by the blood of Christ; peace in their own consciences, which passes all understanding, and arises from a comfortable sense of justification by the righteousness of Christ, of pardon by his blood, and atonement by his sacrifice; and which is enjoyed in a way of believing; and also peace with one another, among themselves as brethren, which is a very desirable blessing: in short, it includes all prosperity and happiness, inward and outward, temporal, spiritual, and eternal: and by "mercy", he designs the love and grace of God, to sinful miserable creatures in themselves, which is the spring and fountain of all peace and prosperity; and which is displayed in the covenant of grace, and all the blessings of it; in the mission and incarnation of Christ, and redemption by him; in regeneration, forgiveness of sin, and complete salvation; and intends a fresh discovery, manifestation, and application of the mercy of God to his children; who often stand in need thereof, being distressed with the guilt of sin, or are under desertions or afflictive providences, at which time to have mercy showed them, is exceeding suitable and agreeable: when the apostle wishes these to be "on" them, it signifies that these blessings come from above, as every good gift does; that they descend as a cloud, and rest upon them, and abide with them, refreshing, comforting, and protecting them: he adds,

and upon the Israel of God; which is a further description of the persons, for whom he prays for these blessings; and is not to be understood by way of distinction from them, but as an amplification of their character; and as pointing out the Israel, by way of emphasis, the Israel, or Israelites indeed, the spiritual Israel, as distinct from Israel according to the flesh; see 1 Corinthians 10:18. The "Israel of God", or as the Arabic version reads it, "Israel the propriety of God"; which he has a right unto, and a claim upon; who are chosen by him, Israel his elect; who are redeemed by him, out of every kindred, tongue, people, and nation; who are called by his grace, and are styled Israel his called; who are justified in his Son, and by his righteousness; and for whose sake he is exalted as a Prince and a Saviour, to give them repentance and remission of sin; and who are, or will be saved by him, with an everlasting salvation; and is a name that includes all God's elect, whether Jews or Gentiles: though it may have a particular respect to such of the Israelites, or Jews, God had foreknown and reserved for himself; and who believed in Christ, and walked as new creatures, without confidence in the flesh. The Jews themselves own, that strangers, or proselytes, shall be called by the name of Israel; so they b explain Isaiah 44:5, latter part.

b Jarchi & Abarbinel in Isa. xliv. 5.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And as many as walk - As many as live, for so the word walk is used in the Scriptures. According to this rule. Greek: “This canon”; see the word explained in the notes at 2 Corinthians 10:13.

Peace be on them - See the note at Romans 15:33.

And upon the Israel of God - The true church of God; all who are his true worshippers; see the note at Romans 2:28-29; Romans 9:6, note.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 16. As many as walk according to this rule — Τῳ κανονι τουτῳ· This canon; viz. what is laid down in the preceding verses, that redemption is through the sacrifice of Christ; that circumcision and uncircumcision are equally unavailable; and that none can be saved without being created anew. This is the grand canon or rule in Christianity.

Peace be on them — Those who act from this conviction will have the peace and mercy of God; for it is in this way that mercy is communicated and peace obtained.

The Israel of God. — The true Christians, called here the Israel of God, to distinguish them from Israel according to the flesh. Romans 2:29; "Romans 4:12".