Galatians 6:3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.

◄ Galatians 6:3 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.

English Standard Version
For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

New American Standard Bible
For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

King James Bible
For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For if anyone considers himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

International Standard Version
For if anyone thinks he is something when he is really nothing, he is only fooling himself.

American Standard Version
For if a man thinketh himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For if any man think himself to be some thing, whereas he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

Darby Bible Translation
For if any man reputes himself to be something, being nothing, he deceives himself;

Young's Literal Translation
for if any one doth think himself to be something -- being nothing -- himself he doth deceive;

Cross References

Acts 5:36
For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nothing.

1 Corinthians 3:18
Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seems to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

2 Corinthians 12:11
I am become a fool in glorying; you have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very most chief apostles, though I be nothing.

Galatians 2:6
But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatever they were, it makes no matter to me: God accepts no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:

Galatians 2:9
And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go to the heathen, and they to the circumcision.

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Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

6:1-5 We are to bear one another's burdens. So we shall fulfil the law of Christ. This obliges to mutual forbearance and compassion towards each other, agreeably to his example. It becomes us to bear one another's burdens, as fellow-travellers. It is very common for a man to look upon himself as wiser and better than other men, and as fit to dictate to them. Such a one deceives himself; by pretending to what he has not, he puts a cheat upon himself, and sooner or later will find the sad effects. This will never gain esteem, either with God or men. Every one is advised to prove his own work. The better we know our own hearts and ways, the less shall we despise others, and the more be disposed to help them under infirmities and afflictions. How light soever men's sins seem to them when committed, yet they will be found a heavy burden, when they come to reckon with God about them. No man can pay a ransom for his brother; and sin is a burden to the soul. It is a spiritual burden; and the less a man feels it to be such, the more cause has he to suspect himself. Most men are dead in their sins, and therefore have no sight or sense of the spiritual burden of sin. Feeling the weight and burden of our sins, we must seek to be eased thereof by the Saviour, and be warned against every sin.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

3. Self-conceit, the chief hindrance to forbearance and sympathy towards our fellow men, must be laid aside.

something—possessed of some spiritual pre-eminence, so as to be exempt from the frailty of other men.

when he is nothing—The Greek is subjective: "Being, if he would come to himself, and look on the real fact, nothing" [Alford] (Ga 6:2, 6; Ro 12:3; 1Co 8:2).

deceiveth himself—literally, "he mentally deceives himself." Compare Jas 1:26, "deceiveth his own heart."