Galatians 6:16
in Galatians 6Peace and mercy to all who walk by this rule, even to the Israel of God.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And as many as shall walk by this rule, peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
KJV
And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
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This verse in Galatians 6
Commentary
13 notes on this verse(Verse 16.) And whoever follows this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. All things are directed according to the standard; and whether they be right or wrong, when the rule is applied, they are judged. So too the teaching of God is like a standard of speech, which judges between what is just and unjust: whoever follows it will have peace within themselves that surpasses all understanding; and after peace, mercy, which is foremost in the Israel of God.
This site's exposition
Peace and mercy to all who walk by this rule
The blessing ends on a phrase read two ways since the fathers: even to the Israel of God. One reading takes the Greek kai as and, a distinct blessing on believing Jews within the church. The other takes it as even, the whole believing church.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
"For neither is circumcision any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as shall walk by this rule, peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God." Observe the power of the Cross, to what a pitch it hath raised him! not only hath it put to death for him all mundane affairs, but hath set him far above the Old Dispensation. What can be comparable to this power? for the Cross hath persuaded him, who was willing to be slain and to slay others for the sake of circumcision, to leave it on a level with uncircumcision, and to seek for things strange and marvellous and above the heavens. This our rule of life he calls "a new creature," both on account of what is past, and of what is to come; of what is past, because our soul, which had grown old with the oldness of sin, hath been all at once renewed by baptism, as if it had been created again. Wherefore we require a new and heavenly rule of life. And of things to come, because both the heaven and the earth, and all the creation, shall with our bodies be translated into incorruption. Tell me not then, he says, of circumcision, which now availeth nothing; (for how shall it appear, when all things have undergone such a change?) but seek the new things of grace. For they who pursue these things shall enjoy peace and amity, and may properly be called by the name of "Israel." While they who hold contrary sentiments, although they be descended from him (Israel) and bear his appellation, have yet fallen away from all these things, both the relationship and the name itself. But it is in their power to be true Israelites, who keep this rule, who desist from the old ways, and follow after grace.
A commentator
Augustine of HippoEPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS 63 [1B.6.15-16] · Written before 430.
proposed
Paul means those who are truly prepared for the vision of God. These are distinguished from those who are called by this name [Israel] and in their carnal blindness refuse to see the Lord, spurning his grace, still desiring to be enslaved by temporal things.
"And those who will walk by this rule." He says, "May those who are satisfied with this rule and this teaching regard everything as a new creation, and not subject themselves to the law." "and upon the Israel of God." Israel is a faithful people, …
The Medieval Church2 voices
Having disclosed the intention of the seducers and intimated his own, the Apostle counsels them: First, to imitate him; Secondly, to desist from being troublesome to him (v. 17); Thirdly, he begs grace for them to carry out the aforesaid (v. 18). First, therefore, he …
Therefore, whoever abides by this rule of new life according to the pattern of Christ, avoiding the obsolete and powerless circumcision, will attain peace with God, having been freed from sins which make God an enemy to us, and will be deemed worthy of God's …
6 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Glorying only in the cross of Christ. Being crucified to the world. Peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel, that is, the Church, of God - Which consists of all those, and those only, of every nation and kindred, who walk by this rule.
And as many as walk according to this rule,....
But, (3.) All who sincerely endeavour to walk according to this rule may be assured that peace and mercy will be upon them: this is the best way to have peace with God, ourselves, and others; and hereupon, as we may be sure of the favour of God now, so we may be sure that we shall find mercy with him hereafter.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
As many as walk according to this rule - Τῳ κανονι τουτῳ· This canon; viz. what is laid down in the preceding verses, that redemption is through the sacrifice of Christ; that circumcision and uncircumcision are equally unavailable; and that none can be saved without being created anew. This is the grand canon or rule in Christianity. Peace be on them - Those who act from this conviction will have the peace and mercy of God; for it is in this way that mercy is communicated and peace obtained.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
as many--contrasting with the "as many," Ga 6:12. rule--literally, a straight rule, to detect crookedness; so a rule of life. peace--from God (Eph 2:14-17; 6:23). mercy-- (Ro 15:9). Israel of God--not the Israel after the flesh, among whom those teachers wish to enrol you; but the spiritual seed of Abraham by faith (Ga 3:9, 29;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase+unbalanced-parens
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
And as many as walk - As many as live, for so the word walk is used in the Scriptures. According to this rule. Greek: “This canon”; see the word explained in the notes at 2Co 10:13. Peace be on them - See the note at Rom 15:33. And upon the Israel of God - The true church of God; all who are his true worshippers; see the note at Rom 2:28-29; Rom 9:6, note.
The words behind it
17 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ὅσοι | hosoi | as many as | G3745 → | 110 times |
| τῷ | to | those who | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κανόνι | kanoni | rule | G2583 → | |
| τούτῳ | touto | by this | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| στοιχήσουσιν, | stoichesousin | will walk, | G4748 → | |
| εἰρήνη | eirene | peace [be] | G1515 → | 91 times |
| ἐπ᾽ | ep᾽ | upon | G1909 → | 883 times |
| αὐτοὺς | autous | them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἔλεος | eleos | mercy | G1656 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐπὶ | epi | upon | G1909 → | 883 times |
| τὸν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Ἰσραὴλ | israel | Israel | G2474 → | |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεοῦ.¶ | theou | of God. | G2316 → | 1312 times |
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ὅσοιas many as
hosoiG3745 →110 times
τῷthose who
toG3588 →19766 times
κανόνιrule
kanoniG2583 →
τούτῳby this
toutoG3778 →1381 times
στοιχήσουσιν,will walk,
stoichesousinG4748 →
εἰρήνηpeace [be]
eireneG1515 →91 times
ἐπ᾽upon
ep᾽G1909 →883 times
αὐτοὺςthem
autousG846 →5565 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἔλεοςmercy
eleosG1656 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐπὶupon
epiG1909 →883 times
τὸνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
ἸσραὴλIsrael
israelG2474 →
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
θεοῦ.¶of God.
theouG2316 →1312 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Galatians 3:29And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.
it leads to
- Ephesians 3:6
This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus.
- Romans 9:7–8
Nor because they are Abraham’s descendants are they all his children. On the contrary, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.”
- Galatians 3:7
Understand, then, that those who have faith are sons of Abraham.
- Romans 8:17
And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him.
- Ephesians 3:6
Through
Philippians 3:3For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—
it leads to
- Colossians 2:11
In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of your sinful nature, with the circumcision performed by Christ and not by human hands.
- Deuteronomy 30:6
The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, and you will love Him with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live.
- Romans 7:6
But now, having died to what bound us, we have been released from the law, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the…
- Galatians 6:13–15
For the circumcised do not even keep the law themselves, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.
- Colossians 2:11
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies12
On this verse
About Galatians
This page draws on 14 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS 63 [1B.6.15-16]; J. B. Lightfoot, Saint Paul's Epistle to the Galatians; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Galatians; John Chrysostom, Homily on Galatians 6; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Galatians; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Galatians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Galatians.