Galatians 3:12

Galatians 3:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
• New International Version (NIV)The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)But the law is not of faith, rather "The one who does them shall live by them."
• New King James Version (NKJV)Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”

Context of Galatians 3:12

10For all who rely on doing the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not keep on doing everything written in the book of the law.” 11Now it is clear no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous one will live by faith. But the law is not based on faith, but the one who does the works of the law will live by them. 13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us (because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”) 14in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles, so that we could receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.

Galatians 3:12 word by word

ὁ δὲ νόμος οὐκ ἔστιν ἐκ πίστεως ἀλλ᾽ ὁ ποιήσας αὐτὰ ζήσεται ἐν αὐτοῖς.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andδέde · thenG1161
• the lawνόμοςnomos · lawG3551
• isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• notοὐou · noG3756
• ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• faithπίστιςpistis · faithG4102
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• The manἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
• that doethποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• shall liveζάωzaō · to liveG2198
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588

Cross-references for Galatians 3:12

• Romans 4:4Now to the one who works, his pay is not credited due to grace but due to obligation.
• Romans 9:30What shall we say then? – that the Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness obtained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith,
• Romans 10:5For Moses writes about the righteousness that is by the law: “The one who does these things will live by them.”
• Romans 11:6And if it is by grace, it is no longer by works, otherwise grace would no longer be grace.
• Leviticus 18:5So you must keep my statutes and my regulations; anyone who does so will live by keeping them. I am the Lord.
• Nehemiah 9:29And you solemnly admonished them in order to return them to your law, but they behaved presumptuously and did not obey your commandments. They sinned against your ordinances – those by which an individual, if he obeys them, will live. They boldly turned from you; they rebelled and did not obey.
• Ezekiel 20:11I gave them my statutes and revealed my regulations to them. The one who carries them out will live by them!
• Matthew 19:17He said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
• Luke 10:25Now an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus, saying, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Commentaries on Galatians 3:12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12And the law is not of faith - It promises no forgiveness to believing, but requires obedience. It is not, What do you believe? but, What have you done? The man that doeth them perfectly, at all times, and in all places, he shall live in them; but if in any case he fails, he forfeits his life. See the notes on Romans 1:17, etc.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12And the law is not of faith - The Law is not a matter of faith; it does not relate to faith; it does not require faith; it deals in other matters, and it pertains to another system than to faith. But, The man … - This is the language of the Law, and this is what the Law teaches. It does not make provision for faith, but it requires unwavering and perpetual obedience, if man would obtain life by it; see this passage explained in the notes at Romans 10:5.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-14Verses 6-14 The apostle proves the doctrine he had blamed the Galatians for rejecting; namely, that of justification by faith without the works of the law. This he does from the example of Abraham, whose faith fastened upon the word and promise of God, and upon his believing he was owned and accepted of God as a righteous man. The Scripture is said to foresee, because the Holy Spirit that indited the Scripture did foresee. Through faith in the promise of…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12The law itself is not opposed to faith (see 3:19–25; Romans 7:7–13), but trying to be righteous by following the law opposes righteousness by faith in Christ. Paul quotes Leviticus 18:5 to show that life under the law of Moses requires obedience rather than belief. It is impossible to be accepted by God by trying to obey the law of Moses perfectly (Galatians 3:10–11).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. doeth--Many depended on the law although they did not keep it; but without doing, saith Paul, it is of no use to them (Ro 2:13, 17, 23; 10:5).Read the comment

Topics related to Galatians 3:12

• Abraham
• Faith
• Obedience
• Quotations and Allusions
• Salvation
• Works

In the dictionaries

• Conclude
• Covenant
• Curse
• Eye
• Ezekiel, Book of
• Flesh
• Foolish
• Habakkuk, Prophecies of
• Redeem
• Schoolmaster

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