Christian Standard Bible
Galatians 3:17
17My point is this: The law, which came 430 years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously established by God and thus cancel the promise.
Galatians 3:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise.
- English Standard Version (ESV)This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect.
Context of Galatians 3:17
15Brothers and sisters, I’m using a human illustration. No one sets aside or makes additions to a validated human will. 16Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say “and to seeds,” as though referring to many, but referring to one, and to your seed, who is Christ. My point is this: The law, which came 430 years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously established by God and thus cancel the promise. 18For if the inheritance is based on the law, it is no longer based on the promise; but God has graciously given it to Abraham through the promise. 19Why, then, was the law given? It was added for the sake of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise was made would come. The law was put into effect through angels by means of a mediator.
Read all of Galatians 3Galatians 3:17 word by word
τοῦτο δὲ λέγω· διαθήκην προκεκυρωμένην ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ ὁ μετὰ τετρακόσια καὶ τριάκοντα ἔτη γεγονὼς νόμος οὐκ ἀκυροῖ εἰς τὸ καταργῆσαι τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andδέde · thenG1161
- thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- I sayλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- the covenantδιαθήκηdiathēkē · covenantG1242
- that was confirmed beforeπροκυρόομαιprokuroō · to establishG4300
- ofὑπόhupo · by/under: byG5259
- Godὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- inεἰςeis · towardG1519
- ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
- the lawνόμοςnomos · lawG3551
- wasγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
- four hundredτετρακόσιοιtetrakosioi tetrakosia · four hundredG5071
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- thirtyτριάκονταtriakonta · thirtyG5144
- yearsἔτοςetos · yearG2094
- afterμετάmeta · with/afterG3326
- cannotοὐou · noG3756
- disannulἀκυρόωakuroō · to nullifyG208
- it should makeκαταργέωkatargeō · to abateG2673
- the promiseἐπαγγελίαepaggelia · promiseG1860
Cross-references for Galatians 3:17
- Galatians 5:16I say, then, walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh.
- 1 Corinthians 1:12What I am saying is this: One of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.”
- 1 Corinthians 7:29This is what I mean, brothers and sisters: The time is limited, so from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none,
- 1 Corinthians 10:19What am I saying then? That food sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?
- 2 Corinthians 9:6The point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously.
- Ephesians 4:17Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord: You should no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thoughts.
- Colossians 2:4I am saying this so that no one will deceive you with arguments that sound reasonable.
- Genesis 15:18On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “I give this land to your offspring, from the Brook of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates River:
- Genesis 17:7I will confirm my covenant that is between me and you and your future offspring throughout their generations. It is a permanent covenant to be your God and the God of your offspring after you.
- Luke 1:68Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and provided redemption for his people.
- John 1:17for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
- John 8:56Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad.”
- Romans 3:25God presented him as the mercy seat by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed.
- 2 Corinthians 1:20For every one of God’s promises is “Yes” in him. Therefore, through him we also say “Amen” to the glory of God.
- Hebrews 11:13These all died in faith, although they had not received the things that were promised. But they saw them from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth.
- 1 Peter 1:11They inquired into what time or what circumstances the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when he testified in advance to the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.
Commentaries on Galatians 3:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Confirmed before of God in Christ - i.e. The promise of justification, etc., made to believers in Christ Jesus, who are the spiritual seed of Christ, as they are children of Abraham, from the similitude of their faith. Abraham believed in God, and it was reckoned to him for justification; the Gentiles believed in Christ, and received justification. Probably the word Christ is to be taken, both here and in the preceding verse, for Christians, as has…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17The covenant which was confirmed before of God - By God, in his promise to Abraham. It was confirmed before the giving of the Law. The confirmation was the solemn promise which God made to him. In Christ - With respect to the Messiah; a covenant relating to him, and which promised that he should descend from Abraham. The word “in,” in the phrase “in Christ,” does not quite express the meaning of the Greek ̓ ̀ eis ChristonThat means rather “unto Christ;”…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-18Verses 15-18 The covenant God made with Abraham, was not done away by the giving the law to Moses. The covenant was made with Abraham and his Seed. It is still in force; Christ abideth for ever in his person, and his spiritual seed, who are his by faith. By this we learn the difference between the promises of the law and those of the gospel. The promises of the law are made to the person of every man; the promises of the gospel are first made to Christ…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17Just as human covenants cannot be canceled (3:15), the terms of God's covenant with Abraham were not changed when God gave Moses the law. 430 years: See study note on Exodus 12:40.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. this I say--"this is what I mean," by what I said in Ga 3:15. continued ... of God--"ratified by God" (Ga 3:15). in Christ--rather, "unto Christ" (compare Ga 3:16). However, Vulgate and the old Italian versions translate as English Version. But the oldest manuscripts omit the words altogether. the law which was--Greek, "which came into existence four hundred thirty years after" (Ex 12:40, 41). He does not, as in the case of "the covenant," add…Read the comment
Topics related to Galatians 3:17
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Galatians 3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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