For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.
Parallel translations
- WEB 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.
- BSB For the circumcised do not even keep the law themselves, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.
- NKJV For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.
- NASB 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.
- NLT 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.
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
The circumcision party did not even keep the law themselves; they wanted converts so they could boast in their numbers. It unmasks the pride and inconsistency behind legalism.
Overview
Paul points out the hypocrisy of the false teachers: they demanded law-observance from others while failing to keep it fully themselves. Their real aim was to boast in the Galatians as trophies of their influence. This contrasts sharply with the gospel, which leaves no room for human boasting and rests entirely on Christ's finished work.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Phil 3:3For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
- 1 Cor 5:6Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
- 2 Pet 2:19While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
- Rom 2:17–25Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,
- Matt 23:3All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
- 2 Cor 11:18Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.
- Matt 23:15Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
- Rom 3:9–19What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
- 1 Cor 3:21Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
- Matt 23:23Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
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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 6:13 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
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