Click
here to show/hide instructions.
Instructions on how to use the page:
The commentary for the selected verse is is displayed below.
All commentary was produced against the King James, so the same verse from that translation may appear as well. Hovering your mouse over a commentary's scripture reference attempts to show those verses.
Use the browser's back button to return to the previous page.
Or you can also select a feature from the Just Verses menu appearing at the top of the page.
Selected Verse: Galatians 5:15 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Ga 5:15 |
Strong Concordance |
But [1161] if [1487] ye bite [1143] and [2532] devour [2719] one another [240], take heed [991] that ye be [335] not [3361] consumed [355] one [240] of [5259] another [240]. |
| |
King James |
But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
bite--backbite the character.
devour--the substance by injuring, extortion, &c. (Hab 1:13; Mat 23:14; Co2 11:20).
consumed, &c.--Strength of soul, health of body, character, and resources, are all consumed by broils [BENGEL]. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
But if ye bite - The word used here (δάκνω daknō), means, properly, to bite, to sting; and here seems to be used in the sense of contending and striving - a metaphor not improbably taken from dogs and wild beasts.
And devour one another - As wild beasts do. The sense is, "if you contend with each other;" and the reference is, probably, to the strifes which would arise between the two parties in the churches - the Jewish and the Gentile converts.
Take heed that ye be not consumed ... - As wild beasts contend sometimes until both are slain. Thus, the idea is, in their contentions they would destroy the spirituality and happiness of each other; their characters would be ruined; and the church be overthrown. The readiest way to destroy the spirituality of a church, and to annihilate the influence of religion, is to excite a spirit of contention. |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Bite and devour (δάκνετε καὶ κατεσθίετε)
Strong expressions of partisan hatred exerting itself for mutual injury. Δάκνειν to bite, N.T.o. In lxx metaphorically, Mic 3:5; Hab 2:7. For κατεσθίειν devour, comp. Mat 23:13; Co2 11:20; Rev 11:5.
Be consumed (ἀναλωθῆτε)
Rare in N.T. See Luk 9:54. Partisan strife will be fatal to the Christian community as a whole. The organic life of the body will be destroyed by its own members. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| But if - On the contrary, in consequence of the divisions which those troublers have occasioned among you, ye bite one another by evil speaking. And devour one another - By railing and clamour. Take heed ye be not consumed one of another - By bitterness, strife, and contention, our health and strength, both of body and soul, are consumed, as well as our substance and reputation. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
| If ye bite and devour one another - These Churches seem to have been in a state of great distraction; there were continual altercations among them. They had fallen from the grace of the Gospel; and, as Christ no longer dwelt in their hearts by faith, pride, anger, ill-will, and all unkind and uncharitable tempers, took possession of their souls, and they were in consequence alternately destroying each other. Nothing is so destructive to the peace of man, and to the peace of the soul, as religious disputes; where they prevail, religion in general has little place. |
20 For [1063] ye suffer [430], if a man [1536] bring [2615] you [5209] into bondage [2615], if a man [1536] devour [2719] you, if a man [1536] take [2983] of you, if a man [1536] exalt himself [1869], if a man [1536] smite [1194] you [5209] on [1519] the face [4383].
14 Woe [3759] unto you [5213], scribes [1122] and [2532] Pharisees [5330], hypocrites [5273]! for [3754] ye devour [2719] widows [5503]' houses [3614], and [2532] for a pretence [4392] make [4336] long [3117] prayer [4336]: therefore [1223] [5124] ye shall receive [2983] the greater [4055] damnation [2917].
13 Thou art of purer [02889] eyes [05869] than to behold [07200] evil [07451], and canst [03201] not look [05027] on iniquity [05999]: wherefore lookest [05027] thou upon them that deal treacherously [0898], and holdest thy tongue [02790] when the wicked [07563] devoureth [01104] the man that is more righteous [06662] than he?
54 And [1161] when his [846] disciples [3101] James [2385] and [2532] John [2491] saw [1492] this, they said [2036], Lord [2962], wilt thou [2309] that we command [2036] fire [4442] to come down [2597] from [575] heaven [3772], and [2532] consume [355] them [846], even [2532] as [5613] Elias [2243] did [4160]?
5 And [2532] if any man [1536] [846] will [2309] hurt [91] them [846], fire [4442] proceedeth [1607] out of [1537] their [846] mouth [4750], and [2532] devoureth [2719] their [846] enemies [2190]: and [2532] if any man [1536] will [2309] hurt [91] them [846], he must [1163] in this manner [3779] be killed [615].
20 For [1063] ye suffer [430], if a man [1536] bring [2615] you [5209] into bondage [2615], if a man [1536] devour [2719] you, if a man [1536] take [2983] of you, if a man [1536] exalt himself [1869], if a man [1536] smite [1194] you [5209] on [1519] the face [4383].
13 But [1161] woe [3759] unto you [5213], scribes [1122] and [2532] Pharisees [5330], hypocrites [5273]! for [3754] ye shut up [2808] the kingdom [932] of heaven [3772] against [1715] men [444]: for [1063] ye [5210] neither [3761] go in [1525] yourselves, neither [3756] suffer ye [863] them that are entering [1525] to go in [1525].
7 Shall they not rise up [06965] suddenly [06621] that shall bite [05391] thee, and awake [03364] that shall vex [02111] thee, and thou shalt be for booties [04933] unto them?
5 Thus saith [0559] the LORD [03068] concerning the prophets [05030] that make my people [05971] err [08582], that bite [05391] with their teeth [08127], and cry [07121], Peace [07965]; and he that putteth [05414] not into their mouths [06310], they even prepare [06942] war [04421] against him.