Galatians 3:21

The law God's faithfulness

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.

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.

²² But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

²³ But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

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

Compare

BSB: 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.
KJV: 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.
WEB: Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could make alive, most certainly righteousness would have been of the law.
ASV: Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could make alive, verily righteousness would have been of the law.
DARBY: [Is] then the law against the promises of God? Far be the thought. For if a law had been given able to quicken, then indeed righteousness were on the principle of law;
BLB: [Is] the law, therefore, contrary to the promises of God? Never may it be! For if a law were given being able to make alive, then righteousness indeed would have been from out of the law.

ÅB: Er da loven imot Guds løfter? Langt derifra! for var det gitt noen lov som kunne gjøre levende, da kom rettferdigheten virkelig av loven;
OTB: Er da loven imot Guds løfter? Slett ikke! For hvis det var gitt en lov som kunne gi liv, da ville rettferdigheten virkelig være av loven.
B1930: Er da loven imot Guds løfter? Langt derifra! for var det gitt nogen lov som kunde gjøre levende, da kom rettferdigheten virkelig av loven;

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Galatians 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 context
Romans 9:31
But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
Read in context
Romans 3:20–22
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Read in context
Galatians 2:19
For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
Read in context
Romans 10:3–6
For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
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
Galatians 2:17
But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
Read in context
Romans 3:31
Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
Read in context