Galatians 3:19

The law Sin

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.

¹⁸ For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

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.

²¹ Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by 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
Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
Read in context
Romans 7:7–13
What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
Read in context
Hebrews 2:2
For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
Read in context
Galatians 3:16
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.
Read in context
Romans 5:20–21
Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
Read in context
1 Timothy 1:8–9
But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
Read in context
Romans 4:15
Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
Read in context
Romans 3:19–20
Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
Read in context