KJV: For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
YLT: for before the coming of certain from James, with the nations he was eating, and when they came, he was withdrawing and separating himself, fearing those of the circumcision,
Darby: for before that certain came from James, he ate with those of the nations; but when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing those of the circumcision;
ASV: For before that certain came from James, he ate with the Gentiles; but when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing them that were of the circumcision.
| πρὸ | Before |
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Parse: Preposition Root: πρό Sense: before. |
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| τοῦ | - |
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Parse: Article, Genitive Neuter Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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| ἐλθεῖν | came |
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Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active Root: ἔρχομαι Sense: to come. |
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| τινας | certain ones |
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Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Accusative Masculine Plural Root: τὶς Sense: a certain, a certain one. |
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| Ἰακώβου | James |
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Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular Root: Ἰάκωβος Sense: son of Zebedee, an apostle and brother of the apostle John, commonly called James the greater or elder, slain by Herod, Acts 2. |
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| ἐθνῶν | Gentiles |
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Parse: Noun, Genitive Neuter Plural Root: ἔθνος Sense: a multitude (whether of men or of beasts) associated or living together. |
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| συνήσθιεν | he was eating |
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Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: συνεσθίω Sense: to eat with, take food together with. |
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| δὲ | however |
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Parse: Conjunction Root: δέ Sense: but, moreover, and, etc. |
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| ἦλθον | they came |
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Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural Root: ἔρχομαι Sense: to come. |
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| ὑπέστελλεν | he was drawing back |
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Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: ὑποστέλλω Sense: to draw back, let down, lower. |
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| ἀφώριζεν | was separating |
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Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: ἀφορίζω Sense: to mark off from others by boundaries, to limit, to separate. |
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| ἑαυτόν | himself |
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Parse: Reflexive Pronoun, Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular Root: ἑαυτοῦ Sense: himself, herself, itself, themselves. |
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| φοβούμενος | being afraid of |
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Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: φοβέομαι Sense: to put to flight by terrifying (to scare away). |
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| τοὺς | those |
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Parse: Article, Accusative Masculine Plural Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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| περιτομῆς | [the] circumcision |
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Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular Root: περιτομή Sense: circumcised. |
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Greek Commentary for Galatians 2:12
The reason As a matter of fact the Jerusalem Conference did not discuss the matter of social relations between Jews and Gentiles though that was the charge made against Peter (Acts 11:1.). [source]
It was his habit (imperfect tense). He drew back (υπεστελλεν hupestellen). Imperfect tense, inchoative action, “he began to draw himself (εαυτον heauton) back.” Old word υποστελλω hupostellō See middle voice to dissemble (Acts 20:20, Acts 20:27), to shrink (Hebrews 10:38). Separated himself Inchoative imperfect again, “began to separate himself” just like a Pharisee (see note on Galatians 1:15) and as if afraid of the Judaizers in the Jerusalem Church, perhaps half afraid that James might not endorse what he had been doing. Fearing them that were of the circumcision (ποβουμενος τους εκ περιτομης phoboumenos tous ek peritomēs). This was the real reason for Peter‘s cowardice. See Acts 11:2 for “οι εκ περιτομης hoi ek peritomēs ” (they of the circumcision), the very phrase here. It was not that Peter had changed his views from the Jerusalem resolutions. It was pure fear of trouble to himself as in the denials at the trial of Christ. [source]
Imperfect tense, inchoative action, “he began to draw himself (εαυτον heauton) back.” Old word υποστελλω hupostellō See middle voice to dissemble (Acts 20:20, Acts 20:27), to shrink (Hebrews 10:38). [source]
Inchoative imperfect again, “began to separate himself” just like a Pharisee (see note on Galatians 1:15) and as if afraid of the Judaizers in the Jerusalem Church, perhaps half afraid that James might not endorse what he had been doing. Fearing them that were of the circumcision (ποβουμενος τους εκ περιτομης phoboumenos tous ek peritomēs). This was the real reason for Peter‘s cowardice. See Acts 11:2 for “οι εκ περιτομης hoi ek peritomēs ” (they of the circumcision), the very phrase here. It was not that Peter had changed his views from the Jerusalem resolutions. It was pure fear of trouble to himself as in the denials at the trial of Christ. [source]
This was the real reason for Peter‘s cowardice. See Acts 11:2 for “οι εκ περιτομης hoi ek peritomēs ” (they of the circumcision), the very phrase here. It was not that Peter had changed his views from the Jerusalem resolutions. It was pure fear of trouble to himself as in the denials at the trial of Christ. [source]
A.V. misses the force of the imperfect, marking Peter's custom. Not only at church feasts, but at ordinary meals, in defiance of the Pharisaic that this prohibition was not binding (Acts 10:28; Acts 11:8, Acts 11:9), and had defended that position in the apostolic conference (Acts 15:7ff.). [source]
Or, began to withdraw, etc. Ὑποστέλλειν only here in Paul. It means, originally, to draw in or contract. Thus of furling sails, closing the fingers. Middle voice, to draw or shrink back from through fear. Hence, to dissemble or prevaricate. There seems to be no special reason for making it either a military metaphor, as Lightfoot, or a nautical metaphor, as Farrar. See on Acts 20:20. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Galatians 2:12
A picturesque word. Originally, to draw in or contract. Used of furling sails, and of closing the fingers; of drawing back for shelter; of keeping back one's real thoughts; by physicians, of withholding food from patients. It is rather straining a point to say, as Canon Farrar, that Paul is using a nautical metaphor suggested by his constantly hearing the word for furling sail used during his voyage. Paul's metaphors lie mainly on the lines of military life, architecture, agriculture, and the Grecian games. The statement of Canon Farrar, that he “constantly draws his metaphors from the sights and circumstances immediately around him, ” is rather at variance with his remark that, with one exception, he “cannot find a single word which shows that Paul had even the smallest susceptibility for the works of nature” (“Paul,” i., 19). Nautical metaphors are, to say the least, not common in Paul's writings. I believe there are but three instances: Ephesians 4:14; 1 Timothy 1:19; 1 Timothy 6:9. Paul means here that he suppressed nothing of the truth through fear of giving offence. Compare Galatians 2:12; Hebrews 10:38. [source]
The conjunction hōs is sometimes equivalent to hoti (that). The old form of athemitos was athemistos from themisto But there is no O.T. regulation forbidding such social contact with Gentiles, though the rabbis had added it and had made it binding by custom. There is nothing more binding on the average person than social custom. On coming from the market an orthodox Jew was expected to immerse to avoid defilement (Edersheim, Jewish Social Life, pp. 26-28; Taylor‘s Sayings of the Jewish Fathers, pp. 15, 26, 137, second edition). See also Acts 11:3; Galatians 2:12. It is that middle wall of partition between Jew and Gentile (Ephesians 2:14) which Jesus broke down. [source]
Literally, those of circumcision (on the side of circumcision, of the circumcision party). The phrase in Acts 10:46 is confined to the six brethren with Peter in Caesarea (Acts 11:12). That can hardly be the meaning here for it would mean that they were the ones who brought the charge against Peter though Hort takes this view. All the disciples in Jerusalem were Jews so that it can hardly mean the whole body. In Galatians 2:12 the phrase has the narrower sense of the Judaizing or Pharisaic wing of the disciples (Acts 15:5) who made circumcision necessary for all Gentile converts. Probably here by anticipation Luke so describes the beginning of that great controversy. The objectors probably did not know of Peter‘s vision at Joppa, but only of the revolutionary conduct of Peter in Caesarea. These extremists who spoke probably had abundant sympathy in their protest. The apostles are mentioned in Acts 11:1, but are not referred to in Acts 11:2. Apparently they are in contrast with the circumcision party in the church. [source]
Usual appeal for attention. James was termed James the Just and was considered a representative of the Hebraic as opposed to the Hellenistic wing of the Jewish Christians (Acts 6:1). The Judaizers had doubtless counted on him as a champion of their view and did later wrongfully make use of his name against Peter at Antioch (Galatians 2:12). There was instant attention when James began to speak. [source]
Note the indefinite designation of the errorists, and comp. 1 Timothy 1:6; 1 Timothy 4:1; 1 Timothy 5:15, 1 Timothy 5:24; 1 Timothy 6:21. The expression is contemptuous. It is assumed that Timothy knows who they are. This is after the Pauline manner. See Galatians 1:7; Galatians 2:12; 1 Corinthians 4:18; 1 Corinthians 15:12; 2 Corinthians 3:1; Colossians 2:4, Colossians 2:8. [source]
Late and rare compound, in papyri, eccl. writers, here alone in N.T. “Mind-deceivers.” See note on Galatians 6:3 for πρεναπαταιν phrenapatāin Specially they of the circumcision (μαλιστα οι εκ της περιτομης malista hoi ek tēs peritomēs). Same phrase in Acts 11:2; Galatians 2:12; Colossians 4:11. Jews are mentioned in Crete in Acts 2:11. Apparently Jewish Christians of the Pharisaic type tinged with Gnosticism. [source]
Same phrase in Acts 11:2; Galatians 2:12; Colossians 4:11. Jews are mentioned in Crete in Acts 2:11. Apparently Jewish Christians of the Pharisaic type tinged with Gnosticism. [source]
The phrase only here in Pastorals. Ὁι ἐκ περιτομῆς Acts 10:45; Acts 11:2; Romans 4:12; Galatians 2:12; Colossians 4:11. There can be no doubt of the presence of Jews in Crete. Tacitus (Hist. v. 2) even makes the absurd statement that the Jews were Cretan exiles; and that from their residence in the vicinity of the Cretan Mount Ida they were called Idaei, whence Judaei. There appears to have been some confusion between the Palestinians and the Philistines - the Cherethim or Cherethites, who, in Ezekiel 25:16; Zephaniah 2:5are called in lxx Κρῆτες Jews were in the island in considerable numbers between the death of Alexander and the final destruction of Jerusalem. In 1 Maccabees 15:23 the Cretan city of Gortyna is mentioned among the places to which letters were written by Lucius, the Roman consul, on behalf of the Jews when Simon Maccabaeus renewed the treaty which his brother Judas had made with Rome. Josephus (Ant. 17:12,1; Bell. Jud. 2:7,1) says that Herod's pseudo-son Alexander imposed on the Cretan Jews on his way to Italy. Philo (Leg. ad Cai. § 36) makes the Jewish envoys say to Caligula that all the principal islands of the Mediterranean, including Crete, were full of Jews. [source]
Omit if any man. Rend. “and if he draw back,” that is, the just man. The possibility of the lapse of even the just is assumed. See on Hebrews 6:4-6. The verb only here, Acts 20:20, Acts 20:27; Galatians 2:12. See on Acts 20:20. Rare in lxx. [source]
Condition of third class with εαν ean and the first aorist middle subjunctive of υποστελλω hupostellō old verb to draw oneself under or back, to withdraw, as already in Acts 20:20, Acts 20:27; Galatians 2:12. See Romans 1:17 for the quotation also of “the just shall live by faith.” [source]