Bible Strands
Galatians 5:15
But if you keep on biting and devouring one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul addresses the Galatian believers as he transitions from the command to love neighbors to a warning against internal strife. He writes at a moment when the community is fracturing under fleshly impulses.
The words — δακνετε (daknete) means you bite and κατεσθιετε (katesthiete) means you devour, depicting mutual aggression.
The thread — The pattern of destructive internal conflict appears in 1 Corinthians 3:3, James 3:14, and Galatians 5:26.
Why it lands — The text states that continuous mutual hostility will result in mutual consumption and commands immediate vigilance. It requires readers to halt factional behavior before it destroys the community.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
Cross-references
- 1 Corinthians 3:3 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?
- James 3:14 But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth.
- Galatians 5:26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying one another.
- 2 Corinthians 11:20 In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or exalts himself or strikes you in the face.
- 2 Corinthians 12:20 For I am afraid that when I come, I may not find you as I wish, and you may not find me as you wish. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, rage, rivalry, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.
- Isaiah 9:20 They carve out what is on the right, but they are still hungry; they eat what is on the left, but they are still not satisfied. Each one devours the flesh of his own offspring.
- Isaiah 11:13 Then the jealousy of Ephraim will depart, and the adversaries of Judah will be cut off. Ephraim will no longer envy Judah, nor will Judah harass Ephraim.
- 1 Corinthians 6:6 Instead, one brother goes to law against another, and this in front of unbelievers!
- Isaiah 11:5 Righteousness will be the belt around His hips, and faithfulness the sash around His waist.
- Philippians 3:2 Watch out for those dogs, those workers of evil, those mutilators of the flesh!