Galatians 6:4
in Galatians 6Each one should test his own work. Then he will have reason to boast in himself alone, and not in someone else.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But let each man prove his own work, and then shall he have his glorying in regard of himself alone, and not of his neighbor.
KJV
But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
⋯
This verse in Galatians 6
Commentary
15 notes on this verse(Verse 4) But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. The meaning is this: You, who consider yourself spiritual and stronger in the weakness of others, should not focus on the weakness of the one who is falling but on your own strength. For it is not because someone else cannot perfectly transition from Judaism to Christianity that you are a perfect Christian; rather, if your own conscience does not bother you, you have reason to boast in yourself and not in someone else.
This site's exposition
he deceives himself
on Galatians 6:3-5
In verse 2 the burdens carried for one another are baros, a crushing weight. In verse 5 his own load is phortion, a soldier's pack. That is the duty no one can shoulder for him, so the two verses stand together.
This site's exposition
Each one should test his own work
Testing means examining one's work by God's standard. A believer who does this finds any ground for rejoicing in his own faithfulness. Comparison with a weaker brother gives a false measure.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
"But let each person prove." Let each person examine his own deeds which he himself performed in life. For by doing this he will prepare himself for better things. Yet this is not the act of one who judges, but of one who humbles himself. …
A commentator
Desert FathersThe Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks · Written before 500.
proposed
A hermit said to a brother, 'Do not measure yourself against your brother, saying that you are more serious or more chaste or more understanding than he is. But be obedient to the grace of God, in the spirit of poverty, and in love unfeigned. …
"But let each man prove his own work." Here he shows that we ought to be scrutinizers of our lives, and this not lightly, but carefully to weigh our actions; as for example, if thou hast performed a good deed, consider whether it was not from vain glory, or through necessity, or malevolence, or with hypocrisy, or from some other human motive. For as gold appears to be bright before it is placed in the furnace, but when committed to the fire, is closely proved, and all that is spurious is separated from what is genuine, so too our works, if closely examined, will be distinctly made manifest, and we shall perceive that we have exposed ourselves to much censure. "And then shall he have his glorying in regard of himself alone and not of his neighbor." This he says, not as laying down a rule, but in the way of concession; and his meaning is this: Boasting is senseless, but if thou wilt boast, boast not against thy neighbor, as the Pharisee did. For he that is so instructed will speedily give up boasting altogether; and therefore he concedes a part that he may gradually extirpate the whole. He that is wont to boast with reference to himself only, and not against others, will soon reform this failing also. For he that does not consider himself better than others, for this is the meaning of "not in regard of his neighbor," but becomes elated by examining himself by himself, will afterwards cease to be so. And that you may be sure this is what he desires to establish, observe how he checks him by fear, saying above, "let every man prove his own work," ...
The Medieval Church2 voices
Now the way to avoid such a failing is to consider one's own defects, for it is because one considers the defects of others and not his own that he seems to himself to be something in comparison to others in whom he observes defects; …
Let him examine, he says, his own actions carefully (for this is what the word "let him test" means), whether he has done something out of vainglory, or out of hypocrisy, or for some other human reason, and then let him not boast before another. …
7 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
But let every man try his own work - Narrowly examine all he is, and all he doeth. And then he shall have rejoicing in himself - He will find in himself matter of rejoicing, if his works are right before God. And not in another - Not in glorying over others.
But let every man prove his own work,....
By our own work is chiefly meant our own actions or behaviour. These the apostle directs us to prove, that is seriously and impartially to examine them by the rule of God's word, to see whether or no they are agreeable to it, and therefore such as God and conscience do approve.
In the latter he revives the main design of the epistle, which was to fortify the Galatians against the arts of their judaizing teachers, and confirm them in the truth and liberty of the gospel, for which purpose he, I.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
But he refers to the idea those whom he censures had of themselves: they thought they had cause for "glorying" in themselves, but it all arose from unjust self-conceited comparison of themselves with others, instead of looking at home. The only true glorying, if glorying it is to be called, is in the testimony of a good conscience, glorying in the cross of Christ.
Prove his own work - Let him examine himself and his conduct by the words and example of Christ; and if he find that they bear this touchstone, then he shall have rejoicing in himself alone, feeling that he resembles his Lord and Master, and not in another - not derive his consolation from comparing himself with another who may be weaker, or less instructed than himself. The only rule for a Christian is the word of Christ; the only pattern for his imitation is the example of Christ.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
But let every man prove - That is, try or examine in a proper manner. Let him form a proper estimate of what is due to himself, according to his real character. Let him compare himself with the word of God, and the infallible rule which he has given, and by which we are to be judged in the last great day; compare the Rom 12:3 note; 1Co 11:28 note; 2Co 13:5 note. His own work - What he does. Let him form a fair and impartial estimate of his own character. And then shall he have rejoicing - That is, he will be appropriately rewarded, and will meet with no disappointment. The man who forms an improper estimate of his own character will be sure to be disappointed. The man who examines himself, and who forms no extravagant expectation in regard to what is due to himself, will be appropriately rewarded, and will be made happy. If, by the careful examination of himself, he finds his life to be virtuous, and his course of conduct pure; if he has done no wrong to others, and if he finds evidence that he is a child of God, then he will have cause of rejoicing. In himself alone - Compare Pro 14:14; “A good man shall be satisfied from himself.” The sentiment is, that he will find in himself a source of pure joy. He will not be dependent on the applause of others for happiness. In an approving conscience; in the evidence of the favor of God; in an honest effort to lead a pure and holy life, he will have happiness. The source of his joys will be within; and he will not be dependent, as the man of ambition, and the man who thinks of himself more highly than he ought, will, on the favors of a capricious multitude, and on the breath of popular applause. And not in another - He will not be dependent on others for happiness. Here is the true secret of happiness. […]
The words behind it
19 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| τὸ | to | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δὲ | de | But | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ἔργον | ergon | the work | G2041 → | 168 times |
| ἑαυτοῦ | he'autou | his own | G1438 → | 322 times |
| δοκιμαζέτω | dokimazeto | should test | G1381 → | |
| ἕκαστος, | hekastos | each, | G1538 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τότε | tote | then | G5119 → | 160 times |
| εἰς | eis | as to | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| ἑαυτὸν | he'auton | himself | G1438 → | 322 times |
| μόνον | monon | alone | G3441 → | 110 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| καύχημα | kauchema | ground of boasting | G2745 → | |
| ἕξει | hexei | he will have | G2192 → | 707 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| οὐκ | ouk | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| εἰς | eis | as to | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| τὸν | ton | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἕτερον· | heteron | another; | G2087 → | 97 times |
τὸ<the>
toG3588 →19766 times
δὲBut
deG1161 →2765 times
ἔργονthe work
ergonG2041 →168 times
ἑαυτοῦhis own
he'autouG1438 →322 times
δοκιμαζέτωshould test
dokimazetoG1381 →
ἕκαστος,each,
hekastosG1538 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τότεthen
toteG5119 →160 times
εἰςas to
eisG1519 →1755 times
ἑαυτὸνhimself
he'autonG1438 →322 times
μόνονalone
mononG3441 →110 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
καύχημαground of boasting
kauchemaG2745 →
ἕξειhe will have
hexeiG2192 →707 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
οὐκnot
oukG3756 →1664 times
εἰςas to
eisG1519 →1755 times
τὸν<the>
tonG3588 →19766 times
ἕτερον·another;
heteronG2087 →97 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
2 Corinthians 13:5Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Can’t you see for yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you actually fail the test?
it leads to
- Lamentations 3:40
Let us examine and test our ways, and turn back to the LORD.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 139:23–24
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Corinthians 11:28
Each one must examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.
- 1 Corinthians 9:27
No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
- Revelation 2:5
Therefore, keep in mind how far you have fallen. Repent and perform the deeds you did at first. But if you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from…
- Lamentations 3:40
Through
1 Corinthians 11:28Each one must examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 13:5
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Can’t you see for yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you actually fail the test?
- 2 Corinthians 13:5
Through
2 Corinthians 1:12And this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in relation to you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God—not in worldly wisdom,…
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 2:17
For we are not like so many others, who peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as men sent from God.
- 1 Corinthians 2:13
And this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.
- 2 Corinthians 2:17
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies12
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); Desert Fathers, The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks; 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.