Galatians 3:19

The law Sin

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.

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.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: 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.
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.
WEB: Then why is there the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise has been made. It was ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator.
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.
DARBY: Why then the law? It was added for the sake of transgressions, until the seed came to whom the promise was made, ordained through angels in [the] hand of a mediator.
BLB: Why then the law? It was added on account of transgressions, until the seed to whom promise has been made shall have come, having been ordained through angels in the hand of a mediator.

ÅB: Hva skulle da loven til? Den ble lagt til for overtredelsenes skyld, inntil den slekt kom som løftet gjaldt - gitt ved engler, ved en mellommanns hånd;
OTB: Hvorfor ble da loven gitt? Den ble lagt til for overtredelsenes skyld, inntil ætten skulle komme som løftet gjaldt, og den ble gitt ved engler ved en mellommanns hånd.
B1930: Hvad skulde da loven til? Den blev lagt til for overtredelsenes skyld, inntil den ætt kom som løftet gjaldt - gitt ved engler, ved en mellemmanns hånd;

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Acts 7:53
you who received the law ordained by angels, yet have not kept it.”
Read in context
Romans 7:7–13
What 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.”
Read in context
Hebrews 2:2
For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every transgression and disobedience received its just punishment,
Read in context
Galatians 3:16
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.
Read in context
Romans 5:20–21
The law came in so that the trespass would increase; but where sin increased, grace increased all the more,
Read in context
1 Timothy 1:8–9
Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it legitimately.
Read in context
Romans 4:15
because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression.
Read in context
Romans 3:19–20
Now 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.
Read in context