Bible Strands
Galatians 5:7
You were running so well. Who has obstructed you from obeying the truth?
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul writes to the Galatian churches, confronting their rapid shift from gospel freedom toward circumcision-based legalism. The tone is urgent rebuke, not instruction.
The words — ἐνέκοψεν (enekopsen), "to cut off, to impede," is a rare verb used only here in the New Testament; it pictures a physical obstruction thrown into the path of a runner.
The thread — The running metaphor echoes 1 Corinthians 9:24; the rhetorical "who has…?" mirrors Galatians 3:1; the idea of encumbrance in the race appears in Hebrews 12:1.
Why it lands — The verse refuses to let the reader remain passive about their own drift; it demands they name the specific source that pulled them off course.
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
Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
Cross-references
- 1 Corinthians 9:24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to take the prize.
- Galatians 3:1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.
- Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us.
- Matthew 13:21 But since he has no root, he remains for only a season. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.
- 1 Peter 1:22 Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth so that you have a genuine love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from a pure heart.
- Romans 2:8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow wickedness, there will be wrath and anger.
- Romans 10:16 But not all of them welcomed the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?”
- 2 Corinthians 10:5 We demolish arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
- Hebrews 5:9 And having been made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him
- Acts 6:7 So the word of God continued to spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem grew rapidly, and a great number of priests became obedient to the faith.