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Galatians 3:19

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.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

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.

KJV

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.

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Commentary

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Original language & word study

21 tagged words
OriginalTransliterationMeaningWord study
ΤίTiWhyG5101 →
οὖνounthenG3767 →
ὁhotheG3588 →
νόμος;nomosLaw?G3551 →
τῶνtōn<the>G3588 →
παραβάσεωνparabaseōntransgressionsG3847 →
χάρινcharinBecause ofG5484 →
προσετέθηprosetethēit was addedG4369 →
ἄχριςachrisuntilG891 →
οὗhouthatG3739 →
ἔλθῃelthēmay have comeG2064 →
τὸtotheG3588 →
σπέρμαspermaseedG4690 →
ᾧhōto whomG3739 →
ἐπήγγελται,epēngeltaipromise has been made,G1861 →
διαταγεὶςdiatageishaving been ordainedG1299 →
δι᾽di᾽throughG1223 →
ἀγγέλωνangelōnangelsG32 →
ἐνeninG1722 →
χειρὶcheiri[the] handG5495 →
μεσίτου.mesitouof a mediator.G3316 →

The walk

Related verses

18 strongest cross-references

The gold bar shows how strongly the cross-reference sources tie the two verses together: a long bar means many compiled references make the connection, a short one means few.

Acts 7:53you who received the law ordained by angels, yet have not kept it.”1 Timothy 1:9We realize that law is not enacted for the righteous, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for killers of father or mother, for murderers,Hebrews 2:2For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every transgression and disobedience received its just punishment,Romans 7:7–13What then shall we say? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed, I would not have been mindful of sin if not for the law. For I would not have been aware of coveting if the law had not said, “Do not covet.”Galatians 3:16The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,” meaning One, who is Christ.Romans 5:20–21The law came in so that the trespass would increase; but where sin increased, grace increased all the more,1 Timothy 1:8–9Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it legitimately.Romans 4:15because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression.Romans 3:19–20Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.Acts 7:38He was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. And he received living words to pass on to us.Romans 3:1–2What, then, is the advantage of being a Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision?Romans 2:13For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but it is the doers of the law who will be declared righteous.John 15:22If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin.Deuteronomy 5:5At that time I was standing between the LORD and you to declare to you the word of the LORD, because you were afraid of the fire and would not go up the mountain. And He said:Galatians 3:23Before this faith came, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until faith should be revealed.Deuteronomy 33:2He said: “The LORD came from Sinai and dawned upon us from Seir; He shone forth from Mount Paran and came with myriads of holy ones, with flaming fire at His right hand.John 1:17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.Deuteronomy 9:13–20The LORD also said to me, “I have seen this people, and they are indeed a stiff-necked people.

Featured studies on this passage

Moses with the Ten Commandments — Rembrandt van Rijn

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The Covenants

Six covenants in succession, cumulative rather than replacing. Adamic, Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, New. Each narrowing the line of promise while widening the scope of fulfillment.

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Charity — William-Adolphe Bouguereau

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Galatians 5:22–23 names a singular fruit (karpos, not fruits) with nine visible facets. Gifts are distributed; fruit is unified. Every believer bears the whole fruit. The grammar is the theology.

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The Law as Tutor, MannaFest

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The Sacrifice of Isaac — Caravaggio

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The Abrahamic Covenant: Genesis 12 · 15 · 17, MannaFest

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Walks through Galatians 3

The Bronze Serpent

Christ's own chosen picture of his death. A four-moment story across 1,400 years: sin and plague, command and cure, idolatry and smashing, crucifixion and fulfillment.

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The Covenant Lawsuit: When God Sues His People

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About Galatians

The Crucifixion — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)
The Crucifixion — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)
Galatians: the study guide →Read chapter 3 →The featured study →
Continue: Galatians 3 →