SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 2016 – Page 3

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 3:24

3:24a

So: In 3:24, Paul used another figure of speech to explain further what he had already said about the law in the previous verses.

The Greek conjunction that Paul used here normally indicates result. That is why some English versions begin this verse with the conjunction So. However, here, it is better to see 3:24 as simply another figure of speech to explain the role of the law.

Some ways to introduce this verse are:

Let me put it another way (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
In other words (New Century Version)
-or-
Or, to change the metaphor (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
Also

Some English versions do not use a conjunction here. In some languages, a conjunction will not be necessary either.

the law became our guardian: This is a metaphor. In this metaphor, the law is compared to a guardian. The word guardian refers to a slave who was put in charge of his master’s child. This word is further defined below.

The law and a guardian are similar in that both (harshly) control someone for a temporary period of time. Just as a guardian controlled a child until he became an adult, so also the law controlled people until Christ came.

Some ways to translate this metaphor are:

• Keep the metaphor. For example:

Moses’ laws served as our guardian (God’s Word)
-or-
the law of Moses watched over us

• Translate it as a simile. For example:

the law can be compared to someone who watches over a child
-or-
the law was like a slave who was in charge of a child

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

The Law controlled us (Contemporary English Version)

guardian: The word guardian refers to a slave who was put in charge of his master’s child. (The child was about 6 to 16 years of age.) The slave’s job was to discipline the child. He made sure that the child did what he was required to do, including going to school. He did this until the child became an adult. Guardians were often very strict. Sometimes they would slap, beat, whip, or pinch the child to punish and correct him.

It was not the responsibility of a guardian to teach the child formally. Other people were the child’s teachers. So words such as “teacher” or “schoolmaster” are not good words to translate this Greek word.

Some other ways to translate the word guardian are:

child-watcher
-or-
slave in charge of a child

In some languages, it may be more natural to translate the noun guardian as a verb. For example:

the Law was in charge of us until Christ came (Good News Translation)
-or-
the law was like a person who was in control of us until Christ came

to lead us to Christ: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as to lead us to Christ is literally just “to Christ.” There are two ways to interpret this phrase:

(1) It refers to the time of Christ’s coming. For example:

until Christ came (New International Version (2011))

(New International Version (2011), Revised Standard Version, English Standard Version, Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, NET Bible, Revised English Bible, New Living Translation (2004))

(2) It refers to the purpose of having the law as a guardian. The purpose was to lead people to Christ. For example:

to lead us to Christ (New International Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, New Century Version, New Jerusalem Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This interpretation fits the context well. In this paragraph, Paul was talking about the temporary role of the law. The time of the law ended when the time of faith in Christ came.

3:24b

that we might be justified by faith: This is a purpose clause. There are two things that this could be the purpose of:

(1) It is the purpose of all of 3:24a. The law had a role, but it was only temporary. It was temporary so that we might be justified by faith. We could not be justified by following the law. For example:

a the Law was in charge of us until Christ came, b in order that we might then be put right with God through faith (Good News Translation)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version (2011), English Standard Version, Good News Translation, Revised Standard Version, NET Bible)

(2) It is the purpose of Christ’s coming. For example:

a Before Christ came, Moses’ laws served as our guardian. b Christ came so that we could receive God’s approval because of faith. (God’s Word)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). It is a suitable way to understand the Greek grammar.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

so that, when Christ arrived, we might be justified by faith
-or-

The law did this so that we might be justified by faith.

we might be justified by faith: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as justified means “cause/make to be acceptable/right.” This same verb occurs in 3:8b and 3:11a.

This verb is passive. Some ways to translate this clause are:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

we might be made right by/through faith in him/God
-or-
we could be accepted as righteous by God because of our faith

• As an active. For example:

God would make us right through faith
-or-

God would consider us straight because of our faith

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 4:27

4:27

Verse 4:27 is a quote from Isaiah 54:1. In Isaiah, these words refer to Jerusalem. Jerusalem is commanded to rejoice because God would bring back from captivity the people of this “barren” city. Paul connected Sarah to this verse. She had also been barren.

Paul applied this quotation to the heavenly Jerusalem. The heavenly Jerusalem is like the rejoicing woman. It is free, and those who belong to it are free. Paul wanted the Galatians to recognize that they also belong to the heavenly Jerusalem and are free. They too should rejoice and be glad.

4:27a

For: Verse 4:27 supports Paul’s point in 4:26 that people who believe are free and belong to the Jerusalem in heaven. The Greek introduces this supporting statement with a conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For.

Another way to translate this conjunction is:

because

Some English versions do not translate this word. In some languages, it may not be necessary to translate this word either.

it is written: This clause introduces the quotation from Isaiah.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

It is written in the Scriptures (New Century Version)
-or-
the scripture says (Good News Translation)
-or-
as God’s word says
-or-
Isaiah wrote

4:27b–c

This quote from Isaiah contains a form of poetry called parallelism. In this parallelism, the first part of 4:27b is similar in meaning to the first part of 4:27c. And the second part of 4:27b is similar in meaning to the second part of 4:27c.

27b
Rejoice, O barren woman, who bears no children ;

27c
break forth and cry aloud, you who have never travailed ;

In this parallelism, Isaiah described Jerusalem in two ways:

(a) O barren woman, who bears no children

(b) you who have never travailed

If a parallel structure in your language wrongly implies that these two clauses refer to two towns or two women, you may need to combine the parallel parts in these lines. For example:

b-c You who have never given birth, rejoice!

4:27b

Rejoice: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Rejoice means “be glad/happy.” For example:

Be happy (Good News Translation)
-or-
be glad (Contemporary English Version)

O barren woman, who bears no children: The phrases O barren woman and who bears no children are two ways of describing a woman who cannot have children. It is common in Hebrew poetry to say the same thing in two ways.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

childless woman, you who have never given birth (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
You childless woman having a closed womb
-or-
woman who has not given birth, woman who has not known pregnancy

In some languages, it is too repetitive or poor style to repeat the same idea. If that is the case in your language, you could combine the two expressions into one expression. For example:

you childless woman (Good News Translation)

4:27c

break forth and cry aloud: The commands break forth and cry aloud both mean “shout.” (As in 4:27b, it is common in Hebrew poetry to say the same thing in two ways.) It is implied that the shouting is for joy. You may need to make this explicit. For example:

raise your voice and shout for joy
-or-
make your voice strong and declare your happiness
-or-
break into a shout of joy (Revised English Bible)
-or-
raise your voice to make known your joy

Here the word cry does not mean “weep.”

As in 4:27b, if it would be considered too repetitive or poor style in your language to translate both expressions, you could combine the two expressions into one. For example:

shout with/for joy

you who have never travailed: The word travailed refers to the pain that a woman has when she gives birth. This clause is another way to refer to a childless woman. If you have an idiom to say this in your language, you can use it.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

you who never felt the pains of childbirth (Good News Translation)
-or-
you who have never suffered birth pains

4:27d

because: Verse 4:27d is the basis for the commands to rejoice in 4:27b–c. The Greek introduces this basis with a conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as because. Another way to translate this word is:

for (English Standard Version)

more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as desolate woman means “deserted woman” or “forsaken woman.” It refers to a woman whose husband has left her. In Isaiah, the desolate woman refers to Jerusalem, which God abandoned. Isaiah prophesied that God would bring back the exiles. The new Jerusalem would be bigger than the old one, the one who had a husband.

Paul applied this verse to the heavenly Jerusalem. The heavenly Jerusalem will have more people than the earthly Jerusalem.

Some other ways to translate these clauses are:

the deserted woman will have many more children than the woman who has a husband
-or-
many are the children of the forsaken woman. They are more than those of the woman who has a husband

are: In Greek, there is no verb in 4:27d. So English versions add a verb. Some use the future “will be” or “will have.” Others use the present are. For example:

the woman who was deserted will have more children (Good News Translation)
-or-
more are the children of the desolate woman (New International Version)

In this verse from Isaiah, the idea is that the woman had many children after her time of being desolate. So, in many languages, the future tense will be better.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 6:2

6:2a

Carry one another’s burdens: This clause is a command that means “help to carry each other’s loads.”

This clause is a metaphor. In this metaphor, Paul encouraged believers to help one another. He compared the difficulties of temptations and sin in 6:1 to a burden. The word burdens also probably represents other types of difficulties such as suffering, pain, and other problems. These things are similar to burdens in that they all are difficult to experience. Paul commanded the believers to help each other in these situations.

Some ways to translate this clause are:

• Keep the metaphor. For example:

Help carry one another’s burdens (Good News Translation)

• Make parts of the metaphor explicit. For example:

Help each other with your heavy burdens of temptations and difficulties

• Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:

Problems and troubles are like burdens/loads. Help one another carry these loads.

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

Help each other with your difficulties and sufferings
-or-
If you see that someone is suffering, help him.

6:2b

and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ: There is a textual variant here with the tense/aspect of the verb fulfill :

(1) Some Greek manuscripts have the future tense of the verb fulfill. For example:

and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ (Berean Standard Bible, New International Version)

(2) Some Greek manuscripts have the imperative (command) form of the verb fulfill. For example:

and so fulfil the law of Christ (Revised Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow option (1). This is the choice of the UBS Handbook Greek New Testament.

you will fulfill the law of Christ: The phrase the law of Christ refers to the law that Christ taught. He taught us to love our neighbor as ourselves. When we help someone, we are fulfilling/obeying the law to love one another.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

By helping each other, you will truly fulfill/obey the law that Christ taught/commanded.
-or-
and in this way you will obey the law of Christ (Good News Translation)
-or-
In this way you will follow Christ’s teachings. (God’s Word)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 1:16

1:16a

to reveal His Son in me: This clause means that God showed Paul that Jesus was his/God’s son.

The verb reveal does not just mean that Paul saw Jesus with his eyes. It means that God caused Paul to understand who Jesus really was. This happened on the road to Damascus.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

to show me his Son (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
to cause me to know his Son
-or-
to make me to understand who his Son really is

His Son: The phrase His Son refers to God’s Son, Jesus. “The Son of God” or “God’s Son” is a title that was often used to refer to a savior who would be a descendant of King David. God would send this savior to rescue his people. This person was often referred to as the “Messiah” or “Christ.”

The title “the Son of God” also indicates that Jesus has the same nature and character as God. The relationship between God the Father and Jesus, his Son, is similar in some way to the relationship between human fathers and sons. God the Father does not have a physical body. He did not have a sexual relationship with Mary that resulted in her becoming pregnant and giving birth to Jesus. The Son of God existed eternally as the Son with his Father.

In areas where people do not understand the title “the Son of God” in this way, you may want to include a footnote that explains the correct meaning. Here is a suggested footnote:

This title refers to Jesus. It indicates that Jesus has the same nature and character as God. It does not mean that God the Father had a sexual relationship with Mary that resulted in her becoming pregnant and giving birth to Jesus. Mary became pregnant with Jesus in a miraculous way by the Holy Spirit of God.

In some languages, it is natural to speak of a son as a “child,” without specifying male or female. If that is true in your language, you may use a more general term, such as:

his Child

Other verses will usually make clear that Jesus was a male child. If you use a phrase such as “his male child,” be sure that it does not imply that God had another child who was female.

1:16b

so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles: This clause tells God’s purpose in revealing Jesus to Paul. God showed Jesus to Paul so that Paul would tell the good news about him to the Gentiles.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

so that I would announce his message to the Gentiles (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
so that I might tell the Good News about him to those who are not Jewish (New Century Version)
-or-
so that I would tell people who are not Jewish that his Son is the Good News (God’s Word)

Gentiles: The word Gentiles refers to all people who were not Jews. This is the first time that this word occurs in Galatians.

Some ways to translate this word are:

the people who are not Jews
-or-
non-Jews

See Gentiles, Meaning 1 in the Glossary.

1:16c–17

The main clause of 1:15–17 begins in 1:16c. This clause first states what Paul did not do, and then it states what he did do immediately after God revealed Jesus to him. This is the main clause:

…16c I did not immediately consult with anyone 17a nor did I go up to Jerusalem …17b but I went into Arabia…

Paul’s main point is that he did not receive the gospel from people. Your translation should make this main point clear. In some languages, this will be clearer if you first translate what Paul did. For example:

17b I immediately went into Arabia 16c without consulting any man 17a or going up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before me. 17c Later I returned to Damascus.

1:16c

I did not rush to consult with flesh and blood: This clause means that Paul “did not ask for information from someone” or “did not ask for instruction from someone.” Paul did not go to anyone to ask them to tell him or teach him or give him advice about the good news.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

I did not go to anyone for advice (Good News Translation)
-or-
I did not ask anyone to teach me about the gospel
-or-
When all this happened to me, I did not rush out to consult with anyone else (New Living Translation (1996))

rush: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as rush relates to all three clauses in 1:16c, 1:17a, and 1:17b. In the first two clauses Paul told us what he did not do. In the third clause, he told us what he did do. In some languages, it may be more natural to place the word rush in the third clause (the one that tells us what Paul did do). For example:

but right away I departed to Arabia (NET Bible)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 3:3

3:3

Before you translate 3:3a–c, there are three issues to consider:

Issue 1: The number of sentences

In Greek, 3:3a–c is one sentence. This whole sentence is a rhetorical question. In some languages, it may be possible to translate this Greek sentence as one sentence. For example:

a Are you foolish enough to think that b after you began by the Spirit, c you can finish by the flesh?

All English versions translate 3:3a as a separate rhetorical question. These versions then translate 3:3b–c as one or two additional sentences. (Examples are given in the Notes on 3:3a–c below.) In many languages, it will probably be natural to also translate 3:3a–c as two or three sentences.

Issue 2: The contrasting parallels

Notice that there are two parallels in this verse. These parallels contrast. The first contrasting parallels are “starting” and “finishing.” They are underlined below:

After starting in the Spirit, are you now finishing in the flesh?

The second contrasting parallels are “with the Spirit” and “with the flesh.” They are underlined below.

After starting in the Spirit, are you now finishing in the flesh ?

It is good to recognize these contrasting parallels even if you cannot translate them literally in your language.

Issue 3: The order of the clauses

In some languages, it may be more natural to change the order of these clauses. For example:

3b After starting with the Spirit, 3a it’s foolish 3c to attempt to finish by human effort.
-or-

3b You began your life in Christ by the Spirit. 3c Now are you trying to make it complete by your own power? 3a That is foolish. (New Century Version)

3:3a

Are you so foolish?: This is a rhetorical question. Paul used this rhetorical question to rebuke the Galatians for being foolish.

Some ways to translate this rebuke are:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

Why are you so foolish?
-or-
Are you mad/crazy?

• As a tag question. For example:

You are not that foolish, are you?

• As an exclamation. For example:

You should not be so foolish!

• As a command. For example:

Do not be so foolish!

Use whichever form is most natural in your language to express a rebuke.

foolish: This is the same word that Paul used in 3:1a. You should translate it in the same way.

3:3b

Verse 3:3b is the beginning of a rhetorical question that ends in 3:3c.

After starting in the Spirit: The phrase in the Spirit is another way of saying “receive the Spirit” in 3:2b. Paul reminded the Galatians that their lives in Christ began when they received the Holy Spirit.

Some ways to translate this clause are:

• As the first part of the sentence that continues in 3:3c. For example:

After beginning with the Spirit (New International Version)
-or-
After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit (New Living Translation (2004))

• As a separate sentence. For example:

You began your life in Christ by the Spirit. (New Century Version)
-or-
You received the Holy Spirit when you started to follow Jesus .

• As a separate rhetorical question. In this part of the rhetorical question of 3:3b–c, Paul emphasized that the Galatians had begun their Christian lives with the Holy Spirit. For example:

You began your life as Christians with the Spirit, did you not?

the Spirit: As in 3:2b, the word Spirit here means the “Holy Spirit.”

3:3c

are you now finishing in the flesh?: Before you translate 3:3c, there are two issues to consider:

Issue 1: The interpretation issue

There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as finishing :

(1) It means the finish or end of their lives either by death or Christ’s return. The idea of finishing here contrasts with the idea of “starting” in 3:3b. According to this interpretation, Paul asked the Galatians, “Are you now going to change from the way you began your Christian life and use your own efforts to continue until the end?” For example:

are you now trying to finish by human effort? (NET Bible)

(2) It means to perfect and refers to the Galatians adding something to their spiritual lives to become perfect. For example:

why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? (New Living Translation (2004))

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). The thought here is similar to Philippians 1:6, which says, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Berean Standard Bible)

Issue 2: The rhetorical question

Paul again used a rhetorical question to rebuke the Galatians. He wanted them to realize that it made no sense to begin by/with the Spirit and then change to their own strength. They were foolish to try to live their Christian life in the flesh.

Some ways to translate this rebuke are:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

do you now want to finish by your own power? (Good News Translation)
-or-
Do you think that you can finish with your own strength?

• As a statement. For example:

Now you are foolishly trying to finish/end by your own effort.

• As a command. For example:

Do not be so foolish as to try to finish by your own strength.

Use whichever form is most natural in your language to express a rebuke.

in the flesh: The phrase in the flesh is another way of saying “by obeying the law.” It refers to people trying to save themselves by their own human effort. This phrase contrasts with “by the Spirit” (in 3:3b).

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

by your own actions
-or-
because of your own efforts
-or-
using your own strength/power

For more information, see flesh, Meaning 5 in the Glossary.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 4:6

4:6a

And: Verse 4:6 is an additional point in Paul’s discussion about being sons of God. The Berean Standard Bible connects this verse to the previous verse with the conjunction And.

Some English versions do not begin this sentence with such a conjunction. In some languages, it will not be necessary to begin this sentence with such a conjunction either.

because you are sons: There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as because :

(1) It means because. According to this interpretation, this word is a conjunction and introduces the reason why God has given us the Spirit. Paul is saying that because we are his children, God has given us the Spirit. For example:

Because you are sons (New International Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, English Standard Version, New International Version, NET Bible, Revised Standard Version, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, God’s Word, New Living Translation (2004), New Century Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

(2) It means that. According to this interpretation, God gives us his Spirit, and that confirms that we are his children. So this verse should read, “That which shows that we are his children is that God gave us the Spirit.” For example:

To show that you are his children (Good News Translation)

(Good News Translation, Revised English Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Most English versions follow this interpretation.

Another way to translate this clause is:

Now that you are sons

you: Paul used the pronoun you to address the Galatians directly. He then changed to the pronoun “our” in 4:6b to focus on the fact that all believers are sons and have the Spirit. In some languages, it may not be natural to change pronouns in this way. If that is true in your language, you may use the pronoun “we” here. For example:

And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts (New Living Translation (2004))

4:6b

God sent: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible here translates as sent is the same Greek word as in 4:4b.

Another way to translate this is:

God gave us

the Spirit of His Son: The phrase the Spirit of His Son refers to the Holy Spirit. In other passages, he is also called “the Spirit of God” and “the Spirit of Christ.” Your word for the Spirit of His Son must make it clear that this is the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

the Spirit of his Son, that is, the Holy Spirit
-or-
the Holy Spirit, the Spirit that his Son promised

See Spirit in the Glossary.

into our hearts: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as hearts refers to the inner being of a person. It is who we are as a person.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

to live in our hearts/minds
-or-
to stay in us
-or-
to be with us

Many languages use a different part of the body such as “liver,” “kidney,” “intestines,” or “mind” to refer to the inner being of a person.

4:6c

crying out: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as crying out refers to earnest, intense “calling out.” It describes what the Holy Spirit does in our hearts. He enables us to call God “Father.” It does not refer to weeping.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

It’s the Spirit living in us who urgently calls out
-or-
The Spirit enables us to say

“Abba, Father!”: The word Abba is the Aramaic word that means Father. Jesus called God “Abba.” Jesus is God’s Son. Now we are God’s sons, so we too can call him “Abba.” Before Christ came, people did not address God as “Father.”

Some ways to translate these words are:

• Transliterate the word “Abba” and use the word for “Father” in your language. This is what many English versions do. For example:

Abba, Father

If you choose this option, you may want to include a footnote explaining that “Abba” means “Father” in Aramaic.

• Transliterate the word “Abba” and then explain that it means “Father.” For example:

“Abba,” which means Father.

• Use only one term. Either transliterate “Abba” or use your word for “Father.” For example:

Abba
-or-
Father (New Century Version)

If the word “Abba” is already a word in your language that means something else, you should not transliterate that word.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 5:7

Paragraph 5:7–10

In this paragraph, Paul warned the Galatians about the false teachers. They were dangerous. But God would judge them.

5:7a

You were running so well: This clause is a metaphor. In this metaphor, Paul compared the Galatians’ life of faith in Christ to running a race. They are similar in that both had been done well. They had started well. Paul implied that the Galatians were no longer living the Christian life well.

Some ways to translate this metaphor are:

• Keep the metaphor. For example:

You were running the race so well. (New Living Translation (2004))

• Make the topic explicit. For example:

You were running well in your life with Christ.

• Make the topic explicit and change the metaphor to a simile. For example:

You were following Christ well in the same way that a person runs a race well.

• Translate the meaning without the metaphor. For example:

You were obeying Christ well.
-or-
You were doing so well! (Good News Translation)
-or-
You were progressing so well.

5:7b

Who has obstructed you from obeying the truth?: This is a rhetorical question. Paul used this rhetorical question to rebuke the Galatians. He stated that they were no longer living according to the truth of the gospel.

Some ways to translate this rebuke are:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

Who stopped you from following the true way? (New Century Version)
-or-
Why did you permit someone to hinder you from obeying the truth?

• As an exclamation. For example:

You should not have stopped obeying the truth!

• As a statement. For example:

until someone made you turn from the truth (Contemporary English Version)

has obstructed you: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as obstructed means “prevent” or “stop someone.” In this metaphor of a race, it refers to someone getting in front of a runner and blocking his way. Some versions translate this verb in such a way as to reflect the racing idiom. For example:

cut in on you (New International Version)

Some other ways to translate this verb are:

stopped you (New Century Version)
-or-
prevented you (NET Bible)
-or-
interfered and held you back

the truth: The phrase the truth refers to the true gospel that Paul preached.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

the true gospel
-or-
the true message from God

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 6:13

6:13a

For: Verse 6:13 adds another point to the discussion in 6:12 about the purposes of the false teachers. The false teachers forced the Galatians to be circumcised so that:

(a) they would not be persecuted (6:12c)

and

(b) they could boast. (6:13c)

The Greek introduces this point with a conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For. Here, this conjunction does not introduce a reason. So many versions do not translate it. For example:

Not even those who are circumcised obey the law (New International Version)

In some languages, it will not be necessary to translate this conjunction either.

the circumcised do not even keep the law themselves: The clause the circumcised refers to the false teachers. They are the same people to whom Paul referred in 6:12a as “those who want to make a good impression outwardly.” They forced the Galatians to keep one part of the law: circumcision. But they did not bother to try to keep other parts of the law. They themselves did not keep the whole law. They were hypocrites.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

They are circumcised, but they don’t obey the Law of Moses. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
even those who advocate circumcision don’t keep the whole law themselves (New Living Translation (2004))

6:13b

yet: There is a contrast here. The contrast is between the fact that the false teachers did not obey the law themselves (6:13a), and the fact that they wanted to force the Galatians believers to obey the law by being circumcised (6:13b). The Greek indicates this contrast with a conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as yet.

they want you to be circumcised: Some other ways to translate this clause are:

they desire to have you circumcised (English Standard Version)
-or-
they want you to get circumcised

6:13c

that they may boast: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as that indicates that 6:13c is the purpose of 6:13b. The false teachers desire to have you circumcised so that they may boast.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

so that they can brag (God’s Word)
-or-
in order that they may boast

in your flesh: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible literally translates as in your flesh refers to “what was done to your flesh/body.” In other words, it refers to “your circumcision.”

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

about what was done to your body (God’s Word)
-or-
about what they forced you to do (New Century Version)
-or-
about having you circumcised (Contemporary English Version)

In this clause, Paul repeated the point he made in 6:12a. That is, the false teachers want the Galatians to be circumcised because outward appearances were important to them. They wanted to boast/brag about their converts. They want others to praise them for their work.

See flesh, Meaning 4 in the Glossary for more information.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 2016

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 3:24

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 4:27

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 6:2

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 1:16

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 3:3

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 4:6

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 5:7

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 6:13

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