Galatians 4:11
9 But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?
10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!
I fear for you, that my efforts for you may have been in vain.
12 I beg you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no wrong.
13 You know that it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you.
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- I fear for you, that my efforts for you may have been in vain.
- KJV
- I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
- WEB
- I am afraid for you, that I might have wasted my labor for you.
- ASV
- I am afraid of you, lest by any means I have bestowed labor upon you in vain.
- DARBY
- I am afraid of you, lest indeed I have laboured in vain as to you.
- BLB
- I fear for you⁺, lest somehow I have toiled for you⁺ in vain.
- ÅB
- jeg frykter for dere at jeg kanskje forgjeves har gjort meg strev med dere.
- OTB
- Jeg er redd for dere, at jeg kanskje har arbeidet forgjeves blant dere.
- B1930
- jeg frykter for eder at jeg kanskje forgjeves har gjort mig møie med eder.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
1 Thessalonians 3:5
For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter had somehow tempted you and caused our labor to be in vain.
Read in contextPhilippians 2:16
as you hold forth the word of life, in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.
Read in context2 John 1:8
Watch yourselves, so that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be fully rewarded.
Read in contextGalatians 2:2
I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I spoke privately to those recognized as leaders, for fear that I was running or had already run in vain.
Read in contextGalatians 4:20
how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you.
Read in context1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Read in contextActs 16:6
After the Holy Spirit had prevented them from speaking the word in the province of Asia, they traveled through the region of Phrygia and Galatia.
Read in contextGalatians 5:2–4
Take notice: I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all.
Read in context