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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