Galatians 5:20

New Testament Epistle (Pauline) ASV (1901)

What does Galatians 5:20 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties,” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties,
Galatians 5:20 — American Standard Version

Context — Galatians 5

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
20idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties,

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Idolatry, etc..] Which some understand of covetousness, which is so called; but rather it means the worshipping of other gods, or of graven images: witchcraft; any real or pretended league and association with the devil, seeking to converse with familiar spirits, to gain unlawful knowledge, or to do hurt to fellow creatures; which, as it is doing honour to Satan, detracts from the glory of God, and rightly follows idolatry; conjuration, soothsaying, necromancy, and all kind of magic are included and condemned hereby: hatred: internal hatred of any man's person, even of our very enemies, is forbidden; in the original text it is “enmities”: as the carnal mind is nothing else but enmity against…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“witchcraft--sorcery; prevalent in Asia (Act 19:19; compare Rev. 21). hatred--Greek, "hatreds." variance--Greek, "strife"; singular in the oldest manuscripts. emulations--in the oldest manuscripts, singular--"emulation," or rather, "jealousy"; for the sake of one's own advantage. "Envyings" (Gal 5:21) are even without advantage to the person himself [BENGEL]. wrath--Greek, plural, "passionate outbreaks" [ALFORD]. strife--rather as Greek, "factions," "cabals"; derived from a Greek root, meaning "a worker for hire": hence, unworthy means for compassing ends, factious practices. seditions--"dissensions," as to secular matters. heresies--as to sacred things (see on Co1 11:19). Self-constituted…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Witchcraft - Pretending to witchcraft. The apostle does not vouch for the actual existence of witchcraft; but he says that what was known as such was a proof of the corrupt nature of man, and was one of the fruits of it. No one can doubt it. It was a system of imposture and falsehood throughout; and nothing is a better demonstration of the depravity of the human heart than an extended and systematized attempt to impose on mankind. The word which is used here (φαρμακεία pharmakeia, whence our word “pharmacy,” from φάρμακον pharmakon, a medicine, poison, magic potion) means, properly, the preparing and giving of medicine. Then it means also poisoning, and also magic art, or enchantment;…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Idolatry, witchcraft - That this means witchcraft, strictly speaking, (not poisoning,) appears from its being joined with the worship of devil - gods, and not with murder. This is frequently and solemnly forbidden in the Old Testament. To deny therefore that there is, or ever was, any such thing, is, by plain consequence, to deny the authority both of the Old and New Testament. Divisions - In domestic or civil matters. Heresies are divisions in religious communities. Galatians 5:21”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“5:20 Idolatry, the worship of false gods, was common in Galatia and was often accompanied by sorcery (see Acts 19:19; cp. 1 Sam 15:23; Rev 9:21; 18:23; 21:8; 22:15) and sexual immorality (cp. 1 Cor 6:9, 15-20). • Hostility arises from angry pride rather than the Spirit’s humility and love (Gal 5:22-23). • Quarreling refers not to standing up for what is right, but to stirring up discord and looking for a fight (1 Cor 3:3; 2 Cor 12:20; 1 Tim 6:4; Titus 3:9). Those who are guided by the Holy Spirit seek to speak the truth in love with a peacemaking attitude (Gal 5:22; Eph 4:15; 2 Tim 2:23-26). • Jealousy (Greek zēlos, “zeal”) has both a positive sense (“passionate commitment”) and, as here, a…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“witchcraft: Eze 22:18; Deu 18:10; Sa1 15:23; Ch1 10:13, Ch1 10:14; Ch2 33:6; Act 8:9-11; Act 16:16-19 heresies: Co2 11:19; Tit 3:10; Pe2 2:1 Galatians 5:21”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification