Galatians 3:28
in Galatians 3There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
There can be neither Jew nor Greek, there can be neither bond nor free, there can be no male and female; for ye all are one man in Christ Jesus.
KJV
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
⋯
This verse in Galatians 3
Commentary
18 notes on this verseWhen one has once put on Christ and, having been sent into the flame, glows with the ardor of the Holy Spirit, it is not apparent whether he is of gold or silver. As long as the heat takes over the mass in this way there is one fiery color, and all diversity of race, condition and body is taken away by such a garment.
This site's exposition
neither Jew nor Greek
The three pairs, Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, name the deepest divisions of the ancient world. In Christ Jesus none of them grades a believer's standing, and the verse levels access to sonship and inheritance.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
(Verse 27, 28.) For whoever has been baptized in Christ has clothed themselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. And how we are born as children of God through faith in Christ Jesus, he demonstrates by saying: For whoever has been baptized in Christ has clothed themselves with Christ. And that Christ is our clothing is proven not only in this passage, but also in another by the urging of Paul himself: Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. XIII, 14).
"for you are all one in Christ Jesus." To be clothed with the one form and one likeness of Christ, and to have him as one head, and to bring all together into one body. He says, "in Christ Jesus." For through him we have …
A commentator
Hippolytus of RomeHippolytus Refutation of All Heresies Book V · Written before 235.
proposed
For (the Naassene) says, there is the hermaphrodite man. According to this account of theirs, the intercourse of woman with man is demonstrated, in conformity with such teaching, to be an exceedingly wicked and filthy (practice). For, says (the Naassene), Attis has been emasculated, that is, he has passed over from the earthly parts of the nether world to the everlasting substance above, where, he says, there is neither female or male, but a new creature, a new man, which is hermaphrodite.
A commentator
Augustine of HippoEPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS 28 [1B.3.28-29] · Written before 430.
proposed
Difference of race or condition or sex is indeed taken away by the unity of faith, but it remains embedded in our mortal interactions, and in the journey of this life the apostles themselves teach that it is to be respected.… For we observe in the unity of faith that there are no such distinctions. Yet within the orders of this life they persist. So we walk this path in a way that the name and doctrine of God will not be blasphemed. It is not out of fear or anger that we wish to avoid offense to others but also on account of conscience, so that we may do these things not in mere profession, as if for the eyes of men, but with a pure love toward God.
With what consistency do we mount that (future) judgment-seat to pronounce sentence against those whose gifts we (now) seek after? For you too, (women as you are, ) have the self-same angelic nature promised as your reward, the self-same sex as men: the self-same advancement to the dignity of judging, does (the Lord) promise you.
11 more voices on this verse
The Church Fathers3 voices
Then he subjoined the utterance, clear of all partiality: "For ye are all the children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." There are not, then, in the same Word some "illuminated (gnostics); and some animal (or natural) men; "but all who have abandoned the desires of the flesh are equal and spiritual before the Lord.
A commentator
Ignatius of AntiochEpistle of Ignatius to the Philadelphians · Written before 108.
proposed
Masters, be gentle towards your servants, as holy Job has taught you; for there is one nature, and one family of mankind. For "in Christ there is neither bond nor free."
See what an insatiable soul! for having said, "We are all made children of God through Faith," he does not stop there, but tries to find something more exact, which may serve to convey a still closer oneness with Christ. Having said, "ye have put on Christ," even this does not suffice Him, but by way of penetrating more deeply into this union, he comments on it thus: "Ye are all One in Christ Jesus," that is, ye have all one form and one mould, even Christ's. What can be more awful than these words! He that was a Greek, or Jew, or bondman yesterday, carries about with him the form, not of an Angel or Archangel, but of the Lord of all, yea displays in his own person the Christ.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Each of the baptized, he says, has cast off his natural distinctions; all have received one type and one image, not of an Angel, but of the Lord Himself, manifesting Christ in themselves. So that we are all one in Christ Jesus, precisely insofar as …
He elucidates this teaching when he says, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free: there is neither male nor female." As if to say: Truly have I said, that "as many of you as have been baptized in Christ Jesus …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
There is neither Jew nor Greek - That is, there is no difference between them; they are equally accepted through faith. There is neither male nor female - Circumcision being laid aside, which was peculiar to males, and was designed to put a difference, during that dispensation, between Jews and gentiles.
There is neither Jew nor Greek,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
There is neither Jew nor Greek - Ἑλλην, Greek, is put here for εθνικος, heathen. Under the Gospel all distinctions are done away, as either helping or hindering; all are equally welcome to Christ, and all have an equal need of him; all persons of all sects, and conditions, and sexes, who believe in him, become one family through him; they are one body, of which he is the head. Neither male nor female - With great reason the apostle introduces this. Between the privileges of men and women there was a great disparity among the Jews.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
Col 3:11). bond nor free--Christ alike belongs to both by faith; whence he puts "bond" before "free." Compare Note, see on 1Co 7:21, 22; Eph 6:8. neither male nor female--rather, as Greek, "there is not male and female." There is no distinction into male and female. Difference of sex makes no difference in Christian privileges.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
There is neither Jew nor Greek - All are on a level; all are saved in the same way; all are entitled to the same privileges. There is no favoritism on account of birth, beauty, or blood. All confess that they are sinners; all are saved by the merits of the same Saviour; all are admitted to the same privileges as children of God. The word “Greek” here is used to denote the Gentiles generally; since the whole world was divided by the Jews into “Jews and Greeks” - the Greeks being the foreign nation best known to them. The Syriac renders it here “Aramean,” using the word to denote the Gentiles generally. The meaning is, that whatever was the birth, or rank, or nation, or color, or complexion, all under the gospel were on a level. They were admitted to the same privileges, and endowed with the same hopes of eternal life. This does not mean that all the civil distinctions among people are to be disregarded. It does not mean that no respect is to be shown to those in office, or to people in elevated rank. It does not mean that all are on a level in regard to talents, comforts, or wealth; but it means only that all people are on a level “in regard to religion.” This is the sole point under discussion; and the interpretation should be limited to this. It is not a fact that people are on a level in all things, nor is it a fact that the gospel designs to break down all the distinctions of society. Paul means to teach that no man has any preference or advantage in the kingdom of God because he is a rich man, or because he is of elevated rank; no one is under any disadvantage because he is poor, or because he is ignorant, or a slave. […]
Modern Voices1 voice
A commentator
GK ChestertonThe Everlasting Man, Chapter III: The Antiquity of Civilisation (1925) (1925)
proposed
But in one sense there is a significance in the old slavery. It stands for one fundamental fact about all antiquity before Christ; something to be assumed from first to last. It is the insignificance of the individual before the State. It was as true …
The words behind it
23 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| οὐκ | ouk | Neither | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| ἔνι | eni | there is | G1762 → | 6 times |
| Ἰουδαῖος | ioudaios | Jew | G2453 → | 192 times |
| οὐδὲ | oude | nor | G3761 → | 141 times |
| Ἕλλην, | hellen | Greek, | G1672 → | |
| οὐκ | ouk | neither | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| ἔνι | eni | there is | G1762 → | 6 times |
| δοῦλος | doulos | slave | G1401 → | 129 times |
| οὐδὲ | oude | nor | G3761 → | 141 times |
| ἐλεύθερος, | eleutheros | free, | G1658 → | 23 times |
| οὐκ | ouk | neither | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| ἔνι | eni | there is | G1762 → | 6 times |
| ἄρσεν | arsen | male | G730 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| θῆλυ· | thelu | female; | G2338 → | |
| πάντες | pantes | all | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| ὑμεῖς | humeis | you yourselves | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| εἷς | heis | one | G1520 → | 343 times |
| ἐστε | este | are | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| Χριστῷ | christo | Christ | G5547 → | 523 times |
| Ἰησοῦ. | iesou | Jesus. | G2424 → | 908 times |
οὐκNeither
oukG3756 →1664 times
ἔνιthere is
eniG1762 →6 times
ἸουδαῖοςJew
ioudaiosG2453 →192 times
οὐδὲnor
oudeG3761 →141 times
Ἕλλην,Greek,
hellenG1672 →
οὐκneither
oukG3756 →1664 times
ἔνιthere is
eniG1762 →6 times
δοῦλοςslave
doulosG1401 →129 times
οὐδὲnor
oudeG3761 →141 times
ἐλεύθερος,free,
eleutherosG1658 →23 times
οὐκneither
oukG3756 →1664 times
ἔνιthere is
eniG1762 →6 times
ἄρσενmale
arsenG730 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
θῆλυ·female;
theluG2338 →
πάντεςall
pantesG3956 →1235 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
ὑμεῖςyou yourselves
humeisG4771 →2973 times
εἷςone
heisG1520 →343 times
ἐστεare
esteG1510 →2333 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
ΧριστῷChrist
christoG5547 →523 times
Ἰησοῦ.Jesus.
iesouG2424 →908 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Colossians 3:11Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all and is in all.
it leads to
- Galatians 3:28–29
There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
- 1 Corinthians 12:13
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given one Spirit to drink.
- Romans 10:12
For there is no difference between Jew and Greek: The same Lord is Lord of all, and gives richly to all who call on Him,
- Ephesians 3:6
This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus.
- Ephesians 1:23
which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
- Galatians 3:28–29
Through
Galatians 5:6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. All that matters is faith, expressed through love.
it leads to
- Galatians 6:15
For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything. What counts is a new creation.
- 1 Corinthians 7:19
Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commandments is what counts.
- James 2:14–26
What good is it, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
- Galatians 6:15
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies39
On this verse
On this chapter
- Abraham
- The Abrahamic Covenant
- The Bronze Serpent
- The Covenant Lawsuit: When God Sues His People
- Covenant Theology and Dispensationalism
- The Fruit of the Spirit
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About Galatians

This page draws on 18 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS 28 [1B.3.28-29]; Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor Book 1; GK Chesterton, The Everlasting Man, Chapter III: The Antiquity of Civilisation (1925); Hippolytus of Rome, Hippolytus Refutation of All Heresies Book V; Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle of Ignatius to the Philadelphians; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS 2.3.27-28; Jerome, Commentary on Galatians; John Chrysostom, Homily on Galatians 3; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Galatians; Tertullian, On the Apparel of Women Book I; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Galatians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Galatians.
