Galatians 6:5

New Testament Epistle (Pauline) ASV (1901)

What does Galatians 6:5 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “For each man shall bear his own burden.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

For each man shall bear his own burden.
Galatians 6:5 — American Standard Version

Context — Galatians 6

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
5For each man shall bear his own burden.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“For every man shall bear his own burden.] That is, either do his own work, which God has allotted him to do, whether in a more public or private station of life; which, because it is generally troublesome to the flesh, is called a “burden”, and “his own”, being peculiar to himself, and in which no other is concerned; and which he should patiently bear, cheerfully attend to, and constantly and faithfully perform while in this world: or he shall give an account of his own actions, and not another's, to God, in the other world; he shall be judged according to his own works, what they are in themselves, and not by a comparison of other men's, who have been more wicked than he; which will be no…”
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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
“For (by this way, Gal 6:4, of proving himself, not depreciating his neighbor by comparison) each man shall bear his own "burden," or rather, "load" (namely, of sin and infirmity), the Greek being different from that in Gal 6:2. This verse does not contradict Gal 6:2. There he tells them to bear with others' "burdens" of infirmity in sympathy; here, that self-examination will make a man to feel he has enough to do with "his own load" of sin, without comparing himself boastfully with his neighbor. Compare Gal 6:3. Instead of "thinking himself to be something," he shall feel the "load" of his own sin: and this will lead him to bear sympathetically with his neighbor's burden of infirmity. ÆSOP…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“For every man shall bear his own burden - This seems to be a kind of proverbial saying; and it means here, every man shall have his proper reward. If he is a virtuous man, he will be happy; if a vicious man, he will be miserable. If a virtuous man, he will have the source of happiness in himself; if a sinner, he must bear the proper penalty of his sin. In the great day every man shall be properly rewarded. Knowing this, we should be little anxious about the sentiments of others, and should seek to maintain a good conscience toward God and man. The design of this passage is, to prevent people from forming an improper estimate of themselves, and of the opinions of others. Let a man feel that…”
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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
“For every one shall bear his own burden - ln that day shall give an account of himself to God. Galatians 6:6”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“6:5 If believers carry their own load (6:4), they will have no occasion to treat a brother or sister with contempt (6:3).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Isa 3:10, Isa 3:11; Jer 17:10, Jer 32:19; Eze 18:4; Mat 16:27; Rom 2:6-9; Rom 14:10-12; Co1 3:8, Co1 4:5; Co2 5:10, Co2 5:11; Rev 2:23, Rev 20:12-15, Rev 22:12 Galatians 6:6”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification