Galatians 5:3

Galatians 5:3

For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

a. NLT: I’ll say it again. If you are trying to find favor with God by being circumcised, you must obey every regulation in the whole law of Moses.

b. NIV: Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.

c. YLT: and I testify again to every man circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law;

d. Amplified Bible Classic:  I once more protest and testify to every man who receives circumcision that he is under obligation and bound to practice the whole of the Lawand its ordinances.

e. Worrell Translation: And I testify again to every man who is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

1. “For I testify again to every man that is circumcised…”

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

b. I testify [4143 * marturomai] [Strong: middle voice from 3144; to be adduced as a witness, i.e. (figuratively) to obtest (in affirmation or exhortation):--take to record, testify.]

c. again [3825 * palin] [Strong: probably from the same as 3823 (through the idea of oscillatory repetition); (adverbially) anew, i.e. (of place) back, (of time) once more, or (conjunctionally) furthermore or on the other hand:--again.]

d. to every [3956 * pas] [Strong: including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole:--all (manner of, means), alway(-s), any (one), X daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no(-thing), X thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever.]

e. man [444 * Anthropos] [Strong: from 435 and ops (the countenance; from 3700); man-faced, i.e. a human being:--certain, man.

f. that is circumcised [4059 * peritemno] [Strong: from 4012 and the base of 5114; to cut around, i.e. (specially) to circumcise:--circumcise.]

1) He is speaking to those who are trusting in circumcision for their righteousness. I believe the New Living Translation in the previous verse and the current verse nail it.

a). New Living Translation Galatians 5:2, 3 Listen! I, Paul, tell you this: If you are counting on circumcision to make you right with God, then Christ will be of no benefit to you.

5:3 I’ll say it again. If you are trying to find favor with God by being circumcised, you must obey every regulation in the whole law of Moses.

2. “…that he is a debtor to do the whole law.”

a. that [3754 * hoti] [Strong: neuter of 3748 as conjunction; demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because:--as concerning that, as though, because (that), for (that), how (that), (in) that, though, why.]

b. he is [2076 * esti] [Strong: third person singular present indicative of 1510; he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are:--are, be(-long), call, X can(-not), come, consisteth, X dure for a while, + follow, X have, (that) is (to say), make, meaneth, X must needs, + profit, + remaineth, + wrestle.]

c. a debtor [3781 * opheiletes] [Strong: from 3784; an ower, i.e. person indebted; figuratively, a delinquent; morally, a transgressor (against God):--debtor, which owed, sinner.]

d. to do [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. 

e. the whole [3650 * a primary word; "whole" or "all", i.e. complete (in extent, amount, time or degree), especially (neuter) as noun or adverb:--all, altogether, every whit, + throughout, whole.]

f. law [3551 * nomos] [Strong: from a primary nemo (to parcel out, especially food or grazing to animals); law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specially, (of Moses (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively (a principle):--law.]

1). If we are trusting in ourselves doing one portion of the law we are in bondage to to all the law.

a). Galatians 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.