Bible Strands
Galatians 5:20
idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions,
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul addresses the Galatian churches to catalog the observable results of living according to the flesh. He places this list immediately after describing sexual immorality and impurity, and immediately before warning that those who practice such things will not inherit God’s kingdom.
The words — The text identifies φαρμακεία (pharmakeia) as sorcery and διχοστασία (dichostasia) as divisions or factions. These terms directly name spiritual rebellion and the resulting social fragmentation before any application is drawn.
The thread — The catalog of idolatry and sorcery runs parallel to the exclusion listed in Revelation 21:8, while the call to address factionalism aligns with the instruction in Titus 3:10. The visible divisions produced by these acts function as the proof of character Paul references in 1 Corinthians 11:19.
Why it lands — The passage requires a reader to examine their own conduct for signs of spiritual rebellion and social fragmentation. It demands a clear-eyed recognition that practicing such acts actively disqualifies a person from inheriting God’s kingdom.
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
Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Cross-references
- 1 Corinthians 11:19 And indeed, there must be differences among you to show which of you are approved.
- Titus 3:10 Reject a divisive man after a first and second admonition,
- Revelation 21:8 But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.”
- 2 Corinthians 11:19 For you gladly put up with fools, since you are so wise.
- Acts 8:9 Prior to that time, a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and astounded the people of Samaria. He claimed to be someone great,
- Deuteronomy 18:10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery,
- 1 Chronicles 10:13 So Saul died for his unfaithfulness to the LORD, because he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance,
- Acts 16:16 One day as we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl with a spirit of divination, who earned a large income for her masters by fortune-telling.
- 1 Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance is like the wickedness of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king.”
- 2 Chronicles 33:6 He sacrificed his sons in the fire in the Valley of Ben-hinnom. He practiced sorcery, divination, and witchcraft, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did great evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.