Galatians 5:14 kjv
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Galatians 5:14 nkjv
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Galatians 5:14 niv
For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."
Galatians 5:14 esv
For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Galatians 5:14 nlt
For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."
Galatians 5 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matthew 22:39 | "...love your neighbor as yourself." | Great Commandment, fulfillment of the Law |
| Mark 12:31 | "The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these." | Great Commandment, emphasizes priority |
| Romans 13:9 | "The commandments... are summed up in this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’" | Summary of Law, LOVE as fulfillment |
| Romans 13:10 | "Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." | Love fulfills Law, emphasizes practical aspect |
| 1 Timothy 1:5 | "The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith." | LOVE as goal of God's commands |
| James 2:8 | "If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing right." | Royal Law, connects Law with LOVE |
| 1 John 4:7-8 | "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God... Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." | LOVE originates from God, essential to knowing Him |
| 1 John 4:20-21 | "Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar... And he has given us this command: the one who loves God must love his brother and sister also." | LOVE for God necessitates LOVE for others |
| Leviticus 19:18 | "‘“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a kindred of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself, I am the Lord."’" | Old Testament source of the commandment |
| Deuteronomy 6:5 | "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." | The Great Commandment to LOVE God |
| Micah 6:8 | "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." | Essential requirements of God, LOVE is central |
| Luke 10:27-29 | Parable of the Good Samaritan, demonstrating who a neighbor is | Defining neighbor, illustrating practical love |
| Philippians 2:3-4 | "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests alone, but each of you to the interests of the others." | Practical application of LOVE for neighbor |
| Galatians 5:6 | "...the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." | Faith’s expression is through LOVE |
| Romans 12:9-10 | "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves." | Practical commands for LOVE |
| 1 Peter 4:8 | "Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." | LOVE's power to cover sins |
| Matthew 7:12 | "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." | Golden Rule, synonymous with neighborly LOVE |
| Romans 8:4 | "so that the righteous requirement of the law would be fully satisfied in us, who live by not according to flesh but according to Spirit." | Fulfillment of Law through Spirit-led living |
| 1 John 2:15-17 | "Do not love the world or anything in the world..." | Contrast of worldly love vs. divine LOVE |
| Matthew 5:43-44 | "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you," | Extension of LOVE beyond ordinary neighbor |
Galatians 5 verses
Galatians 5 14 Meaning
The entire Law is fulfilled in one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." This verse from Galatians emphasizes that true obedience to God's Law is not about meticulously following every single rule in isolation, but rather about living out the overarching principle of love for others.
Galatians 5 14 Context
Galatians 5:14 occurs within a larger section (Galatians 5:13-15) where Paul addresses the Galatian believers regarding the misuse of their freedom in Christ. Some were falling back into a works-based righteousness, particularly related to the Mosaic Law and its observances, while others were living carelessly. Paul is contrasting this with the life lived in the Spirit, which is characterized by love. The letter itself is a defense of justification by faith alone, contrasting it with the legalism of those who insisted on circumcision and adherence to the Law for salvation.
Galatians 5 14 Word Analysis
- ēpistrōphē (ἐπιστοφῇ): This noun form implies a turning back, a reversion.
- holos (ὅλος): Means "all," "whole," "entire."
- nomos (νόμος): "Law." In this context, it primarily refers to the Mosaic Law, but by extension, it can encompass God's entire will or requirement.
- ekplēroō (ἐκπληρόω): A strong verb meaning "to fulfill," "to complete," "to accomplish." It suggests more than just keeping commands; it means to bring to its intended end or purpose.
- mia (μία): "One."
- entolē (ἐντολή): "Commandment," "injunction."
- anathelēma (ἀνατέλημα): This Greek word translates to "command" or "injunction." Paul uses it here to refer to a specific directive within the Law.
- ēgagēthē (ἠγαπήθη): This refers to the act of loving, derived from the Greek word "agape" (ἀγάπη). This is a sacrificial, unconditional love.
- plēsion (πλησίον): "Neighbor."
- seautou (σεαυτοῦ): "Yourself."
Word Group Analysis
- "the whole law is fulfilled": Paul is saying that the entirety of God's Law, when understood through the lens of Christ, finds its ultimate expression and completion in love for one's neighbor. This isn't about fulfilling every individual legal code but embodying the spirit of the Law.
- "love your neighbor as yourself": This is a direct quotation from Leviticus 19:18, highlighting that Jesus himself presented this as a foundational principle of the Law. Paul echoes this, presenting it as the singular "commandment" that encapsulates the entirety of the Law's ethical demands.
Galatians 5 14 Bonus Section
The principle of loving your neighbor as yourself is not a new teaching from Paul but a cornerstone of the Old Testament. Its inclusion by Jesus as the second of the two greatest commandments, and now by Paul as the fulfillment of the entire Law, underscores its central importance in the life of a believer. This commandment directly counters any form of exclusivity or judgment that might arise from a superficial or legalistic understanding of God's commands. It calls believers to recognize the inherent dignity and worth of every individual as created in God's image, demanding a love that mirrors God's own love for humanity.
Galatians 5 14 Commentary
Paul presents a powerful synthesis of the Law. He asserts that all of God's commands are perfectly fulfilled in the simple yet profound command to love one's neighbor. This love is not a mere sentiment but an active, outward expression of Christ's love working through the believer by the Spirit. It is the practical outworking of genuine faith and freedom in Christ, serving as the true fulfillment of the Law's purpose, which is to guide humanity into right relationships with God and each other. This single commandment stands as the summation and the test of true obedience.
Practical Usage:
- When faced with a complex ethical decision, ask: "What does love for my neighbor require in this situation?"
- If actions or words are divisive or hurtful, consider if they align with the principle of loving one's neighbor as oneself.
- Recognize that efforts to earn God's favor through adherence to ritualistic rules apart from love are a misrepresentation of God's design.