Galatians 3:18
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.
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.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- 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.
- KJV
- For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
- WEB
- For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by promise.
- ASV
- For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise: but God hath granted it to Abraham by promise.
- DARBY
- For if the inheritance [be] on the principle of law, [it is] no longer on the principle of promise; but God gave it in grace to Abraham by promise.
- BLB
- For if the inheritance [is] by the law, [it is] no longer by a promise. But God has granted [it] to Abraham through a promise.
- ÅB
- For får en arven ved lov, da får en den ikke lenger ved løfte; men Gud har gitt Abraham den ved løfte.
- OTB
- For hvis arven er av loven, er den ikke lenger av løftet; men Gud har gitt den til Abraham ved et løfte.
- B1930
- For får en arven ved lov, da får en den ikke lenger ved løfte; men Gud har gitt Abraham den ved løfte.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Romans 4:13–16
For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
Read in contextHebrews 6:12–15
That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Read in contextGalatians 2:21
I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Read in contextPsalms 105:42
For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham his servant.
Read in contextLuke 1:54–55
He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;
Read in contextGalatians 3:29
And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Read in contextLuke 1:72–73
To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;
Read in contextPsalms 105:6–12
O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen.
Read in context