Galatians 6:13 (ASV)

Passage

For not even they who receive circumcision do themselves keep the law; but they desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.

Nearby Context

Galatians 6:11 See with how large letters I write unto you with mine own hand.

Galatians 6:12 As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, they compel you to be circumcised; only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.

Galatians 6:13 For not even they who receive circumcision do themselves keep the law; but they desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.

Galatians 6:14 But far be it from me to glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world hath been crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

Galatians 6:15 For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "even", "receive", "circumcision", "themselves", "keep", "desire", "circumcised", and "glory". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "even" and "receive", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 12's "As many as desire to make a..." into verse 14's "But far be it from me to...", so "even" and "receive" belong inside that flow. In Galatians context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "even" and "receive" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.