Galatians 6:3 (KJV)

Passage

For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

Nearby Context

Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

Galatians 6:2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

Galatians 6:4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

Galatians 6:5 For every man shall bear his own burden.

Study Lenses

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

The nearby context moves from verse 2's "Bear ye one another s burdens and..." into verse 4's "But let every man prove his own...", so "think" 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 "think" and "himself" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.