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Revised Standard Version

Galatians 6:13

For even those who receive circumcision do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Circumcision;   Hypocrisy;  

Dictionaries:

- Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Judaizers;   Legalism;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Cuttings;   Galatians, the Epistle to the;   Paul;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Flesh;   Galatians, Letter to the;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Galatians, Epistle to the;   Nicolas;   Paul the Apostle;   Tertius;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Galatians Epistle to the;   Token;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Galatians, Epistle to the;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for October 28;  

Parallel Translations

New American Standard Bible (1995)
For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh.
Legacy Standard Bible
For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they want to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh.
Simplified Cowboy Version
Even those who circumcise don't follow the whole Code. They are just picking and choosing stuff to make themselves appear holy. If they get you to do it too, then they get to brag and put another notch in their pickle holster.
Bible in Basic English
Because even those who undergo circumcision do not themselves keep the law; but they would have you undergo circumcision, so that they may have glory in your flesh.
Darby Translation
For neither do they that are circumcised themselves keep the law; but they wish you to be circumcised, that they may boast in your flesh.
Christian Standard Bible®
For even the circumcised don't keep the law themselves; however, they want you to be circumcised in order to boast about your flesh.
World English Bible
For even they who receive circumcision don't keep the law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised, that they may boast in your flesh.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For neither they who are circumcised keep the law; but they desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.
Weymouth's New Testament
For these very men do not really keep the Law of Moses, but they would have you receive circumcision in order that they may glory in *your* bodies.
King James Version (1611)
For neither they themselues who are circumcised, keepe the Law, but desire to haue you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.
Literal Translation
For they themselves having been circumcised do not even keep the Law, but they desire you to be circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For eue they them selues which are circumcysed, kepe not the lawe, but wolde haue you circucysed, that they mighte reioyse in youre flesh.
Mace New Testament (1729)
for even they who are circumcised, do not themselves observe the law in other respects; but they dedesire to have you circumcised, that they may have matter of glorying upon that account.
Amplified Bible
For even the circumcised [Jews] themselves do not [really] keep the Law, but they want to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh [that is, in the fact that they convinced you to be circumcised].
American Standard Version
For not even they who receive circumcision do themselves keep the law; but they desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
For they them selves which are circumcised kepe not the lawe: but desyre to have you circumcised that they myght reioyce in youre flesshe.
Update Bible Version
For not even they who receive circumcision do themselves keep the law; but they desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.
Webster's Bible Translation
For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.
Young's Literal Translation
for neither do those circumcised themselves keep the law, but they wish you to be circumcised, that in your flesh they may glory.
New Century Version
Those who are circumcised do not obey the law themselves, but they want you to be circumcised so they can brag about what they forced you to do.
New English Translation
For those who are circumcised do not obey the law themselves, but they want you to be circumcised so that they can boast about your flesh.
Berean Standard Bible
For the circumcised do not even keep the law themselves, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.
Contemporary English Version
They are circumcised, but they don't obey the Law of Moses. All they want is to brag about having you circumcised.
Complete Jewish Bible
For even those who are getting circumcised don't observe the Torah. On the contrary, they want you to get circumcised so that they can boast of having gained your adherence.
English Standard Version
For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.
Geneva Bible (1587)
For they themselues which are circumcised keepe not the law, but desire to haue you circumcised, that they might reioyce in your flesh.
George Lamsa Translation
For not even they who are circumcised obey the law; but they want you to be circumcised so that they may boast over your flesh.
Hebrew Names Version
For even they who receive circumcision don't keep the law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised, that they may boast in your flesh.
International Standard Version
Why, not even those who are circumcised obey the law! They simply want you to be circumcised so that they can boast about your flesh.
Etheridge Translation
For neither do these who are circumcised keep the law; but they will that you be circumcised, that in your flesh they may glory.
Murdock Translation
For not even they themselves, who are circumcised, keep the law: but they wish you to become circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.
New King James Version
For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.
New Living Translation
And even those who advocate circumcision don't keep the whole law themselves. They only want you to be circumcised so they can boast about it and claim you as their disciples.
New Life Bible
Those who have gone through the religious act of becoming a Jew do not even keep the Law themselves. But they want you to go through that religious act so they can be proud that you are their followers.
English Revised Version
For not even they who receive circumcision do themselves keep the law; but they desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.
New Revised Standard
Even the circumcised do not themselves obey the law, but they want you to be circumcised so that they may boast about your flesh.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For, not even they who are getting circumcised, are, themselves, observing law, - but are wishing you to be circumcised, that, in your flesh, they may boast themselves.
Douay-Rheims Bible
For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law: but they will have you to be circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.
King James Version
For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.
Lexham English Bible
For not even those who are circumcised observe the law themselves, but they want you to be circumcised in order that they may boast in your flesh.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
For they the selues which are circumcised, kepe not the lawe: but desire to haue you circumcised, that they myght reioyce in your flesshe.
Easy-to-Read Version
They are circumcised, but they don't obey the law themselves. They want you to be circumcised so that they can boast about what they did to you.
New American Standard Bible
For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they want to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh.
Good News Translation
Even those who practice circumcision do not obey the Law; they want you to be circumcised so that they can boast that you submitted to this physical ceremony.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For nether thei that ben circumcidid kepen the lawe; but thei wolen that ye be circumcidid, that thei haue glorie in youre fleisch.

Contextual Overview

11 See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. 12 It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that would compel you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For even those who receive circumcision do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh. 14 But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16 Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God. 17 Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

keep: Matthew 23:3, Matthew 23:15, Matthew 23:23, Romans 2:17-24, Romans 3:9-19, 2 Peter 2:19

that they may: 1 Corinthians 3:21, 1 Corinthians 5:6, 2 Corinthians 11:18

Reciprocal: Matthew 23:4 - General Luke 5:38 - General Luke 11:46 - Woe John 3:26 - he that John 7:19 - yet Acts 7:53 - and have Acts 15:1 - ye Acts 15:24 - Ye must Acts 20:30 - to draw Romans 2:21 - therefore Romans 4:2 - he hath 1 Corinthians 1:31 - General 2 Corinthians 10:17 - General 2 Corinthians 11:12 - they glory Galatians 1:7 - but Galatians 4:17 - zealously Galatians 5:10 - but Galatians 6:4 - and not Galatians 6:12 - as desire Philippians 3:3 - rejoice Philippians 3:19 - whose glory 1 Thessalonians 2:6 - of men James 3:14 - glory

Cross-References

Genesis 6:1
When men began to multiply on the face of the ground, and daughters were born to them,
Genesis 6:2
the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were fair; and they took to wife such of them as they chose.
Genesis 6:4
The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men that were of old, the men of renown.
Genesis 6:6
And the LORD was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.
Genesis 6:7
So the LORD said, "I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the ground, man and beast and creeping things and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them."
Genesis 6:10
And Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
Genesis 6:11
Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight, and the earth was filled with violence.
Genesis 6:12
And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth.
Genesis 7:23
He blotted out every living thing that was upon the face of the ground, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the air; they were blotted out from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those that were with him in the ark.
Genesis 49:5
Simeon and Levi are brothers; weapons of violence are their swords.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But neither they themselves that are circumcised,.... That is, the pleaders for, and preachers of circumcision, whether they themselves were actually circumcised, or not; it means those that were of the circumcision, on that side of the question, whether heartily or not:

keep the law; of circumcision, as persons may preach up that, which they themselves do not practise; as did the Pharisees, the predecessors of these men; or if they did keep the law, and submit to it, yet this might be done, not out of regard unto it, and zeal for it, but for some other end; as Simon Magus submitted to baptism, and others preached Christ of envy and contention, and not of good will; or if they did do it in obedience to the law, yet this was not keeping the whole law, which circumcision obliged to; and which, unless they did so keep it, would signify nothing; and this no man is capable of keeping perfectly, and consequently no righteousness, life, and salvation, can be had hereby: besides, though these men were so zealous for the lighter matters of the law, the rites and ceremonies of it, as circumcision, c. they disregarded the weightier and more material parts of it, as judgment, mercy, and faith these they kept not, nor attended to: and many of them lived very dissolute lives and conversations, at least secretly, if not openly; which abundantly proved that they were far from keeping the law; and that their pleading for it, and submitting to some of the rituals of it, were not out of pure love and strict regard to it, but for some other end:

but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh; that is, in the circumcision of it; or, as the Ethiopic version, "in your bodies". Their view in bringing persons to submit to circumcision was, that they might have occasion to glory among the Jews, and boast to them of the numbers of proselytes they brought, and of the service they did to Judaism, and so increase their fame and glory among them.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For neither they themselves who are circumcised - The Jewish teachers, or perhaps all Jews. It was true in general that the Jews did not wholly and entirely obey the Law of Moses, but it is probable that the apostle refers particularly here to the judaizing teachers in Galatia.

Keep the law - The Law of Moses, or the Law of God. Paul’s idea is, that if they were circumcised they brought themselves under obligation to keep the whole law of God; see the note at Galatians 5:3. But they did not do it.

(1) No person perfectly observes the whole law of God.

(2) The Jewish nation as such were very far from doing it.

(3) It is probable that these persons did not pretend even to keep the whole Law of Moses.

Paul insists on it that if they were circumcised, and depended on that for salvation, they were under obligation to keep the whole law. But they did not. Probably they did not offer sacrifice, or join in any of the numerous observances of the Jewish nation, except some of the more prominent, such as circumcision. This, says Paul, is inconsistent in the highest degree; and they thus show their insincerity and hypocrisy.

That they may glory in your flesh - In having you as converts, and in persuading you to be circumcised, that they may show their zeal for the Law, and thus escape persecution. The phrase “in your flesh” here, is equivalent to “in your circumcision;” making use of your circumcision to promote their own importance, and to save themselves from persecution.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 13. Neither they themselves who are circumcised — They receive circumcision and profess Judaism, not from a desire to be conformed to the will of God; but Judaism was popular, and the more converts the false teachers could make; the more occasion of glorying they had, and they wished to get those Christian converts, who had been before proselytes of the gate, to receive circumcision, that they might glory in their flesh. Behold my converts! Thus they gloried, or boasted, not that the people were converted to God, but that they were circumcised.


 
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