Limitless Word
And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
Galatians 6:16 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB As many as walk by this rule, peace and mercy be on them, and on God’s Israel.
  • BSB Peace and mercy to all who walk by this rule, even to the Israel of God.
  • NKJV And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
  • NASB And all who will follow this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
  • NLT May God’s peace and mercy be upon all who live by this principle; they are the new people of God.

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 pronounces peace and mercy on all who live by this rule of new creation in Christ, and on the Israel of God. It blesses those who rest in the gospel rather than the law.

Overview

Those who walk by the 'rule' of grace and new creation receive Paul's benediction of peace and mercy, the blessings of the gospel. The phrase 'God's Israel' is understood by many as referring to all who belong to Christ by faith, the true people of God; some take it more narrowly as believing Jews. Faithful interpreters differ here, but either way the blessing rests on those who trust in Christ rather than in the flesh.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 22

  • Gal 3:29And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
  • Rom 9:6–8Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
  • 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.
  • Gal 3:7–9Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
  • 1 Pet 2:5–9Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
  • Rom 4:12And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.
  • Hos 1:10Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.
  • Rom 2:28–29For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
  • John 1:47Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
  • Ps 73:1Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
  • Num 6:23–27Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them,
  • Isa 45:25In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.
  • Gal 5:25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
  • 1 Chr 12:18Then the spirit came upon Amasai, who was chief of the captains, and he said, Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse: peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thine helpers; for thy God helpeth thee. Then David received them, and made them captains of the band.
  • Phil 3:16Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
  • Gal 5:16This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
  • John 16:33These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
  • Ps 125:4–5Do good, O LORD, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts.
  • John 14:27Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
  • Gal 1:3Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
  • Rom 1:7To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
  • Phil 4:7And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (1)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Galatians videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Galatians 6:16YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on GalatiansMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

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 6:16 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.