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May God’s peace and mercy be upon all who live by this principle; they are the new people of God.
Galatians 6:16 · New Living Translation
Parallel translations
  • WEB As many as walk by this rule, peace and mercy be on them, and on God’s Israel.
  • KJV And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
  • 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.

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 3:29If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring and heirs according to promise.
  • Rom 9:6–8But it is not as though the word of God has come to nothing. For they are not all Israel, that are of Israel.
  • Phil 3:3For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh;
  • Gal 3:7–9Know therefore that those who are of faith, the same are children of Abraham.
  • 1 Pet 2:5–9You also, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
  • Rom 4:12He is the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had in uncircumcision.
  • Hos 1:10Yet the number of the children of Israel will be as the sand of the sea, which can’t be measured or counted; and it will come to pass that, in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’
  • Rom 2:28–29For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh;
  • John 1:47Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said about him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!”
  • Ps 73:1A Psalm by Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
  • Num 6:23–27“Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, ‘This is how you shall bless the children of Israel.’ You shall tell them,
  • Isa 45:25All the offspring of Israel will be justified in Yahweh, and will rejoice!
  • Gal 5:25If we live by the Spirit, let’s also walk by the Spirit.
  • 1 Chr 12:18Then the Spirit came on Amasai, who was chief of the thirty, and he said, “We are yours, David, and on your side, you son of Jesse. Peace, peace be to you, and peace be to your helpers; for your God helps you.” Then David received them, and made them captains of the band.
  • Phil 3:16Nevertheless, to the extent that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule. Let us be of the same mind.
  • Gal 5:16But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh.
  • John 16:33I have told you these things, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have oppression; but cheer up! I have overcome the world.”
  • Ps 125:4–5Do good, Yahweh, to those who are good, to those who are upright in their hearts.
  • John 14:27Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, give I to you. Don’t let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.
  • Gal 1:3Grace to you and peace from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ,
  • Rom 1:7to all who are 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 surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in 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.