Galatians 6:8 kjv
For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Galatians 6:8 nkjv
For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
Galatians 6:8 niv
Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
Galatians 6:8 esv
For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
Galatians 6:8 nlt
Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.
Galatians 6 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Galatians 6:7 | For whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. | Sowing and Reaping |
| Luke 6:38 | Give, and it will be given to you... | Giving and Receiving |
| 2 Corinthians 9:6 | Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly... | Generosity |
| Proverbs 11:24-25 | One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds much, but suffers the loss. A generous person will prosper... | Generosity and Prosperity |
| Matthew 7:1-2 | For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged... | Judgment |
| Deuteronomy 15:7-8 | If there is a poor man among your brothers... you shall not harden your heart nor close your hand from your poor brother... | Compassion and Giving |
| 2 Corinthians 8:2 | ...in a severe trial of affliction, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty have produced anabundant riches of generosity. | Joy in Generosity |
| Acts 20:35 | ...in all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ | The Blessedness of Giving |
| Psalm 41:1-3 | Blessed is the one who considers the poor... | Blessing the Poor |
| Job 4:8 | As I have observed, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same. | Sowing Trouble |
| Proverbs 22:8 | Whoever sows injustice will reap trouble... | Sowing Injustice |
| Hosea 10:12-13 | Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of loyalty... | Sowing Righteousness |
| Romans 8:12-13 | ...if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. | Spiritual vs. Fleshly Sowing |
| Philippians 4:17 | Not that I seek a gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your account. | Seeking Fruit |
| 1 Corinthians 3:6 | I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. | God Gives Growth |
| 2 Corinthians 9:7 | Each one must give as he has decided, not reluctantly or under compulsion... | Cheerful Giving |
| Ephesians 4:28 | Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor... | Working and Giving |
| Mark 10:30 | ...no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the gospel... | Reward for Sacrifice |
| Matthew 13:23 | As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it; he indeed bears fruit and produces... | Sowing Good Seed |
| Luke 8:15 | But that on good ground are those who, in a good and noble heart, having heard the word, hold it fast, and bear fruit with patience. | Fruit with Patience |
| 2 Corinthians 9:11 | Being enriched in every way to be a source of generosity... | Source of Generosity |
| Romans 11:22 | ...but in nothing; lest you be cut off. | God's Kindness & Severity |
| James 2:14-17 | ...what good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? ...faith by itself has not been active. | Faith and Works |
| Proverbs 19:17 | Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord... | Lending to the Lord |
Galatians 6 verses
Galatians 6 8 Meaning
Anyone who sows generously will also reap generously. This principle highlights a direct correlation between the nature of one's giving and the abundance of their receiving. It's a spiritual law of reciprocity where the motive and extent of giving determine the fruitfulness of the harvest.
Galatians 6 8 Context
This verse is the concluding thought in a section of Galatians where Paul discusses living by the Spirit, contrasting it with gratifying the flesh. He addresses the Galatians' straying from the true gospel by urging them to sow generously to the Spirit rather than reaping corruption from the flesh. The immediate context is about the responsibilities of those who benefit from spiritual instruction to support their teachers, but it extends to a broader principle of generosity in all aspects of Christian life. The letter is addressing legalism and the importance of grace through faith in Christ, so the sowing and reaping metaphor here ties into the consequences of adhering to the law versus living by the Spirit's power.
Galatians 6 8 Word Analysis
- ὃς (hos): "he who," "whoever." Relative pronoun. Introduces a condition or characteristic.
- ἂν (an): "if," "whatever." Particle that softens a statement into a condition or potential.
- ἀ largura (alētheia): "truth." In this context, it's often debated whether it refers to sowing truth (the Gospel) or sowing liberally, aligning with the Old Testament concept of "sincerity" or "truth" in giving. However, the direct connection in 2 Corinthians 9:6 links "sparingly" and "generously" (epitome). Thus, the most common interpretation leans towards the manner of sowing.
- σπείρει (speirei): "sows." Present active indicative, 3rd person singular of speirō (σπείρω). The act of planting seed. Figuratively, it means to produce, distribute, or invest.
- καὶ (kai): "and," "also." Conjunction connecting clauses or phrases.
- θερίσει (therisei): "will reap," "will harvest." Future active indicative, 3rd person singular of therizō (θερίζω). The act of gathering the harvest. This directly contrasts with "sows."
- ἐπ’ (ep'): "on," "upon," "in accordance with." Preposition often used to denote the scope or basis of an action.
- ἐπιεικεῖ (epieikei): "generously," "liberally." Dative singular of epieikēs (ἐπιεικής), meaning mild, gentle, equitable, or generous. In a financial context, it describes abundant, liberal giving.
Words/Groups Analysis:
- "Sows generously" (εὐεργετῶν ἐπ’ ἐπιεικεῖ - eulogōn epi epieikei is NOT in the text, it is ὃς ἂν ἐπ’ ἐπιεικείας σπείρει): This phrase captures the essence of liberal, abundant, and bountiful sowing. It implies giving with a cheerful heart and a liberal hand, not grudgingly or minimally. The preposition epi with the dative noun epieikeias (which should be the correct form for the adverbial sense here) signifies "in a manner of generosity" or "in accordance with liberality." It's about the quality and quantity of the seed sown.
- "reap generously" (θερίσει καὶ ἐπ’ ἐπιεικείας - therisei kai ep' epieikeias): This parallels the first part of the verse, indicating that the harvest will match the sowing. If the sowing is characterized by generosity, the reaping will also be abundant. It's not necessarily a one-to-one quid pro quo but a reflection of God's boundless provision responding to faithful and generous stewardship.
Galatians 6 8 Bonus Section
The concept of sowing and reaping is deeply rooted in the Old Testament agricultural society where much of Israel's life and livelihood depended on successful harvests. The analogy was readily understood. God instituted tithing and offerings, often with promises of blessing for obedience (Malachi 3:10). Jesus also spoke about the rewards of discipleship, encouraging sacrifice for the sake of the gospel with promises of abundant return, even in this life and in the age to come (Mark 10:30). The principle here extends beyond literal harvest to include the spiritual results of one's actions – the fruit of the Spirit, the strengthening of faith, and the eternal rewards that come from faithfulness to God's commands. The adjective epieikēs itself suggests fairness and forbearance, which, when applied to giving, implies giving with a benevolent spirit, which then aligns with God's benevolent responses.
Galatians 6 8 Commentary
Paul emphasizes a fundamental spiritual principle: God operates through principles of sowing and reaping. Our actions, particularly our generosity, yield a harvest that reflects the manner and spirit of our giving. Generosity isn't merely a matter of finance but a disposition of the heart. It's about investing in God's kingdom, supporting His work, and meeting the needs of others with an open hand and heart. When we sow generously, motivated by love and a desire to honor God, we can trust that our heavenly Father, who is Himself abundantly generous, will provide for our needs and allow us to bear fruit abundantly. This is not a guarantee for material wealth exclusively, but a promise of spiritual fruitfulness, provision, and a rich testimony to God's grace.
- Practical application: Consider prayerfully how you can give more freely, not just financially but also of your time, talents, and love, trusting that God will bless your sowing.