Verse Lens · Concise explanation
Galatians 5:7 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 7. 7Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Quick Meaning
This verse uses a race interruption image to ask who hindered the Galatians from obeying the truth.
Read It With
- Galatians 5:2–12
Read Galatians 5:7 with 5:2–12. This verse uses a race interruption image to ask who hindered the Galatians from obeying the truth. The complete unit establishes this movement: Paul warns Gentile hearers that receiving circumcision as the demanded basis of standing commits them to the whole law and abandons Christ as their ground; through the Spirit, by faith, the community waits for righteousness's hope, and the faith that counts works through love.
Why This Verse Appears Here
The warning names the concrete decision at stake and then gives the positive center: neither circumcision nor uncircumcision establishes standing in Christ; faith becomes active through love. Within that movement, this verse uses a race interruption image to ask who hindered the Galatians from obeying the truth.
Phrase-by-Phrase Explanation
“who did hinder you”
In plain language: A singular rhetorical question focuses on the obstructing influence.
uses a race interruption image to ask who hindered the Galatians from obeying the truth. A good beginning does not remove the need to identify later obstruction.
Why it matters: The wording identifies this verse's distinct contribution to the complete unit.
How certain? probableWhat Remains True
A good beginning does not remove the need to identify later obstruction.
How It Can Shape Life
- Name the specific barrier instead of blaming the whole group.
Continue in Context
The full thought-unit study remains the final contextual authority for this Verse Lens.
Read Galatians 5:2–12 — Circumcision as Required Status Would Abandon Grace's GroundSources used for this Verse Lens
How certain is this explanation? probable
Where care is needed
The singular may personify a group; no one opponent is securely identified.
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Exact reader-facing Scripture wording, paragraph markers, supplied-word markup, and complete verse coverage.
Exact location: Galatians 5:2–12, pinned eng-kjv2006 USFM corpus
Open source ↗Greek textual evidence
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition
Michael W. Holmes, editor; Society of Biblical Literature and Logos
Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software, 2010
Supports: Greek wording, clause relationships, repeated terms, and original-language discussion.
Exact location: SBLGNT official text file Gal.txt, 5:2–12
Open the Galatians Greek text file ↗Translation and textual notes
NET Bible - Galatians with translators' and textual notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, 2005-2026 online edition
Supports: Verse-level Greek, syntax, KJV-era wording, textual variants, and interpretive alternatives.
Exact location: NET Bible Galatians chapter print views, 5:2–12, including attached translator, study, and textual notes
Open NET Galatians 5 notes