Galatians 3:16
14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
15 Brothers, let me put this in human terms. Even a human covenant, once it is ratified, cannot be canceled or amended.
The 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.
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.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- The 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.
- KJV
- 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.
- WEB
- Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his offspring. He doesn’t say, “To descendants”, as of many, but as of one, “To your offspring”, which is Christ.
- ASV
- Now to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
- DARBY
- But to Abraham were the promises addressed, and to his seed: he does not say, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed; which is Christ.
- BLB
- Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. It does not say “and to seeds,” as of many, but as of One, “and to your seed,” who is Christ.
- ÅB
- Nå ble løftene gitt Abraham og hans slekt; han sier ikke: Og dine slektninger, som om mange, men som om én: Og din slekt, og dette er Kristus.
- OTB
- Løftene ble gitt til Abraham og til hans ætt. Det står ikke «og til ættene,» som om det gjaldt mange, men som om det gjaldt én: «og til din ætt,» som er Kristus.
- B1930
- Nu blev løftene gitt Abraham og hans ætt; han sier ikke: Og dine ætlinger, som om mange, men som om én: Og din ætt, og dette er Kristus.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Genesis 17:7–8
I will establish My covenant as an everlasting covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.
Read in contextRomans 4:13
For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world was not given through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.
Read in contextLuke 1:55
as He promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever.”
Read in contextGenesis 22:17–18
I will surely bless you, and I will multiply your descendants like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies.
Read in contextGalatians 3:27–29
For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
Read in contextRomans 4:16
Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may rest on grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.
Read in contextGenesis 12:7
Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your offspring.” So Abram built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him.
Read in contextGenesis 28:13–14
And there at the top the LORD was standing and saying, “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you now lie.
Read in context