exegetical · Gal 6:16 · ✓ Approved

The Israel of God (6:16)

Says “Peace and mercy to all who walk by this rule, even to the Israel of God”. The second καὶ may simply join a further group, or it may be epexegetic, unfolding the same people under a new name. The BSB’s “even” is its rendering of that καὶ, not a separate word in the Greek. The wording is treated in The Israel of God (6:16). A related blessing stands in Gal 6:16 → Ps 125:5. Related statements on Israel are in Not all Israel is Israel: Isaac, Jacob, and "God’s plan of election" (Romans 9:6–13), Gal 6:16 → Rom 9:6 and “All Israel will be saved” (Romans 11:25–27); being one in Christ is in Sons, heirs and one in Christ.

Uncertain Whom τὸν Ἰσραὴλ τοῦ θεοῦ (ton Israēl tou theou) names, and which sense of καὶ is in view, are open. Chrysostom, on 6:16, writes, “they who pursue these things shall enjoy peace and amity, and may properly be called by the name of ‘Israel’” Lightfoot, on 6:16, writes, “it stands here not for the faithful converts from the circumcision alone, but for the spiritual Israel generally, the whole body of believers whether Jew or Gentile” Luther, on 6:16, writes, “They are the Israel of God, which, with faithful Abraham, believe the promises of God offered already in Christ, whether they be Jews or Gentiles” Burton, on 6:16, writes, “not to the Christian community, but to Jews” He also writes, “not to the whole Jewish nation, but to the pious Israel, the remnant according to the election of grace” These are their readings, set side by side; no verdict is given. No position is taken here on Israel and the church.

Claims

SaysPeace and mercy are spoken to all who will walk by this rule, and to the Israel of God; καί may mean “and” or be epexegetic, and the BSB’s “even” is its rendering of καί, not the Greek’s.
UncertainChrysostom, Lightfoot, and Luther take the Israel of God of the whole body of believers, Jew or Gentile; Burton takes it of pious Israel, the remnant, not of the Christian community as such; no lean is taken, and no position is taken on Israel and the church.

Citations

BSB public domain Gal 6:16
SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 Gal 6:16
Chrysostom, Galatians (NPNF1 13) public domain Chrysostom, Commentary on Galatians (NPNF¹ 13, Oxford translation rev. Gross Alexander, 1889), on Gal 6:16, p. 47 (leaf n68); checked against the printed page (scan); quoted, otherwise paraphrased
Lightfoot, Galatians public domain Lightfoot, Saint Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians (Macmillan, 1914 printing), on Gal 6:16, p. 225 (leaf n244); checked against the printed page (scan); quoted, otherwise paraphrased
Luther, Galatians (Middleton 1833) public domain Luther, A Commentary on St. Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians (London, 1833), on Gal 6:16, p. 475 (leaf n581); checked against the printed page (scan); quoted, otherwise paraphrased
Burton, Galatians (ICC) public domain Burton, Galatians (ICC, Scribner 1928 printing of the 1920 edition), on Gal 6:16, p. 358 (leaf n451); checked against the printed page (scan); quoted, otherwise paraphrased

Sources BSB public domain SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 Bible Scholarship & Tool CC BY 4.0 Chrysostom, Galatians (NPNF1 13) public domain Lightfoot, Galatians public domain Luther, Galatians (Middleton 1833) public domain Burton, Galatians (ICC) public domain

2026-11-14

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