I fear for you, that my efforts for you may have been in vain.
Parallel translations
- WEB I am afraid for you, that I might have wasted my labor for you.
- KJV I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
- NKJV I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.
- NASB I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain.
- NLT I fear for you. Perhaps all my hard work with you was for nothing.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul fears his labor among them may have been wasted. His pastoral anxiety shows how serious the threat of a false gospel really is.
Overview
Paul expresses deep concern that the Galatians' drift toward legalism might undo the fruit of his ministry. This is not doubt about God's faithfulness but heartfelt alarm at the danger they face. The verse reveals the apostle's pastoral love and the high stakes of holding firmly to the gospel of grace.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- 1 Th 3:5For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter had somehow tempted you and caused our labor to be in vain.
- Phil 2:16as you hold forth the word of life, in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.
- Gal 2:2I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I spoke privately to those recognized as leaders, for fear that I was running or had already run in vain.
- 2 Jn 1:8Watch yourselves, so that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be fully rewarded.
- Acts 16:6After the Holy Spirit had prevented them from speaking the word in the province of Asia, they traveled through the region of Phrygia and Galatia.
- Gal 4:20how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you.
- 2 Cor 11:2–3I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. For I promised you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
- Gal 5:2–4Take notice: I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all.
- 1 Cor 15:58Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
- Isa 49:4But I said, “I have labored in vain, I have spent My strength in futility and vanity; yet My vindication is with the LORD, and My reward is with My God.”
- 2 Cor 12:20–21For I am afraid that when I come, I may not find you as I wish, and you may not find me as you wish. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, rage, rivalry, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.
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Christ at the center
Christ became a curse for us to redeem us from the law's curse, that we might receive the Spirit and be sons — justified by faith in him, not by works.
How Galatians 4:11 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.