The Meaning of Galatians 5:21 Explained

Galatians 5:21

KJV: Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

YLT: envyings, murders, drunkennesses, revellings, and such like, of which I tell you before, as I also said before, that those doing such things the reign of God shall not inherit.

Darby: envyings, murders, drunkennesses, revels, and things like these; as to which I tell you beforehand, even as I also have said before, that they who do such things shall not inherit God's kingdom.

ASV: envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Envyings,  murders,  drunkenness,  revellings,  and  such  like:  of the which  I tell  you  before,  as  I have  also  told [you] in time past,  that  they which do  such things  shall  not  inherit  the kingdom  of God. 

What does Galatians 5:21 Mean?

Context Summary

Galatians 5:13-26 - Produce The Fruit Of The Spirit
That Christ has freed us from the Law as a means of salvation does not free us from moral restraint, but brings us under the constraint of a higher law, the law of love. We do not keep this law to be saved; but, being saved, we keep it out of love toward Christ. The power of the new life is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Unite yourself with His life that you find rising up within you. Live in the Spirit. A child was much disappointed because when she took a cupful of water out of the blue lake, it did not look blue in the cup; so her teacher told her to throw the cup into the midst of the lake and leave it there. As we live and walk in the Spirit, we are safe.
The Holy Spirit brings influences to bear which act upon the germs of sin, as a disinfectant upon the germs of disease. If we yield ourselves to these influences, and are filled with the Spirit of Jesus, we shall be delivered from the self-life, which the Apostle describes as the flesh. As Jesus is more and more formed in us, the new flower and fruitage of the risen life will appear, while the corrupt works of the flesh will shrink and drop away, [source]

Chapter Summary: Galatians 5

1  He wills them to stand in their liberty,
3  and not to observe circumcision;
13  but rather love, which is the sum of the law
19  He lists the works of the flesh,
22  and the fruits of the Spirit,
25  and exhorts to walk in the Spirit

Greek Commentary for Galatians 5:21

Forewarn [προλεγω]
Paul repeats his warning given while with them. He did his duty then. Gentile churches were peculiarly subject to these sins. But who is not in danger from them? [source]
Practise [πρασσοντες]
Πρασσω — Prassō is the verb for habitual practice (our very word, in fact), not ποιεω — poieō for occasional doing. The habit of these sins is proof that one is not in the Kingdom of God and will not inherit it. [source]
habit []
of these sins is proof that one is not in the Kingdom of God and will not inherit it. [source]
Murders []
Omit from the text. [source]
Revelings [κῶμοι]
Comp. Romans 13:13; 1 Peter 4:3. In both passages coupled with drunkenness as here. See on 1 Peter 4:3. [source]
I tell you before [προλέγω]
Better beforehand, or as Rev. I forewarn you. PoComp. 2 Corinthians 13:2; 1 Thessalonians 3:4. [source]
The kingdom of God []
See on Luke 6:20. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Galatians 5:21

Luke 21:34 Drunkenness [μετηι]
From μετυ — methu (wine). Old word but in the N.T. only here and Romans 13:13; Galatians 5:21.Cares of this life (μεριμναις βιωτικαις — merimnais biōtikais). Anxieties of life. The adjective βιωτικος — biōtikos is late and in the N.T. only here and 1 Corinthians 6:3.Come on you Second aorist active subjunctive of επιστημι — ephistēmi ingressive aorist. Construed also with μη ποτε — mē pote Adjective in predicate agreeing with ημερα — hēmera (day).As a snare (ως παγις — hōs pagis). Old word from πηγνυμι — pēgnumi to make fast a net or trap. Paul uses it several times of the devil‘s snares for preachers (1 Timothy 3:7; 2 Timothy 2:26). [source]
Romans 1:29 Envy, murder [φθόνου , φόνου]
Phthonou phonou A paronomasia or combination of like-sounding words. Compare Galatians 5:21. Murder is conceived as a thought which has filled the man. See 1 John 3:15. [source]
Romans 1:29 Full of [μεστους]
Paul changes from participle to adjective. Old adjective, rare in the N.T., like μεστοω — mestoō to fill full (only in Acts 2:13 in N.T.), stuffed full of (with genitive). Five substantives in the genitive (πτονου — phthonou envy, as in Galatians 5:21, πονου — phonou murder, and so a paronomasia or combination with πτονου — phthonou of like sounding words, εριδος — eridos strife, as in 2 Corinthians 12:16, κακοητιας — kakoēthias malignity, and here only in N.T. though old word from κακοητης — kakoēthēs and that from κακος — kakos and ητος — ēthos a tendency to put a bad construction on things, depravity of heart and malicious disposition. [source]
Romans 13:13 Not in revelling [μη κωμοις]
Plural “revellings.” See Galatians 5:21. Drunkenness (methais). Plural again, “drunkennesses.” See Galatians 5:21. In chambering Plural also. See Romans 9:10. Wantonness (μεταις — aselgeiais). Plural likewise. See 2 Corinthians 12:21; Galatians 5:19. Not in strife and jealousy Singular here, but some MSS. have the plural like the previous words. Quarrelling and jealousy go with the other vices (Shedd). [source]
Romans 13:13 Drunkenness [methais)]
Plural again, “drunkennesses.” See Galatians 5:21. [source]
2 Corinthians 12:20 Wraths [θυμοί]
For the plural, compare deaths, 2 Corinthians 11:33; drunkennesses, Galatians 5:21; bloods, John 1:13(see note); the willings of the flesh, Ephesians 2:3; mercies, Philemon 2:1. Excitements or outbursts of wrath. [source]
Galatians 5:25  []
d Lipsius makes this verse the beginning of ch. 6. Weizsäcker begins that chapter with Galatians 5:26. There seems to be no sufficient reason. Galatians 5:25is connected naturally with the immediately preceding line of thought. “Such being your principle of life, adapt your conduct (walk) to it.” The hortatory form of Galatians 5:26, and its contents, fall in naturally with the exhortation to walk by the Spirit, and with the reference to biting and devouring, Galatians 5:15, and envyings, Galatians 5:21. The connection of the opening of ch. 6 with the close of ch. 5 is not so manifest; and the address brethren and the change to the second person (Galatians 6:1) seem to indicate a new section. [source]
Galatians 1:9 As we said before [ὡς προειρήκαμεν]
Comp. 2 Corinthians 13:2; Philemon 3:18. Not to be referred to the preceding verse, since the compound verb would be too strong, and now in the following clause points to an earlier time, a previous visit. Comp. Galatians 5:21; 2 Corinthians 8:2; 1 Thessalonians 4:6. [source]
Ephesians 5:11 Unfruitful works [ἔργοις τοῖς ἀκάρποις]
Compare fruit, Ephesians 5:9, and Galatians 5:19, Galatians 5:22, works of the flesh, fruit of the Spirit. Works which bring no blessing with them. Compare Romans 6:21; Romans 8:13; Galatians 5:21; Galatians 6:8. [source]
1 Thessalonians 4:6 Avenger [ἔκδικος]
PoHere and Romans 13:4. In lxx rarely, and in the same sense as here. In this sense it occurs only in late Greek. For the warning comp. Ephesians 5:6; Colossians 3:6; Romans 13:4; Galatians 5:21. [source]
1 Thessalonians 2:12 Walk worthily of God [περιπατειν αχιως του τεου]
Present infinitive (linear action), and genitive case with adverb αχιως — axiōs as in Colossians 1:10 (cf. Philemon 1:27; Ephesians 4:1), like a preposition. Calleth (καλουντος — kalountos). Present active participle, keeps on calling. Some MSS. have καλεσαντος — kalesantos called. Kingdom (βασιλειαν — basileian) here is the future consummation because of glory (δοχαν — doxan) as in 2 Thessalonians 1:5; 1 Corinthians 6:9; 1 Corinthians 15:50; Galatians 5:21; 2 Timothy 4:1, 2 Timothy 4:18), but Paul uses it for the present kingdom of grace also as in 1 Corinthians 4:20; Romans 14:17; Colossians 1:13. [source]
1 Thessalonians 2:12 Kingdom [βασιλειαν]
(βασιλειαν — basileian) here is the future consummation because of glory (δοχαν — doxan) as in 2 Thessalonians 1:5; 1 Corinthians 6:9; 1 Corinthians 15:50; Galatians 5:21; 2 Timothy 4:1, 2 Timothy 4:18), but Paul uses it for the present kingdom of grace also as in 1 Corinthians 4:20; Romans 14:17; Colossians 1:13. [source]
James 4:5 The Scripture [η γραπη]
Personification as in Galatians 3:8; James 2:23. But no O.T. passage is precisely like this, though it is “a poetical rendering” (Ropes) of Exodus 20:5. The general thought occurs also in Genesis 6:3-5; Isaiah 63:8-16, etc. Paul has the same idea also (Galatians 5:17, Galatians 5:21; Romans 8:6, Romans 8:8). It is possible that the reference is really to the quotation in James 4:6 from Proverbs 3:34 and treating all before as a parenthesis. There is no way to decide positively. [source]
1 Peter 4:3 May suffice [αρκετος]
No copula in the Greek, probably εστιν — estin (is) rather than δυναται — dunatai (can). Late and rare verbal adjective from αρκεω — arkeō to suffice, in the papyri several times, in N.T. only here and Matthew 6:34; Matthew 10:25, apparently referring to Christ‘s words in Matthew 6:34 (possibly an axiom or proverb).To have wrought (κατειργασται — kateirgasthai). Perfect middle infinitive of κατεργαζομαι — katergazomai common compound (κατα εργον — kataτο βουλημα — ergon work) as in 1 Corinthians 5:3.The desire Correct text, not πεπορευμενους — thelēma Either means the thing desired, willed. Jews sometimes fell in with the ways of Gentiles (Romans 2:21-24; Romans 3:9-18; Ephesians 2:1-3) as today some Christians copy the ways of the world.And to have walked (πορευομαι — peporeumenous). Perfect middle participle of κατειργασται — poreuomai in the accusative plural of general reference with the infinitive εν ασελγειαις — kateirgasthai Literally, “having walked or gone.”In lasciviousness All these sins are in the locative case with επιτυμιαις — en “In unbridled lustful excesses” (2 Peter 2:7; 2 Corinthians 12:21).Lusts (οινοπλυγιαις — epithumiais). Cf. 1 Peter 2:11; 1 Peter 4:2.Winebibbings Old compound Old word (from ποτοις — keimai to lie down), rioting drinking parties, in N.T. here and Galatians 5:21; Romans 13:13.Carousings Old word for drinking carousal (from ατεμιτοις ειδωλολατριαις — pinō to drink), here only in the N.T. In the light of these words it seems strange to find modern Christians justifying their “personal liberty” to drink and carouse, to say nothing of the prohibition law. The Greeks actually carried lust and drunkenness into their religious observances (Aphrodite, for instance).Abominable idolatries (ειδωλον λατρεια — athemitois eidōlolatriais). To the Christian all “idolatry,” (τεμιτος — eidōlonτεμιστος — latreia), worship of idols, is “abominable,” not allowed (alpha privative and τεμιζω — themitos ατεμιτος — themistos the old form, verbal of themizō to make lawful), but particularly those associated with drinking and licentiousness. The only other N.T. example of athemitos is by Peter also (Acts 10:28) and about the Mosaic law. That may be the idea here, for Jews often fell into idolatrous practices (Deissmann, Bible Studies, p. 274). [source]
1 Peter 4:3 Revellings [κειμαι]
Old word (from ποτοις — keimai to lie down), rioting drinking parties, in N.T. here and Galatians 5:21; Romans 13:13. [source]
1 Peter 4:3 The desire [τελημα]
Correct text, not πεπορευμενους — thelēma Either means the thing desired, willed. Jews sometimes fell in with the ways of Gentiles (Romans 2:21-24; Romans 3:9-18; Ephesians 2:1-3) as today some Christians copy the ways of the world.And to have walked (πορευομαι — peporeumenous). Perfect middle participle of κατειργασται — poreuomai in the accusative plural of general reference with the infinitive εν ασελγειαις — kateirgasthai Literally, “having walked or gone.”In lasciviousness All these sins are in the locative case with επιτυμιαις — en “In unbridled lustful excesses” (2 Peter 2:7; 2 Corinthians 12:21).Lusts (οινοπλυγιαις — epithumiais). Cf. 1 Peter 2:11; 1 Peter 4:2.Winebibbings Old compound Old word (from ποτοις — keimai to lie down), rioting drinking parties, in N.T. here and Galatians 5:21; Romans 13:13.Carousings Old word for drinking carousal (from ατεμιτοις ειδωλολατριαις — pinō to drink), here only in the N.T. In the light of these words it seems strange to find modern Christians justifying their “personal liberty” to drink and carouse, to say nothing of the prohibition law. The Greeks actually carried lust and drunkenness into their religious observances (Aphrodite, for instance).Abominable idolatries (ειδωλον λατρεια — athemitois eidōlolatriais). To the Christian all “idolatry,” (τεμιτος — eidōlonτεμιστος — latreia), worship of idols, is “abominable,” not allowed (alpha privative and τεμιζω — themitos ατεμιτος — themistos the old form, verbal of themizō to make lawful), but particularly those associated with drinking and licentiousness. The only other N.T. example of athemitos is by Peter also (Acts 10:28) and about the Mosaic law. That may be the idea here, for Jews often fell into idolatrous practices (Deissmann, Bible Studies, p. 274). [source]
1 Peter 4:3 In lasciviousness [εν]
All these sins are in the locative case with επιτυμιαις — en “In unbridled lustful excesses” (2 Peter 2:7; 2 Corinthians 12:21).Lusts (οινοπλυγιαις — epithumiais). Cf. 1 Peter 2:11; 1 Peter 4:2.Winebibbings Old compound Old word (from ποτοις — keimai to lie down), rioting drinking parties, in N.T. here and Galatians 5:21; Romans 13:13.Carousings Old word for drinking carousal (from ατεμιτοις ειδωλολατριαις — pinō to drink), here only in the N.T. In the light of these words it seems strange to find modern Christians justifying their “personal liberty” to drink and carouse, to say nothing of the prohibition law. The Greeks actually carried lust and drunkenness into their religious observances (Aphrodite, for instance).Abominable idolatries (ειδωλον λατρεια — athemitois eidōlolatriais). To the Christian all “idolatry,” (τεμιτος — eidōlonτεμιστος — latreia), worship of idols, is “abominable,” not allowed (alpha privative and τεμιζω — themitos ατεμιτος — themistos the old form, verbal of themizō to make lawful), but particularly those associated with drinking and licentiousness. The only other N.T. example of athemitos is by Peter also (Acts 10:28) and about the Mosaic law. That may be the idea here, for Jews often fell into idolatrous practices (Deissmann, Bible Studies, p. 274). [source]
1 Peter 4:3 Winebibbings [οινος]
Old compound Old word (from ποτοις — keimai to lie down), rioting drinking parties, in N.T. here and Galatians 5:21; Romans 13:13.Carousings Old word for drinking carousal (from ατεμιτοις ειδωλολατριαις — pinō to drink), here only in the N.T. In the light of these words it seems strange to find modern Christians justifying their “personal liberty” to drink and carouse, to say nothing of the prohibition law. The Greeks actually carried lust and drunkenness into their religious observances (Aphrodite, for instance).Abominable idolatries (ειδωλον λατρεια — athemitois eidōlolatriais). To the Christian all “idolatry,” (τεμιτος — eidōlonτεμιστος — latreia), worship of idols, is “abominable,” not allowed (alpha privative and τεμιζω — themitos ατεμιτος — themistos the old form, verbal of themizō to make lawful), but particularly those associated with drinking and licentiousness. The only other N.T. example of athemitos is by Peter also (Acts 10:28) and about the Mosaic law. That may be the idea here, for Jews often fell into idolatrous practices (Deissmann, Bible Studies, p. 274). [source]

What do the individual words in Galatians 5:21 mean?

envyings drunkennesses carousing and things like these as to which I forewarn you even as I warned before that those such things doing kingdom God’s not will inherit
φθόνοι μέθαι κῶμοι καὶ τὰ ὅμοια τούτοις προλέγω ὑμῖν καθὼς προεῖπον ὅτι οἱ τὰ τοιαῦτα πράσσοντες βασιλείαν Θεοῦ οὐ κληρονομήσουσιν

φθόνοι  envyings 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: φθόνος  
Sense: envy.
μέθαι  drunkennesses 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Plural
Root: μέθη  
Sense: intoxication.
κῶμοι  carousing 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: κῶμος  
Sense: a revel, carousal.
τὰ  things 
Parse: Article, Nominative Neuter Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ὅμοια  like 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Neuter Plural
Root: ὅμοιος  
Sense: like, similar, resembling.
τούτοις  these 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Dative Neuter Plural
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
  as  to  which 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: ὅς 
Sense: who, which, what, that.
προλέγω  I  forewarn 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: προλέγω 
Sense: to say beforehand, to predict.
καθὼς  even  as 
Parse: Adverb
Root: καθώς  
Sense: according as.
προεῖπον  I  warned  before 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: προλέγω 
Sense: to say beforehand, to predict.
ὅτι  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
οἱ  those 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
τὰ  such 
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
τοιαῦτα  things 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: τοιοῦτος  
Sense: such as this, of this kind or sort.
πράσσοντες  doing 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀναπράσσω 
Sense: to exercise, practise, to be busy with, carry on.
βασιλείαν  kingdom 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: βασιλεία  
Sense: royal power, kingship, dominion, rule.
Θεοῦ  God’s 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
κληρονομήσουσιν  will  inherit 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: κληρονομέω  
Sense: to receive a lot, receive by lot.