Galatians 6:13 Meaning and Explanation
“For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The agitators do not even keep the law themselves; they want converts only to boast in them.
What Does Galatians 6:13 Mean?
Paul exposes their inconsistency. Neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law — they press an obligation on others that they do not fulfill in their own lives. The demand is not from genuine zeal for God's commands, for they fall short of those very commands themselves.
Their true motive surfaces: they desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. They want converts as trophies, numbers to boast about, marks in the flesh they can point to as their achievement. It is religion turned into self-promotion, using other people to feed one's own pride. Paul strips away the pretense of holiness to reveal the boasting beneath, and sets it in sharp contrast to the boast he will name next.
Frequently Asked Questions About Galatians 6:13
What does Galatians 6:13 mean?
The agitators do not even keep the law themselves; they want converts only to boast in them.