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Read the Bible

Revised Standard Version

Galatians 6:3

For if any one thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Hypocrisy;   Pride;   Self-Exaltation;   Self-Examination;   Self-Righteousness;   Thompson Chain Reference - Common Delusions;   Conceit;   Deception;   Humility-Pride;   Self-Deception;   The Topic Concordance - Deception;   Pride/arrogance;   Proof;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Humility;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Discipline;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Galatians, Letter to the;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Nicolas;   Paul the Apostle;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Galatians Epistle to the;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Brier;  

Encyclopedias:

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

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for January 19;   Every Day Light - Devotion for October 28;  

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
If you think you are too important to do this, you are only fooling yourself.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
If eny ma seme to him silfe that he is somwhat whe in dede he is nothynge the same deceaveth hym silfe in his ymaginacion.
Hebrew Names Version
For if a man thinks himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
New American Standard Bible
For if anyone thinks that he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
New Century Version
If anyone thinks he is important when he really is not, he is only fooling himself.
Update Bible Version
For if a man thinks himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
Webster's Bible Translation
For if a man thinketh himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
English Standard Version
For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
World English Bible
For if a man thinks himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For if any man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
Weymouth's New Testament
For if there is any one who thinks himself to be somebody when he is nobody, he is deluding himself.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For who that trowith that he be ouyt, whanne he is nouyt, he bigilith him silf.
English Revised Version
For if a man thinketh himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
Berean Standard Bible
If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
Contemporary English Version
If you think you are better than others, when you really aren't, you are wrong.
Amplified Bible
For if anyone thinks he is something [special] when [in fact] he is nothing [special except in his own eyes], he deceives himself.
American Standard Version
For if a man thinketh himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
Bible in Basic English
For if a man has an idea that he is something when he is nothing, he is tricked by himself.
Complete Jewish Bible
For if anyone thinks he is something when he is really nothing, he is fooling himself.
Darby Translation
For if any man reputes himself to be something, being nothing, he deceives himself;
International Standard Version
For if anyone thinks he is something when he is really nothing, he is only fooling himself.Romans 12:3; 1 Corinthians 8:2; 2 Corinthians 3:5; 12:11; Galatians 2:6;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
For if a man consider that he is something, while he is not, he deceiveth himself.
Murdock Translation
For if any one thinketh himself to be something, when he is not, he deceiveth himself.
King James Version (1611)
For if a man thinke himselfe to be something, when he is nothing, hee deceiueth himselfe.
New Living Translation
If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.
New Life Bible
If anyone thinks he is important when he is nothing, he is fooling himself.
New Revised Standard
For if those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves.
Geneva Bible (1587)
For if any man seeme to himselfe, that he is somewhat, when he is nothing, hee deceiueth himselfe in his imagination.
George Lamsa Translation
For if man thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For, if any one thinketh he is something, when he is, nothing, he deceiveth himself;
Douay-Rheims Bible
For if any man think himself to be some thing, whereas he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
For if any man seeme to him selfe that he is somewhat, when he is nothyng, the same deceaueth hymselfe in his owne fansie.
Good News Translation
If you think you are something when you really are nothing, you are only deceiving yourself.
Christian Standard Bible®
For if anyone considers himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
King James Version
For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
Lexham English Bible
For if anyone thinks he is something although he is nothing, he is deceiving himself.
Literal Translation
For if anyone thinks to be something, he deceives himself, being nothing.
Young's Literal Translation
for if any one doth think [himself] to be something -- being nothing -- himself he doth deceive;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But yf eny man thinke himselfe to be somwhat (whan in dede he is nothinge) the same disceaueth himselfe.
Mace New Testament (1729)
for if a man thinks himself to be considerable, when he is not, he deceives himself.
New English Translation
For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
New King James Version
For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
Simplified Cowboy Version
But if you think you're too good to get off and lend a hand to a broken fellow, you show just how small a man you really are. You can talk a big game all you want, but the only one who believes your lies is you.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
Legacy Standard Bible
For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

Contextual Overview

1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Look to yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 3 For if any one thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For each man will have to bear his own load. 6 Let him who is taught the word share all good things with him who teaches. 7 Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption; but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

if: Galatians 2:6, Proverbs 25:14, Proverbs 26:12, Luke 18:11, Romans 12:3, Romans 12:16, 1 Corinthians 3:18, 1 Corinthians 8:2

when: 1 Corinthians 13:2, 2 Corinthians 3:5, 2 Corinthians 12:11

he deceiveth: 1 Corinthians 3:18, 2 Timothy 3:13, James 1:22, James 1:26, 1 John 1:8

Reciprocal: Job 15:31 - not him Proverbs 12:15 - way Proverbs 14:12 - General Proverbs 21:2 - right Jeremiah 37:9 - Deceive 1 Corinthians 3:7 - General 1 Corinthians 4:8 - ye are full Galatians 6:7 - not 1 Timothy 6:4 - He Titus 3:3 - deceived James 2:20 - O vain

Cross-References

Genesis 6:1
When men began to multiply on the face of the ground, and daughters were born to them,
Genesis 6:13
And God said to Noah, "I have determined to make an end of all flesh; for the earth is filled with violence through them; behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
Genesis 6:14
Make yourself an ark of gopher wood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch.
Genesis 6:15
This is how you are to make it: the length of the ark three hundred cubits, its breadth fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits.
Genesis 6:16
Make a roof for the ark, and finish it to a cubit above; and set the door of the ark in its side; make it with lower, second, and third decks.
Genesis 6:18
But I will establish my covenant with you; and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you.
Genesis 6:20
Of the birds according to their kinds, and of the animals according to their kinds, of every creeping thing of the ground according to its kind, two of every sort shall come in to you, to keep them alive.
Numbers 11:17
And I will come down and talk with you there; and I will take some of the spirit which is upon you and put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you may not bear it yourself alone.
Nehemiah 9:30
Many years thou didst bear with them, and didst warn them by thy Spirit through thy prophets; yet they would not give ear. Therefore thou didst give them into the hand of the peoples of the lands.
Psalms 78:39
He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passes and comes not again.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For if a man think himself to be something,.... Of himself; to have anything of himself, to do anything of himself, and of himself to attain to life and salvation:

when he is nothing: of himself; not even as a creature, but owes his being and preservation, and all the mercies of life, to another, even to God; has no grace nor gifts of himself, but what he has received, and can do no good thing, not think a good thought, or perform a good action, of himself, and much less of himself procure eternal life and salvation:

he deceiveth himself: and will find himself sadly mistaken, and wretchedly disappointed another day; or whoever thinks himself to be some famous and excellent person, to be something more, and better than others, of a more excellent nature, and of greater abilities, that he is free from sin, or at least holier than others, and not liable to fall as others, whom he looks upon with disdain and contempt, wanting that charity which the law, and new commandment of Christ, requires, when he is nothing but sin and vanity, he is destitute of the grace of God, he deceives himself and the truth is not in him. This the apostle says to depress pride, and a swelling conceit of themselves, and all uncharitable, rough, and severe usages of others. A saying like this the Jews have y;

"whoever he is that is something, or thinks in himself that he is כלום, "something", it would be better for him if he had never been created.''

y Midrash Kohelet, fol. 79. 1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For if a man think himself to be something ... - see Galatians 5:26. This is designed, evidently, to be another reason why we should be kind and tender to those who have erred. It is, that even those who are most confident may fall. They who feel secure, and think it impossible that they should sin, are not safe. They may be wholly deceived, and may be nothing, when they have the highest estimate of themselves. They may themselves fall into sin, and have need of all the sympathy and kindness of their brethren.

When he is nothing - When he has no strength, and no moral worth. When he is not such as he apprehends, but is lifted up with vain self-conceit.

He deceiveth himself - He understands not his own character. “The worst part of the fraud falls on his own head” - Doddridge. He does not accomplish what he expected to do; and instead of acquiring reputation from others, as he expected, he renders himself contemptible in their sight.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Galatians 6:3. If a man think himself to be something — i.e. To be a proper Christian man; when he is nothing; being destitute of that charity which beareth, hopeth, and endureth all things. See 1 Corinthians 13:1, c. Those who suppose themselves to excel all others in piety, understanding, c., while they are harsh, censorious, and overbearing, prove that they have not the charity that thinketh no evil and in the sight of God are only as sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal. There are no people more censorious or uncharitable than those among some religious people who pretend to more light and a deeper communion with God. They are generally carried away with a sort of sublime, high sounding phraseology, which seems to argue a wonderfully deep acquaintance with Divine things stripped of this, many of them are like Samson without his hair.


 
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