Galatians 3:18

Galatians 3:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
• New Living Translation (NLT)For if the inheritance could be received by keeping the law, then it would not be the result of accepting God’s promise. But God graciously gave it to Abraham as a promise.

Context of Galatians 3:18

16The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ. 17What 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. For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise. 19Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels and entrusted to a mediator. 20A mediator, however, implies more than one party; but God is one.

Galatians 3:18 word by word

εἰ γὰρ ἐκ νόμου ἡ κληρονομία οὐκέτι ἐξ ἐπαγγελίας· τῷ δὲ Ἀβραὰμ δι᾽ ἐπαγγελίας κεχάρισται ὁ θεός.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• ifεἰei · ifG1487
• the inheritanceὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the inheritanceκληρονομίαklēronomia · inheritanceG2817
• ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• the lawνόμοςnomos · lawG3551
• no moreοὐκέτιouketi · not any moreG3765
• promiseἐπαγγελίαepaggelia · promiseG1860
• butδέde · thenG1161
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• gaveχαρίζωcharizomai · to give graceG5483
• to AbrahamἈβραάμAbraam · AbrahamG11
• byδιάdia · through/because ofG1223

Cross-references for Galatians 3:18

• Galatians 3:10For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”
• Galatians 2:21I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”
• Romans 4:13It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.
• Romans 8:17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
• Galatians 3:16The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ.
• Psalms 105:6you his servants, the descendants of Abraham, his chosen ones, the children of Jacob.
• Micah 7:18Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.
• Luke 1:54He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful
• Hebrews 6:12We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

Commentaries on Galatians 3:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18For if the inheritance be of the law - See the preceding arguments, in which this is proved.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18For if the inheritance - The inheritance promised to Abraham. The sum of the promise was, that “he should be the heir of the world;” see Romans 4:13, and the note at that verse. To that heirship or inheritance Paul refers here, and says that it was an essential part of it that it was to be in virtue of the promise made to him, and not by fulfilling the Law. Be of the law - If it is by observing the Law of Moses; or if it come in any way by the fulfilling…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. 18The inheritance cannot come from obeying the law, because that would cancel God’s promise to Abraham (see 4:1–7). This promise was accepted by faith before God gave the law to Moses.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. the inheritance--all the blessings to be inherited by Abraham's literal and spiritual children, according to the promise made to him and to his Seed, Christ, justification and glorification (Ga 4:7; Ro 8:17; 1Co 6:9). but God, &c.--The Greek order requires rather, "But to Abraham it was by promise that God hath given it." The conclusion is, Therefore the inheritance is not of, or from the law (Ro 4:14).Read the comment

Topics related to Galatians 3:18

• Abraham
• Faith
• Salvation
• Works

In the dictionaries

• Abraham
• God
• Abraham, Abram
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Conclude
• Curse
• Eye
• Flesh
• Foolish
• Redeem

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