Albert Barnes Commentary Galatians 5:20

"idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties," — Galatians 5:20 (ASV)

Witchcraft. This refers to pretending to witchcraft. The apostle does not affirm the actual existence of witchcraft, but he states that what was known as such was a proof of humanity's corrupt nature and one of its fruits. No one can doubt this. It was a system of imposture and falsehood throughout, and nothing better demonstrates the depravity of the human heart than an extended and systematized attempt to deceive humankind.

The word used here (pharmakeia, from which our word pharmacy derives, from pharmakon: a medicine, poison, or magic potion) properly means the preparing and giving of medicine. It then also means poisoning, as well as magic art or enchantment, because in less developed societies, pharmacy or medicine largely consisted of magical incantations. From this, it comes to mean sorcery or enchantment, and it is used this way consistently in the New Testament.

It is used only in Galatians 5:20; Revelation 9:21; Revelation 18:23; and Revelation 21:8. Some have supposed that it means poisoning here, a crime often practiced. However, the more correct interpretation is to refer it to the black art, or to pretensions of witchcraft and the numerous delusions that have grown out of it, as a striking illustration of the corrupt and depraved nature of man.

Hatred. In Greek, hatreds—in the plural. This refers to antipathies and a lack of love, producing contentions and strifes.

Variance. Contentions. (See the notes on Romans 1:29).

Emulations (the Greek term zhloi), in a bad sense, means heart-burning, jealousy, or perhaps inordinate ambition. The sense is ardor or zeal in a bad cause, leading to strife and related issues.

Wrath. This is also plural in the Greek (thumoi), meaning passions or bursts of anger. (See the notes on 2 Corinthians 12:20).

Strife. This is also plural in the Greek. (See the notes on 2 Corinthians 12:20).

Seditions. (See the notes on Romans 16:17).

Heresies. (See the notes on Acts 5:17 and 1 Corinthians 11:19).

• Witchcraft: sorcery
• Emulations: rivalries
• Strife: disputes
• Seditions: factions
• Heresies: sects