Galatians 6:9

Galatians 6:9

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

a. NLT: So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. [Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.]

b. Amplified Bible: And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint. [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

c. NIV: Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. [THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.]

d. ASV: And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. [Thomas Nelson & Sons first published the American Standard Version in 1901. This translation of the Bible is in the public domain.]

e. YLT: And in the doing good we may not be faint-hearted, for at the proper time we shall reap -- not desponding;[The Young's Literal Translation was translated by Robert Young, who believed in a strictly literal translation of God's word. This version of the Bible is in the public domain.]

f. NIV: Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. [THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.]

1. “And let us not be weary in well doing…”

a. [Strong: 3588. [to] ὁ ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.] [Thayer: [to] ὁ, ἡ, τό, originally τος, τῇ, τό (as is evident from the forms τοι, ται for οἱ, αἱ in Homer and the Ionic writings), corresponds to our definite article the (German der, die, das), which is properly a demonstrative pronoun, which we see in its full force in Homer, and of which we find certain indubitable traces also in all kinds of Greek prose, and hence also in the N. T.] [Additional variants: tē, hoi, oi, tēn, ta, tēs, tois, tais, tō, tōn, hé  hē, hai.]

b. And [Strong: 1161. de deh a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

c. [let us] not [Strong: 3361. me may a primary particle of qualified negation (whereas 3756 expresses an absolute denial); (adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas 3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether:--any but (that), X forbear, + God forbid, + lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, (can-)not, nothing, that not, un(-taken), without. Often used in compounds in substantially the same relations.]

d. [be] weary [1573 * ekkakeo][Strong: from 1537 and 2556; to be (bad or) weak, i.e. (by implication) to fail (in heart):--faint, be weary.]

1). We are not to be weary or to faint because of the grace that has been provided to us through Christ Jesus. The same Greek word for “weary” in Galatians 6:9 is translated “faint” in other verses.

a). 2 Corinthians 4:1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;

b). 2 Corinthians 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

2). Rick Renner 1/13/17: The word “weary” is the word egkakeo, a compound of the Greek words en and kakos. The word en in this case means to give in, and the word kakeo is a form of kakos, a word frequently used to denote something that is evil, destructive, or even unjust. But when these words are compounded, the new word depicts one who is tempted to give up because he feels accosted by an evil, destructive, or unjust person or circumstance. Have you ever tried hard to do what is right, but felt crushed or continually resisted by some circumstance or person? Has that opposition caused you to feel tempted to throw in the towel? In spite of the destructive forces that may have tried to rail against you or loom over your life, even if a truly unjust situation has reared its ugly head against you, God commands you to not surrender to the temptation to become weary and give up. He is the One who says, “Let us not be weary in well doing.…”

e. [in] well [2570 * kalos][Strong:  of uncertain affinity; properly, beautiful, but chiefly (figuratively) good (literally or morally), i.e. valuable or virtuous (for appearance or use, and thus distinguished from 18, which is properly intrinsic):--X better, fair, good(-ly), honest, meet, well, worthy.][Zodhiates: Constitutionally good without necessarily being benevolent; expresses beauty as a harmonious completeness, balance, proportion.]

1). Rick Renner 1/13/17: The word “well” is the Greek word kalos, which means good but would be better translated here as useful. The word “good” itself is too broad a term and leaves one wondering what is included. But when it is more accurately translated as the word “useful,” it gives clarity that a “good” work is a “useful” work. This suggests that there are “unuseful” works. Indeed, there is a lot of energy and time expended on things that have no benefit to anyone. But Paul’s use of the word kalos tells us that we must focus on those works that are “useful” with some type of measurable results. This tells us that what is sown is not only financial seeds, but also good deeds.

f. doing [4160 * poieo][Strong: apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct):--abide, + agree, appoint, X avenge, + band together, be, bear, + bewray, bring (forth), cast out, cause, commit, + content, continue, deal, + without any delay, (would) do(-ing), execute, exercise, fulfil, gain, give, have, hold, X journeying, keep, + lay wait, + lighten the ship, make, X mean, + none of these things move me, observe, ordain, perform, provide, + have purged, purpose, put, + raising up, X secure, shew, X shoot out, spend, take, tarry, + transgress the law, work, yield.] [Zodhiates: To make, form, produce, bring about, cause, spoken of any external act as manifested in the production of something tangible, corporeal, obvious to the senses, completed action.]

1). Rick Renner 1/13/17: The word “doing” is from the Greek word poieo and refers to any type of activity. It can even carry the idea of creative doing when the action doesn’t come easily or naturally. In other words, if we can’t easily see a way to do something that is beneficial, it’s time for us to get creative! God is looking for us to be consistent and productive with useful works. It must be noted that this word, as used here, is also a participle. This means it is ongoing, uninterrupted action. In other words, the type of “well doing” that Paul described is not a one-time event, but an ongoing action. It is a lifestyle of sowing seeds and deeds.

2. “…for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

a. for [Strong: 1063. gar gar a primary particle; properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles):--and, as, because (that), but, even, for, indeed, no doubt, seeing, then, therefore, verily, what, why, yet.]

b. [in] due [2398 * idios][Strong: of uncertain affinity; pertaining to self, i.e. one's own; by implication, private or separate:--X his acquaintance, when they were alone, apart, aside, due, his (own, proper, several), home, (her, our, thine, your) own (business), private(-ly), proper, severally, their (own).]  [Zodhiates: As pertaining to a private person and not to the public, private, particular, individual…]

1). Paul is encouraging all of us as individual believers, me, you.

c. season [2540 * kairos][Strong:  of uncertain affinity; an occasion, i.e. set or proper time:--X always, opportunity, (convenient, due) season, (due, short, while) time, a while.]

1). Rick Renner 1/13/17: Paul promised that “in due season,” we shall reap a harvest for our efforts. The words “due season” are idios and kairos. The word idios means its own. The word kairos refers to a set season. Thus, each seed has its own set season — a specific, individual time when it will produce a harvest. Even if many multiple seeds of different kinds are all planted at one time, each has its own season to be reaped, depending on the nature of the seed. One seed produces during one set season, while another seed is reaped during a different season. Thus, it is a mistake to judge our seed and its time of harvest by the harvest time of other seeds, because each seed has its unique set season to mature. We just need to remember God’s promise: If we are consistent — if we steadfastly keep sowing our seed into the ground and refuse to allow weariness to derail us — a time will come when we shall reap.

 

c. [we shall] reap [2325 * therizo][Strong: to harvest:--reap.]

1). The words “shall reap” are from the word therismos, a word that describes the reaping or harvesting of crops. What is important to note is that the Greek tense describes a future, fixed event. Hence, the harvest is in the future, but it is fixed and guaranteed to happen — if we will do our part and stay on course. This is why Paul continued by saying, “…if we faint not.”

d. [if we] faint [1590 * ekluo][Strong: from 1537 and 3089; to relax (literally or figuratively):--faint.

1). Rick Renner 1/13/17: The word “if” tells us that our actions have the power to disrupt a harvest — just as I twice disrupted the reaping of my corn crop! Paul added the word “if” to help us understand that our consistency and refusal to surrender for any reason is vital in reaching the set season of our seed. If we “faint” at any point along the way, we can jeopardize the long-term harvest of what we have sown.

2). Rick Renner 1/13/17: The word “faint” is the Greek word ekluo, a compound of the words ek and luo. The word ek means out, and the word luo means to loosen or to relax. When compounded, the new word means to loosen out. It is a relaxed mental state that results in loss. It pictures a person who has become so weary that he gives up and forfeits what he had long awaited and was so close to reaping. As a result, the person loses the desired outcome that was so near. Pressures applied against this person have unraveled him, causing his grip to slacken until the answer he was holding on to slips from his hands. The result is loss. In the case of Galatians 6:9, he has lost a harvest.

e. not [3361 * me][Strong: a primary particle of qualified negation (whereas 3756 expresses an absolute denial); (adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas 3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether:--any but (that), X forbear, + God forbid, + lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, (can-)not, nothing, that not, un(-taken), without. Often used in compounds in substantially the same relations.

1). The sowing and reaping of the context clearly is speaking of well doing, which includes being obedient to the word of God. Here Paul is exhorting and encouraging his hearers that they will reap from their actions if they don’t faint.