Galatians 5:20 (LSB)

Passage

idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions,

Nearby Context

Galatians 5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.

Galatians 5:19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,

Galatians 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions,

Galatians 5:21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "idolatry", "sorcery", "enmities", "strife", "jealousy", "outbursts", "anger", and "selfish". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "idolatry" and "sorcery", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 19's "Now the deeds of the flesh are..." into verse 21's "envying drunkenness carousing and things like these...", so "idolatry" and "sorcery" 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 "idolatry" and "sorcery" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.