Galatians 5:19 (KJV)

Passage

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

Nearby Context

Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Galatians 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

Galatians 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

Galatians 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "works", "flesh", "manifest", "adultery", "fornication", "uncleanness", and "lasciviousness". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "works" and "flesh", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 18's "But if ye be led of the..." into verse 20's "Idolatry witchcraft hatred variance emulations wrath strife...", so "works" and "flesh" 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 "works" and "flesh" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.