5:15a

But: There is a contrast between 5:14b and 5:15. The contrast is between the command to love one another and the way that the Galatians were actually treating one another. The Berean Standard Bible indicates this contrast with the conjunction But.

if you keep on biting and devouring one another: This clause is a metaphor. In this metaphor, the way that the Galatians were treating one another is compared to the kinds of actions that wild animals do. Paul implied that the actions of the sinful nature are as destructive as the actions of wild animals.

Paul used two words, biting and devouring (that is, eating), to emphasize how serious the situation in Galatia was.

Some ways to translate this metaphor are:

• Keep the metaphor but make the image explicit. For example:

if you ?are wild animals that? bite and devour/eat one another

• Change the metaphor to a simile and make the image explicit. For example:

when you ?act like wild animals that? bite and eat each other
-or-
if you act like wild animals, hurting and harming each other (Good News Translation)

• Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:

if you criticize and attack each other (God’s Word)

devouring: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as devouring is a word used for wild animals eating food. They eat greedily and swallow food without chewing it. This is not the normal word used to describe humans eating.

5:15b

watch out, or you will be consumed by one another: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as consumed means “destroyed.” It refers to the results of biting and devouring one another. Paul asked the Galatians to stop and think about the effects of not loving one another.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

watch out or you will be destroyed by each other (New International Version)
-or-
look out! Beware ruining one another.
-or-
be careful that you don’t destroy each other (God’s Word)

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
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