Galatians 6:4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else,

◄ Galatians 6:4 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else,

English Standard Version
But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor.

New American Standard Bible
But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another.

King James Bible
But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But each person should examine his own work, and then he will have a reason for boasting in himself alone, and not in respect to someone else.

International Standard Version
Each person must examine his own actions, and then he can boast about his own accomplishments and not about someone else.

American Standard Version
But let each man prove his own work, and then shall he have his glorying in regard of himself alone, and not of his neighbor.

Douay-Rheims Bible
But let every one prove his own work, and so he shall have glory in himself only, and not in another.

Darby Bible Translation
but let each prove his own work, and then he will have his boast in what belongs to himself alone, and not in what belongs to another.

Young's Literal Translation
and his own work let each one prove, and then in regard to himself alone the glorying he shall have, and not in regard to the other,

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

4. his own work—not merely his own opinion of himself.

have rejoicing in himself alone—Translate, "Have his (matter for) glorying in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another (namely, not in regard to his neighbor, by comparing himself with whom, he has fancied he has matter for boasting as that neighbor's superior)." Not that really a man by looking to "himself alone" is likely to find cause for glorying in himself. Nay, in Ga 6:5, he speaks of a "burden" or load, not of matter for glorying, as what really belongs to each man. But he refers to the idea those whom he censures had of themselves: they thought they had cause for "glorying" in themselves, but it all arose from unjust self-conceited comparison of themselves with others, instead of looking at home. The only true glorying, if glorying it is to be called, is in the testimony of a good conscience, glorying in the cross of Christ.