Galatians 6:7 kjv
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Galatians 6:7 nkjv
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
Galatians 6:7 niv
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
Galatians 6:7 esv
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
Galatians 6:7 nlt
Don't be misled ? you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.
Galatians 6 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Galatians 6:7 | Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. | Direct statement of sowing and reaping |
| Genesis 8:22 | "As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease." | Natural principle of sowing and reaping |
| Job 4:8 | "As I have seen, those who plow evil and sow trouble reap it." | Principle applied to wickedness |
| Psalm 1:1-6 | Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked... | Contrast between sowing righteousness and wickedness |
| Proverbs 3:9-10 | Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your crops. Then your barns will be filled to overflowing… | Reward for sowing generously |
| Proverbs 11:17 | A kind person benefits himself, and a cruel person brings ruin on himself. | Moral consequence of actions |
| Proverbs 11:24 | One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds what is due, yet suffers even greater poverty. | Generosity in sowing leads to increase |
| Proverbs 11:29 | Whoever stirs up trouble in their family will inherit only wind… | Reaping the fruit of sowing discord |
| Proverbs 22:8 | Whoever sows injustice reaps trouble… | Reaping trouble from injustice |
| Isaiah 55:10-11 | So will my word be from my mouth: It will not return to me empty… | Spiritual sowing of God's word |
| Jeremiah 17:10 | "I the Lord search all hearts and examine all minds. To reward each person according to their deeds and as their actions deserve…" | God's justice in rewarding deeds |
| Hosea 8:7 | "For they sow the wind and reap the whirlwind…" | Sowing destructive actions |
| Matthew 7:2-5 | For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged… | Reciprocity in judgment |
| Matthew 7:16-20 | By their fruit you will recognize them. | Identification through actions |
| Matthew 13:3-23 | Parable of the Sower: illustrates different receptions of God's word | Spiritual sowing and its reception |
| Mark 4:14-20 | Explanation of the Parable of the Sower | Impact of the sower's seed |
| Luke 6:37-38 | "Give, and it will be given to you..." | Generosity leads to abundance |
| Luke 8:11-15 | The Parable of the Sower explained | Seed representing the word of God |
| Romans 2:6-11 | God "will repay each person according to what they have done." | Divine accountability for actions |
| Romans 6:23 | For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life… | Ultimate consequence of sin |
| 2 Corinthians 9:6 | Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. | Generosity in giving |
| 2 Corinthians 9:7 | Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give… | Cheerful and purposeful giving |
| Colossians 3:23-25 | Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord… | Motivation for all work |
| Hebrews 12:14 | "Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord." | Pursuit of holiness |
| 1 Peter 4:10-11 | Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others… | Service and stewardship |
| Revelation 22:11 | Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile… | Final separation based on character |
| Revelation 22:12 | "Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me to repay everyone for what they have done." | Christ's return with rewards |
Galatians 6 verses
Galatians 6 7 Meaning
The principle of sowing and reaping is unequivocally stated: one reaps precisely what one sows. This is not merely about physical actions but encompasses spiritual and moral deeds, both good and bad.
Galatians 6 7 Context
Galatians 6:7 is found at the end of Paul's letter to the churches in Galatia. The chapter deals with practical aspects of Christian living and leadership. Paul is addressing issues of boasting in the flesh versus boasting in the cross of Christ, dealing with those who were perverting the gospel. He had spoken about bearing one another's burdens and each person carrying their own load. This verse serves as a foundational principle that underpins these exhortations. It emphasizes accountability for one's actions and the natural consequences that follow, whether good or bad, within the spiritual life. The audience was a mix of Jewish and Gentile believers, grappling with the requirements of the Law in relation to faith in Christ.
Galatians 6 7 Word Analysis
- Μή (mē): A particle of negation. "Not." It introduces a prohibition or denial.
- πλανᾶσθε (planaisthe): Second person plural present passive imperative of πλανάω (planao), meaning "to deceive," "to lead astray," "to wander." The passive imperative suggests that the Galatians are in danger of being deceived or are allowing themselves to be led astray by false teachings or their own faulty reasoning. The present tense indicates an ongoing danger.
- τoῦ (tou): Genitive definite article. Used here to form a genitive absolute construction with the following participle.
- θεοῦ (theou): Genitive singular of θεός (theos), meaning "God." "Of God."
- οὐ (ou): A particle of negation. "Not." It denies the possibility of mocking God.
- μυκτηρίζεται (myktērizetai): Third person singular present passive indicative of μυκτηρίζω (mykterizo). This word literally means "to turn up one's nose," "to sneer," or "to mock." In a passive sense, it implies being mocked or derided. The passage asserts that God cannot be mocked.
- γὰρ (gar): Conjunction. "For." It introduces a reason or explanation for the preceding statement.
- ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos): Nominative singular of ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos), meaning "man," "human being."
- τὸ (to): Neuter singular accusative definite article. "The."
- αὐτὸ (auto): Neuter singular accusative pronoun. "It," referring back to "what one sows."
- σπείρει (speirei): Third person singular present active indicative of σπείρω (speirō), meaning "to sow," "to scatter seed."
Phrase/Group Analysis:
- Μὴ πλανᾶσθε (Mē planaisthe): "Do not be deceived." This is a strong warning against self-deception or being led astray by others. It implies that a faulty understanding or acceptance of false doctrine could lead to disastrous consequences, particularly concerning God's justice.
- ὁ θεὸς οὐ μυκτηρίζεται (ho theos ou mykterizetai): "God cannot be mocked." This highlights the sovereignty and immutable justice of God. It means that one cannot escape the consequences of their actions by ignoring or despising God's principles. His nature is such that He will not allow His standards or His people to be scorned without accountability.
- ὃ γὰρ ἄνθρωπος σπείρει, τοῦτο καὶ (ho gar anthrōpos speirei, touto kai): "Whatever a man sows, that also." This establishes the fundamental law of sowing and reaping, linking action (sowing) directly to consequence (reaping). The use of "whatever" (ὃ) emphasizes the comprehensive nature of this principle, applying to all sown seeds.
- θερίσει (therisei): Third person singular future active indicative of θερίζω (therizo), meaning "to reap," "to harvest." The future tense points to the certainty and eventual outcome of what is sown.
Galatians 6 7 Bonus Section
The concept of "sowing and reaping" extends beyond immediate consequences to the eternal state. While earthly harvests might be experienced within a lifetime, the ultimate reaping of one's spiritual seeds takes place in eternity. This verse serves as a profound encouragement for believers to persevere in doing good, even when immediate results are not apparent, and a stark warning against complacency and sin. The context of Galatians, which strongly emphasizes the liberty and the responsibilities that come with grace, frames this verse as a reminder that grace does not excuse license but empowers righteousness. The Old Testament prophetic literature frequently uses agricultural metaphors like sowing and reaping to illustrate God's judgment and blessings, thus providing a strong backdrop to Paul's teaching.
Galatians 6 7 Commentary
This verse is a cornerstone of understanding divine justice and human responsibility. Paul's stern warning "Do not be deceived" suggests that there is a deceptive temptation to believe that one can sow to the flesh or act irresponsibly without consequence, particularly if cloaked in a veneer of religious activity or belief. The immutable character of God is the basis of this truth – God's nature guarantees that He cannot be fooled or His laws circumvented. He is the ultimate arbiter who ensures that the spiritual and moral laws of sowing and reaping operate with unfailing certainty. Every action, thought, and word sown into the fabric of life produces a corresponding harvest. This applies to the choices made in daily life, how one treats others, and especially to adherence to the gospel of grace versus legalism. Sowing good deeds, generosity, love, and faith yields a harvest of blessing, while sowing to self-interest, malice, or disbelief yields corruption and spiritual death. It is a call to conscious and careful living, recognizing that the future harvest is being determined by the present seeds being sown.