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Galatians 4:17 Those people are zealous for you, but not in a good way. Instead, they want to isolate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them.
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What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/galatians/4.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Those false teachers are so eager to win your favor, but their intentions are not good. They are trying to shut you off from me so that you will pay attention only to them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/galatians/4.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/galatians/4.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Those people are zealous for you, but not in a good way. Instead, they want to isolate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/galatians/4.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />They zealously seek you, not rightly. But they desire to isolate you <i>from us</i>, so that you might be zealous after them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/galatians/4.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />They zealously affect you, <i>but</i> not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/galatians/4.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />They zealously court you, <i>but</i> for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/galatians/4.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />They eagerly seek you, not in a commendable way, but they want to shut you out so that you will seek them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/galatians/4.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />They eagerly seek you, not commendably, but they wish to shut you out so that you will seek them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/galatians/4.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />They eagerly seek you, not commendably, but they wish to shut you out, in order that you may seek them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/galatians/4.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />They zealously seek you, not commendably, but they wish to shut you out so that you will zealously seek them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/galatians/4.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />These men [the Judaizers] eagerly seek you [to entrap you with honeyed words and attention, to win you over to their philosophy], not honorably [for their purpose is not honorable or worthy of consideration]. They want to isolate you [from us who oppose them] so that you will seek them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/galatians/4.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />They court you eagerly, but not for good. They want to exclude you from me, so that you would pursue them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/galatians/4.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />They are enthusiastic about you, but not for any good. Instead, they want to isolate you so you will be enthusiastic about them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/galatians/4.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />They zealously seek you in no good way; nay, they desire to shut you out, that ye may seek them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/galatians/4.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Those people may be paying you a lot of attention, but it isn't for your good. They only want to keep you away from me, so you will pay them a lot of attention. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/galatians/4.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />They zealously seek you in no good way; nay, they desire to shut you out, that ye may seek them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/galatians/4.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />These people [who distort the Good News] are devoted to you, but not in a good way. They don't want you to associate with me so that you will be devoted only to them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/galatians/4.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Those other people show a deep interest in you, but their intentions are not good. All they want is to separate you from me, so that you will have the same interest in them as they have in you. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/galatians/4.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />These people who have been instructing you are devoted to you, but not in a good way. They want you to avoid me so that you will be devoted to them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/galatians/4.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />They court you eagerly, but for no good purpose; they want to exclude you, so that you would seek them eagerly.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/galatians/4.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />They zealously seek you, but for no good purpose; they desire to alienate you, that you may be zealous for them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/galatians/4.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />They zealously affect you, but not well; for, they would exclude you, that ye may affect them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/galatians/4.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />These men pay court to you, but not with honourable motives. They want to exclude you, so that you may pay court to them.<div class="vheading2"><b>Majority Text Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/galatians/4.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Those people are zealous for you, but not in a good way. Instead, they want to isolate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/galatians/4.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />They zealously seek you in no good way. No, they desire to alienate you, that you may seek them. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/galatians/4.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />They are zealous for you—[yet] not well, but they wish to shut us out, that you may be zealous for them;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/galatians/4.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />They zealously seek you, not rightly. But they desire to isolate you <i>from us</i>, so that you might be zealous after them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/galatians/4.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> they are zealous for you -- yet not well, but they wish to shut us out, that for them ye may be zealous;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/galatians/4.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />They are zealous for you, not well; but they wish to exclude you, that ye might be zealous for them.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/galatians/4.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />They are zealous in your regard not well: but they would exclude you, that you might be zealous for them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/galatians/4.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />They are not imitating you well. And they are willing to exclude you, so that you might imitate them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/galatians/4.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />They show interest in you, but not in a good way; they want to isolate you, so that you may show interest in them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/galatians/4.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />They make much of you, but for no good purpose; they want to exclude you, so that you may make much of them.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/galatians/4.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />These men do not envy you for good, but they would dominate you, so that you might envy them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/aramaic-plain-english/galatians/4.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a></span><br />They imitate you, not for what is excellent but because they want to oppress you that you would imitate them.<div class="vheading2"><b>NT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/anderson/galatians/4.htm">Anderson New Testament</a></span><br />They are ardently attached to you, but not honorably; in deed, they desire to exclude us, that you may be ardently attached to them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/godbey/galatians/4.htm">Godbey New Testament</a></span><br />They zealously seek you in no good way; but they wish to exclude you, in order that you may zealously seek them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/haweis/galatians/4.htm">Haweis New Testament</a></span><br />They affect zeal for you, not honourably; but they wish to exclude us, that you may be zealously attached to them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/mace/galatians/4.htm">Mace New Testament</a></span><br />they court your affection, but not in a fair way; for they design to exclude me, that you might have the greater esteem for them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/galatians/4.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />These men pay court to you, but not with honourable motives. They want to exclude you, so that you may pay court to them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worrell/galatians/4.htm">Worrell New Testament</a></span><br />They are zealously seeking you, not nobly; they are wishing to shut you out, that ye may zealously seek them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worsley/galatians/4.htm">Worsley New Testament</a></span><br />They are zealous for you, <i>but</i> not as they ought: for they would exclude us, that ye may be zealous for them:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/galatians/4-17.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Jv8Ri4CeT34?start=835" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/galatians/4.htm">Paul's Fears for the Galatians</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">16</span>Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? <span class="reftext">17</span><span class="highl"><a href="/greek/2206.htm" title="2206: Zēlousin (V-PIA-3P) -- From zelos; to have warmth of feeling for or against.">Those people are zealous for you,</a> <a href="/greek/4771.htm" title="4771: hymas (PPro-A2P) -- You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou."></a> <a href="/greek/3756.htm" title="3756: ou (Adv) -- No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.">but not</a> <a href="/greek/2573.htm" title="2573: kalōs (Adv) -- Well, nobly, honorably, rightly. Adverb from kalos; well.">in a good way.</a> <a href="/greek/235.htm" title="235: alla (Conj) -- But, except, however. Neuter plural of allos; properly, other things, i.e. contrariwise.">Instead,</a> <a href="/greek/2309.htm" title="2309: thelousin (V-PIA-3P) -- To will, wish, desire, be willing, intend, design. ">they want</a> <a href="/greek/1576.htm" title="1576: ekkleisai (V-ANA) -- To shut out, exclude, separate. From ek and kleio; to shut out.">to isolate</a> <a href="/greek/4771.htm" title="4771: hymas (PPro-A2P) -- You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.">you from us,</a> <a href="/greek/2443.htm" title="2443: hina (Conj) -- In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that.">so that</a> <a href="/greek/2206.htm" title="2206: zēloute (V-PSA-2P) -- From zelos; to have warmth of feeling for or against.">you may be zealous</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autous (PPro-AM3P) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">for them.</a> </span> <span class="reftext">18</span>Nevertheless, it is good to be zealous if it serves a noble purpose—at any time, and not only when I am with you.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/11-2.htm">2 Corinthians 11:2-3</a></span><br />I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. For I promised you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. / I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/philippians/1-15.htm">Philippians 1:15-17</a></span><br />It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. / The latter do so in love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. / The former, however, preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can add to the distress of my chains.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/16-17.htm">Romans 16:17-18</a></span><br />Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Turn away from them. / For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_peter/2-1.htm">2 Peter 2:1-3</a></span><br />Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. / Many will follow in their depravity, and because of them the way of truth will be defamed. / In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with deceptive words. The longstanding verdict against them remains in force, and their destruction does not sleep.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_john/4-1.htm">1 John 4:1</a></span><br />Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/20-29.htm">Acts 20:29-30</a></span><br />I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. / Even from your own number, men will rise up and distort the truth to draw away disciples after them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_timothy/3-5.htm">2 Timothy 3:5-7</a></span><br />having a form of godliness but denying its power. Turn away from such as these! / They are the kind who worm their way into households and captivate vulnerable women who are weighed down with sins and led astray by various passions, / who are always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_timothy/1-6.htm">1 Timothy 1:6-7</a></span><br />Some have strayed from these ways and turned aside to empty talk. / They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not understand what they are saying or that which they so confidently assert.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/colossians/2-4.htm">Colossians 2:4</a></span><br />I say this so that no one will deceive you by smooth rhetoric.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/11-13.htm">2 Corinthians 11:13-15</a></span><br />For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. / And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. / It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/7-15.htm">Matthew 7:15</a></span><br />Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/3-3.htm">1 Corinthians 3:3-4</a></span><br />for you are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and dissension among you, are you not worldly? Are you not walking in the way of man? / For when one of you says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere men?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_thessalonians/2-9.htm">2 Thessalonians 2:9-10</a></span><br />The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the working of Satan, with every kind of power, sign, and false wonder, / and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/23-16.htm">Jeremiah 23:16</a></span><br />This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They are filling you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/13-6.htm">Ezekiel 13:6-7</a></span><br />They see false visions and speak lying divinations. They claim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ when the LORD did not send them; yet they wait for the fulfillment of their message. / Haven’t you seen a false vision and spoken a lying divination when you proclaim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ even though I have not spoken?</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">They zealously affect you, but not well; yes, they would exclude you, that you might affect them.</p><p class="hdg">zealously.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/galatians/6-12.htm">Galatians 6:12,13</a></b></br> As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/23-15.htm">Matthew 23:15</a></b></br> Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/romans/10-2.htm">Romans 10:2</a></b></br> For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.</p><p class="hdg">exclude you.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_corinthians/4-8.htm">1 Corinthians 4:8,18</a></b></br> Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/job/35-8.htm">Affect</a> <a href="/ezekiel/48-14.htm">Alienate</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/6-2.htm">Court</a> <a href="/galatians/4-12.htm">Desire</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/14-1.htm">Eagerly</a> <a href="/luke/6-23.htm">Exclude</a> <a href="/galatians/4-13.htm">Good</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/12-23.htm">Honourable</a> <a href="/galatians/1-14.htm">Interest</a> <a href="/2_corinthians/5-11.htm">Motives</a> <a href="/2_corinthians/11-8.htm">Pay</a> <a href="/galatians/4-11.htm">Purpose</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/14-17.htm">Rightly</a> <a href="/galatians/2-17.htm">Seek</a> <a href="/galatians/3-23.htm">Shut</a> <a href="/galatians/4-9.htm">Want</a> <a href="/galatians/4-1.htm">Way</a> <a href="/galatians/1-10.htm">Win</a> <a href="/galatians/3-2.htm">Wish</a> <a href="/galatians/2-10.htm">Zealous</a> <a href="/nehemiah/3-20.htm">Zealously</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/job/35-6.htm">Affect</a> <a href="/ezekiel/48-14.htm">Alienate</a> <a href="/james/2-3.htm">Court</a> <a href="/galatians/4-20.htm">Desire</a> <a href="/galatians/4-18.htm">Eagerly</a> <a href="/revelation/11-2.htm">Exclude</a> <a href="/galatians/4-18.htm">Good</a> <a href="/galatians/4-18.htm">Honourable</a> <a href="/ephesians/3-6.htm">Interest</a> <a href="/philippians/1-17.htm">Motives</a> <a href="/galatians/5-10.htm">Pay</a> <a href="/galatians/4-18.htm">Purpose</a> <a href="/ephesians/2-21.htm">Rightly</a> <a href="/philippians/2-21.htm">Seek</a> <a href="/2_thessalonians/1-9.htm">Shut</a> <a href="/galatians/4-21.htm">Want</a> <a href="/galatians/4-23.htm">Way</a> <a href="/ephesians/6-6.htm">Win</a> <a href="/galatians/4-20.htm">Wish</a> <a href="/galatians/4-18.htm">Zealous</a> <a href="/galatians/4-18.htm">Zealously</a><div class="vheading2">Galatians 4</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/galatians/4-1.htm">We were under the law till Christ came, as the heir is under the guardian till he be of age.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">5. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/galatians/4-5.htm">But Christ freed us from the law;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/galatians/4-7.htm">therefore we are servants no longer to it.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">14. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/galatians/4-14.htm">Paul remembers the Galatians' good will to him, and his to them;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">22. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/galatians/4-22.htm">and shows that we are the sons of Abraham by the freewoman.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF2 --> <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/galatians/4.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/galatians/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/galatians/4.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Those people are zealous for you</b><br>The "people" referred to here are the Judaizers, a group of Jewish Christians who insisted that Gentile converts to Christianity must adhere to Jewish law, including circumcision. Their zeal is not for the spiritual well-being of the Galatians but rather for their own agenda. This reflects a broader biblical theme where zeal can be either commendable or misguided, as seen in <a href="/romans/10-2.htm">Romans 10:2</a>, where Paul speaks of the Jews having zeal without knowledge.<p><b>but not in a good way</b><br>The Judaizers' intentions are not pure; their zeal is self-serving. This phrase highlights the danger of misguided enthusiasm, which can lead believers away from the truth of the Gospel. In <a href="/2_corinthians/11-13.htm">2 Corinthians 11:13-15</a>, Paul warns of false apostles who disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, emphasizing the need for discernment.<p><b>Instead, they want to isolate you from us</b><br>The Judaizers aim to create division between the Galatians and Paul, who represents the true Gospel. This tactic of isolation is a common strategy used by those who wish to control or manipulate others, as seen in <a href="/proverbs/18.htm">Proverbs 18:1</a>, which warns against isolation leading to selfish desires. The historical context shows that early Christian communities were vulnerable to such divisions, which could weaken their faith and unity.<p><b>so that you may be zealous for them</b><br>The ultimate goal of the Judaizers is to win the Galatians' allegiance, not to Christ, but to themselves and their legalistic teachings. This reflects a broader biblical warning against idolatry and allegiance to anything other than God, as seen in <a href="/exodus/20-3.htm">Exodus 20:3</a>. The desire for followers is contrasted with the true Christian leadership exemplified by Paul, who seeks to point others to Christ, not to himself, as seen in <a href="/1_corinthians/11.htm">1 Corinthians 11:1</a>.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/p/paul_the_apostle.htm">Paul the Apostle</a></b><br>The author of the letter to the Galatians, addressing the churches in Galatia with concern over their spiritual well-being.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/g/galatians.htm">Galatians</a></b><br>The recipients of the letter, a group of early Christians in the region of Galatia who were being influenced by false teachings.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/j/judaizers.htm">Judaizers</a></b><br>A group of individuals who were attempting to persuade the Galatians to adopt Jewish customs and laws, particularly circumcision, as necessary for salvation.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/d/discernment_in_spiritual_leadership.htm">Discernment in Spiritual Leadership</a></b><br>Believers must be discerning about who they allow to influence their faith. Not all who seek to lead have pure motives.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_danger_of_false_teachings.htm">The Danger of False Teachings</a></b><br>False teachings can lead believers away from the true gospel. It is crucial to remain grounded in the truth of Scripture.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/m/motives_matter.htm">Motives Matter</a></b><br>The intentions behind spiritual guidance are important. Leaders should seek to glorify God and edify the church, not to gain personal followers.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/guarding_the_gospel.htm">Guarding the Gospel</a></b><br>Christians are called to protect the purity of the gospel message, ensuring it remains untainted by legalism or other distortions.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/community_accountability.htm">Community Accountability</a></b><br>The church community should hold each other accountable to the truth, encouraging one another to remain faithful to the gospel.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_galatians_4.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Galatians 4</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/which_bible_parts_are_poetic.htm">Why did Paul travel to Arabia post-conversion?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_paul_a_false_prophet.htm">Is Paul a false prophet?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_deut._7_3-4_align_with_inclusivity.htm">How does the command in Deuteronomy 7:3-4 to avoid intermarriage align with the inclusive messages found elsewhere in the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_'in_the_world,_not_of_it'_mean.htm">What does 'in the world, not of it' mean?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/galatians/4.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(17-20) All this eagerness to court your favour springs from an interested motive: they wish to make a sect of you, in which they shall be masters and courted in their turn. Not but that it is a good thing for teachers and taught--you and I--to seek favour with each other, so long as it is done disinterestedly, and that, too, when I am absent as well as when I am present. My heart yearns towards you. I cannot forget that you owe your life, as Christians, to me. Now, once more, it seems as if all that long travail has to be gone over again. You must be re-fashioned in the likeness of Christ, as the infant is fashioned in the form of man. Would that I could be with you and speak in a different tone, for how to deal with you I do not know.<p>(17) <span class= "bld">They zealously affect you.</span>--"Zealously affect" is a single word in the Greek, and means "to show zeal towards," "to court," "to curry favour with," "to canvass eagerly, so as to win over to their side." The subject of this verse is the Judaising teachers.<p><span class= "bld">They would exclude you.</span>--They desire to separate you from the rest of the Gentile churches, and to make a sect by itself, in which they themselves may bear rule. All the other Gentile churches had accepted the freer teaching of St. Paul; the Judaising party wished to make of Galatia an isolated centre of Judaism. They did this with personal motives, "not well"--<span class= "ital">i.e.,</span> from honest and honourable motives--but with a view to secure their own ascendancy.<p><span class= "bld">That ye might affect them.</span>--The same word as "zealously affect" above and in the next verse. They expect to have all this zeal on their part returned to them in kind. With them it is the proselytizing zeal of the faction leader; from you they expect the deferential zeal of devoted followers.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/galatians/4.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 17.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">They zealously affect you, but</span> <span class="cmt_word">not well</span> (<span class="greek_word">zhlou = sin u(ma = ou) kalw = </span>); <span class="accented">they admire you in no good way.</span> Of the several senses of the verb <span class="greek">ζηλοῦν</span>, those of "envy," "emulate," "strive after," are plainly unsuitable in this verse and the one which follows. So also are the senses "to be zealous on one's behalf, to be jealous of one," which in Hellenistic usage crept into it, apparently from its having been in other senses adopted to represent the Hebrew verb <span class="accented">qinne</span>, and borrowing these from this Hebrew verb. The only phase of its meaning which suits the present passage is that which it perhaps by far the most frequently presents in ordinary Greek, though not so commonly in the Septuagint and in the New Testa ment, namely, "to admire," "deem and pronounce highly fortunate and blessed." When used in this sense, it has properly for its object a person; but with a suitable qualification of meaning it may have for its object something inanimate. Very often is the accusative of the person accompanied with the genitive of the ground of gratulation, as Aristophanes, 'Ach.,' 972, <span class="greek">Ζηλῶσε τῆς εὐβουλίας</span> "I congratulate, admire, you for your cleverness;" see also 'Equit.,' 834; 'Thes moph.,' 175; 'Vesp.,' 1450; but not always; thus Demosthenes, 'Fals. Legat.,' p. 424, "(<span class="greek">Θαυμάζουσι καὶ ζηκοῦσι</span>) they admire and congratulate and would each one be himself the like;" 'Adv. Lept.,' p. 500 (respecting public funeral orations), "This is the custom of men admiring (<span class="greek">ζηλοὐντων</span>) virtue, not of men looking grudgingly upon those who on its account are being honoured;" Xenophon, 'Mere.,' 2:1,19. "Thinking highly of themselves, and praised and admired (<span class="greek">ζηλουμένους</span>) <span class="accented">by</span> others;" Josephus, 'C. Ap.,' 1:25, "(<span class="greek">ζηλουμένους</span>) admired by many." It thus seems to be often just equivalent to <span class="greek">ὀλβίζω</span> or <span class="greek">μακαρίζω</span>, with the sense of which latter verb it is brought into close neighbourhood in Aristophanes, 'Nubes,' 1188, "' Blessed (<span class="greek">μάκαρ</span>), Strepsiades, are you, both for being so wise yourself and for having such a son as you have,' - thus will my friends and fellow-wardsmen say, in admiration of me (<span class="greek">ζηλοῦντες</span>)." Probably this is the sense in which the apostle uses the verb in <a href="/2_corinthians/11-2.htm">2 Corinthians 11:2</a>, <span class="greek">Ζηλῶ γὰρ ὑμᾶς Θεοῦ ζηκῷ</span>, "I rejoice in your felicity with an infinite joy;" referring to the intense admiration which he felt of their present felicity, in their having been betrothed a chaste maiden to Christ; not till the next verse introducing the mention of his fear lest this paradisaical happiness might be darkened by the wiles of Satan. It is in a modified shade of the same sense that the word is employee - where it is rendered "covet earnestly" in our Authorized Version in <a href="/1_corinthians/12-31.htm">1 Corinthians 12:31</a>; <a href="/1_corinthians/14-1.htm">1 Corinthians 14:1, 39</a>. In the passage now. before us, then, <span class="greek">ζηκιῦσιν ὑμᾶς</span> probably means "they admire you," that is, they tell you so. They were expressing strong admiration of the high Christian character and eminent gifts of these simple-minded believers; the charisms which had been bestowed upon them (<a href="/galatians/3-2.htm">Galatians 3:2</a>); their virtues, in contrast especially with their heathen neighbours; their spiritual enlightenment. No doubt all this was said with the view of courting their favour; but <span class="greek">ζηλοῦτε</span> can hardly itself mean "court favour," and no instance of its occurring in this sense has been adduced; and this rendering of the verb breaks down utterly in ver. 18. The persons referred to must, of course, be understood as those who were busy in instilling at once Judaizing sentiments and also feelings of antipathy to the apostle himself, as if he were their enemy (ver. 16). The Epistle furnishes no indication whatever that these persons were strangers coming among them from without, answering, for example, to those spoken of in <a href="/galatians/2-12.htm">Galatians 2:12</a> as disturbing the Antiochian Church. It is quite supposable that the warning which, not long after the writing of this Epistle, the apostle addressed to the Ephesian elders at Miletus (<a href="/acts/20-29.htm">Acts 20:29, 30</a>), when putting them on their guard against those who "from among their own selves should rise up speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them," was founded in part upon this experience of his in the Galatian Churches. Galatian Churchmen it may well have been, and no other, who now (as the apostle had just been apprised) were employing that <span class="greek">χρηστολογία καὶ εὐλογία</span>, that "kind suave speech" and that "speech of compliment and laudation," which in <a href="/romans/16-18.htm">Romans 16:18</a> he describes as a favourite device of this class of deceivers, to win the ear of their unwary brethren. "In no good way;" for they did it insincerely and with the purpose of drawing them <span class="accented">into</span> courses which, though these men themselves knew it not, were nevertheless fraught with ruin to their spiritual welfare. <span class="cmt_word">Yea, they would</span> <span class="cmt_word">exclude you;</span> or, us (<span class="greek">ἀλλὰ ἐκκλεῖσαι ὑμᾶς θέλουσιν</span>); <span class="accented">nay<span class="cmt_word"></span>,</span> <span class="accented">rather</span>, <span class="accented">to shut you out is their wish.</span> The reading "us," noticed in the margin of the Authorized Version, is probably a merely conjectural emendation made in the Greek text by Beza, wholly unsupported by manuscript authority. The <span class="greek">ἀλλὰ</span> is adversative to the <span class="greek">οὐ καλῶς</span>, the secondary thought of the preceding clause, in the same way as the <span class="greek">ἀλλὰ</span> in <a href="/1_corinthians/2-7.htm">1 Corinthians 2:7</a> is adversative to the secondary negative clauses of ver. 6. The verb "shut out," with no determinative qualification annexed, must have it supplied from the unexpressed ground for the "admiration" denoted by the verb <span class="greek">ζηλοῦσιν</span>. The high eminence of spiritual condition and happiness on the possession of which these men were congratulating their brethren, they would be certainly excluded from if they listened to <span class="accented">them.</span> Compare the phrase, "who are unsettling you," driving you out of house and home, in ch. 5:12, where see note. <span class="cmt_word">That ye might affect them</span> (<span class="greek">ἵνα αὐτοὺς</span> <span class="greek">ζηλοῦτε</span>); <span class="accented">that ye may admire themselves.</span> The position of <span class="greek">αὐτοὺς</span> makes it emphatic. We may paraphrase thus: that, being detached from regard to my teaching, and made to feel a certain grave deficiency on your own part in respect to acceptableness with God, ye may be led to look up as disciples to these kind-hearted sympathetic advisers for instruction and guidance. The construction of <span class="greek">ἵνα</span> with <span class="greek">ζηλοῦτε</span>, which in ordinary Greek is the present <span class="accented">indicative</span>, <span class="greek">ζηλῶτε</span> being the form for the present <span class="accented">subjunctive</span>, is precisely similar to that of <span class="greek">ἵνα μὴ</span> with <span class="greek">φυσιοῦσθε</span> in <a href="/1_corinthians/4-6.htm">1 Corinthians 4:6</a>. When it is considered how punctually St. Paul is wont to comply with the syntactical rule with reference to <span class="greek">ἵνα</span>, and that these two remarkable deflections therefrom are connected with contract forms of verbs in -<span class="greek">όω</span>, Ruckert's suggestion seems to be perfectly reasonable, that the solecism lies, not in the syntactical construction, but in the grammatical in flexion, contracting -<span class="greek">όη</span> into -<span class="greek">οῦ</span> instead of into-<span class="greek">ῶ</span>. This form of contraction may have been a provincialism of Tarsus, or it may have been an idiotism of St. Paul himself. Other expedients of explanation which have been proposed are intolerably harsh and improbable. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/galatians/4-17.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div><span class="word">[Those people] are zealous for you,</span><br /><span class="grk">Ζηλοῦσιν</span> <span class="translit">(Zēlousin)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2206.htm">Strong's 2206: </a> </span><span class="str2">From zelos; to have warmth of feeling for or against.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">[but] not</span><br /><span class="grk">οὐ</span> <span class="translit">(ou)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3756.htm">Strong's 3756: </a> </span><span class="str2">No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in a good way.</span><br /><span class="grk">καλῶς</span> <span class="translit">(kalōs)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2573.htm">Strong's 2573: </a> </span><span class="str2">Well, nobly, honorably, rightly. Adverb from kalos; well.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Instead,</span><br /><span class="grk">ἀλλὰ</span> <span class="translit">(alla)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_235.htm">Strong's 235: </a> </span><span class="str2">But, except, however. Neuter plural of allos; properly, other things, i.e. contrariwise.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">they want</span><br /><span class="grk">θέλουσιν</span> <span class="translit">(thelousin)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2309.htm">Strong's 2309: </a> </span><span class="str2">To will, wish, desire, be willing, intend, design. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">to isolate</span><br /><span class="grk">ἐκκλεῖσαι</span> <span class="translit">(ekkleisai)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1576.htm">Strong's 1576: </a> </span><span class="str2">To shut out, exclude, separate. From ek and kleio; to shut out.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">you [from us],</span><br /><span class="grk">ὑμᾶς</span> <span class="translit">(hymas)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4771.htm">Strong's 4771: </a> </span><span class="str2">You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">so that</span><br /><span class="grk">ἵνα</span> <span class="translit">(hina)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2443.htm">Strong's 2443: </a> </span><span class="str2">In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">you will be zealous</span><br /><span class="grk">ζηλοῦτε</span> <span class="translit">(zēloute)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2206.htm">Strong's 2206: </a> </span><span class="str2">From zelos; to have warmth of feeling for or against.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">for them.</span><br /><span class="grk">αὐτοὺς</span> <span class="translit">(autous)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> </span><span class="str2">He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/galatians/4-17.htm">Galatians 4:17 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/galatians/4-17.htm">Galatians 4:17 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/galatians/4-17.htm">Galatians 4:17 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/galatians/4-17.htm">Galatians 4:17 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/galatians/4-17.htm">Galatians 4:17 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/galatians/4-17.htm">Galatians 4:17 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/galatians/4-17.htm">Galatians 4:17 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/galatians/4-17.htm">Galatians 4:17 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/galatians/4-17.htm">Galatians 4:17 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/galatians/4-17.htm">Galatians 4:17 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/galatians/4-17.htm">NT Letters: Galatians 4:17 They zealously seek you in no good (Gal. Ga) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/galatians/4-16.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Galatians 4:16"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Galatians 4:16" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/galatians/4-18.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Galatians 4:18"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Galatians 4:18" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>