VERSE STUDY • KJV

Galatians 3:17-24

¹⁷ And this I say, [that] the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. ¹⁸ For if the inheritance [be] of the law, [it is] no more of promise: but God gave [it] to Abraham by promise. ¹⁹ Wherefore then [serveth] the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; [and it was] ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. ²⁰ Now a mediator is not [a mediator] of one, but God is one. ²¹ [Is] the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. ²² But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. ²³ But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. ²⁴ Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster [to bring us] unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Read it in 5 translations

KJV King James Version

¹⁷ And this I say, [that] the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. ¹⁸ For if the inheritance [be] of the law, [it is] no more of promise: but God gave [it] to Abraham by promise. ¹⁹ Wherefore then [serveth] the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; [and it was] ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. ²⁰ Now a mediator is not [a mediator] of one, but God is one. ²¹ [Is] the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. ²² But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. ²³ But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. ²⁴ Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster [to bring us] unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

BSB Berean Standard Bible

¹⁷ What I mean is this: The law that came 430 years later does not revoke the covenant previously established by God, so as to nullify the promise. ¹⁸ For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God freely granted it to Abraham through a promise. ¹⁹ Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions, until the arrival of the seed to whom the promise referred. It was administered through angels by a mediator. ²⁰ A mediator is unnecessary, however, for only one party; but God is one. ²¹ Is the law, then, opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come from the law. ²² But the Scripture pronounces all things confined by sin, so that by faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe. ²³ Before this faith came, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. ²⁴ So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

WEB World English Bible

¹⁷ Now I say this. A covenant confirmed beforehand by God in Christ, the law, which came four hundred thirty years after, does not annul, so as to make the promise of no effect. ¹⁸ For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by promise. ¹⁹ What then is the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the seed should come to whom the promise has been made. It was ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator. ²⁰ Now a mediator is not between one, but God is one. ²¹ Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could make alive, most certainly righteousness would have been of the law. ²² But the Scriptures imprisoned all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. ²³ But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, confined for the faith which should afterwards be revealed. ²⁴ So that the law has become our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

ASV American Standard Version

¹⁷ Now this I say: A covenant confirmed beforehand by God, the law, which came four hundred and thirty years after, doth not disannul, so as to make the promise of none effect. ¹⁸ For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise: but God hath granted it to Abraham by promise. ¹⁹ What then is the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise hath been made; and it was ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator. ²⁰ Now a mediator is not a mediator of one; but God is one. ²¹ Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could make alive, verily righteousness would have been of the law. ²² But the scripture shut up all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. ²³ But before faith came, we were kept in ward under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. ²⁴ So that the law is become our tutor to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

YLT Young’s Literal Translation

¹⁷ and this I say, A covenant confirmed before by God to Christ, the law, that came four hundred and thirty years after, doth not set aside, to make void the promise, ¹⁸ for if by law be the inheritance, it is no more by promise, but to Abraham through promise did God grant it. ¹⁹ Why, then, the law? on account of the transgressions it was added, till the seed might come to which the promise hath been made, having been set in order through messengers in the hand of a mediator— ²⁰ and the mediator is not of one, and God is one— ²¹ the law, then, is against the promises of God?—let it not be! for if a law was given that was able to make alive, truly by law there would have been the righteousness, ²² but the Writing did shut up the whole under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ may be given to those believing. ²³ And before the coming of the faith, under law we were being kept, shut up to the faith about to be revealed, ²⁴ so that the law became our child-conductor—to Christ, that by faith we may be declared righteous,

Surrounding context — Galatians 3

14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though [it be] but a man’s covenant, yet [if it be] confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.

16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

17 And this I say, [that] the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

18 For if the inheritance [be] of the law, [it is] no more of promise: but God gave [it] to Abraham by promise.

19 Wherefore then [serveth] the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; [and it was] ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

20 Now a mediator is not [a mediator] of one, but God is one.

21 [Is] the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster [to bring us] unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

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