Galatians 6:3 (DBY)

Passage

For if any man reputes himself to be something, being nothing, he deceives himself;

Nearby Context

Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if even a man be taken in some fault, ye who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of meekness, considering thyself lest *thou* also be tempted.

Galatians 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and thus fulfil the law of the Christ.

Galatians 6:3 For if any man reputes himself to be something, being nothing, he deceives himself;

Galatians 6:4 but let each prove his own work, and then he will have his boast in what belongs to himself alone, and not in what belongs to another.

Galatians 6:5 For each shall bear his own burden.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "reputes", "himself", "something", "nothing", and "deceives". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "reputes" and "himself", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 2's "Bear one another's burdens and thus fulfil..." into verse 4's "but let each prove his own work...", so "reputes" and "himself" 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 "reputes" and "himself" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.