Galatians 3:23

Galatians 3:23 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
• New International Version (NIV)Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.

Context of Galatians 3:23

21Is the law therefore opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. 22But the scripture imprisoned everything and everyone under sin so that the promise could be given – because of the faithfulness of Jesus Christ – to those who believe. Now before faith came we were held in custody under the law, being kept as prisoners until the coming faith would be revealed. 24Thus the law had become our guardian until Christ, so that we could be declared righteous by faith. 25But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.

Galatians 3:23 word by word

Πρὸ τοῦ δὲ ἐλθεῖν τὴν πίστιν ὑπὸ νόμον ἐφρουρούμεθα συγκλειόμενοι εἰς τὴν μέλλουσαν πίστιν ἀποκαλυφθῆναι.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butδέde · thenG1161
• beforeπρόpro · beforeG4253
• faithὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• faithπίστιςpistis · faithG4102
• cameἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• we were keptφρουρέωphroureō · to guardG5432
• underὑπόhupo · by/under: underG5259
• the lawνόμοςnomos · lawG3551
• shut upσυγκλείωsugkleiō · to confineG4788
• untoεἰςeis · towardG1519
• should afterwardsμέλλωmellō · to ensueG3195
• be revealedἀποκαλύπτωapokaluptō · to revealG601

Cross-references for Galatians 3:23

• Galatians 3:19Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions, until the arrival of the descendant to whom the promise had been made. It was administered through angels by an intermediary.
• Galatians 4:1Now I mean that the heir, as long as he is a minor, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything.
• Hebrews 12:2keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set out for him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.
• Galatians 4:4But when the appropriate time had come, God sent out his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
• Galatians 5:18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
• Romans 3:19Now 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 may be held accountable to God.
• Romans 6:14For sin will have no mastery over you, because you are not under law but under grace.
• 1 Corinthians 9:20To the Jews I became like a Jew to gain the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) to gain those under the law.
• Luke 10:23Then Jesus turned to his disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see!
• Hebrews 11:13These all died in faith without receiving the things promised, but they saw them in the distance and welcomed them and acknowledged that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth.
• 1 Peter 1:11They probed into what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when he testified beforehand about the sufferings appointed for Christ and his subsequent glory.

Commentaries on Galatians 3:23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23But before faith came - Before the Gospel was published. We were kept under the law, shut up - · We were kept as in a strong hold, , locked up, unto the faith - the religion of the Lord Jesus, which should afterwards be revealed. Here the same metaphor is used as above, and for its explanation I must refer the reader to the same place, Romans 11:32; (note).Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23But before faith came - That is, the system of salvation by faith in the Lord Jesus. Faith here denotes the Christian religion, because faith is its distinguishing characteristic. We were kept under the law - We, who were sinners; we, who have violated the Law. It is a general truth, that before the gospel was introduced, people were under the condemning sentence of the Law. Shut up unto the faith - Enclosed by the Law with reference to the full and…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 23-25Verses 23-25 The law did not teach a living, saving knowledge; but, by its rites and ceremonies, especially by its sacrifices, it pointed to Christ, that they might be justified by faith. And thus it was, as the word properly signifies, a servant, to lead to Christ, as children are led to school by servants who have the care of them, that they might be more fully taught by Him the true way of justification and salvation, which is only by faith in Christ…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 23Because sin had imprisoned us (3:22), the law of Moses acted as a guard, keeping God's people safe (held in custody) until faith in Jesus was revealed. It clearly showed God's requirements and emphasized the need for a Savior. The law also kept sin under control by clearly showing its consequences.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2323. faith--namely, that just mentioned (Ga 3:22), of which Christ is the object. kept--Greek, "kept in ward": the effect of the "shutting up" (Ga 3:22; Ga 4:2; Ro 7:6). unto--"with a view to the faith," &c. We were, in a manner, morally forced to it, so that there remained to us no refuge but faith. Compare the phrase, Psa 78:50, Margin; Psa 31:8. which should afterwards, &c.--"which was afterwards to be revealed."Read the comment

Topics related to Galatians 3:23

• Faith
• Salvation
• Works

In the dictionaries

• Conclude
• Curse
• Eye
• Flesh
• Foolish
• Redeem
• Schoolmaster
• Shut
• Accommodation
• Adoption

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