Galatians 5:20idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies,
The setting
Galatia region, central Turkey, ~49 AD. Paul continues his stark list, moving from sexual sins to relational destruction...
The emotion here: heartbroken watching believers tear each other apart
The original word
eritheiai (ἐριθείας) — selfish ambition, originally used for politicians buying votes
Why it matters
Sorcery (pharmakeia) often involved drug-induced religious experiences in pagan temples
Read with care
What most readers miss in Galatians 5:20
Paul groups 'divisions' with murder — he sees splitting churches as spiritually violent
Common misconceptionPeople think 'idolatry' only means worshipping statues. Paul includes anything we put before God — career, approval, control, even family.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Galatians 5:20
Bible Genome reading
Galatians 5:20 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Galatians 5:20 comes from the book of Galatians, written during the early_church period. These words are attributed to Paul. The dominant emotion in this verse is deciding, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the teaching genre of biblical literature. Key themes include sin, division, spiritual warfare. Notable phrases: idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same deciding
“"You shall have no other gods before me.”
— Deuteronomy 5:7
“"You shall not murder.”
— Exodus 20:13
“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
— Matthew 23:12
“For God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.”
— 2 Timothy 1:7
“But Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!"”
— Acts 3:6
Your reflection
What does Galatians 5:20 mean to you, today?
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