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 Living Translation (NLT)This way of faith is very different from the way of law, which says, “It is through obeying the law that a person has life.”

Context of Galatians 3:12

10For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” 11But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.” 13Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), 14that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through 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 him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.
• Romans 9:30What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith;
• Romans 10:5For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “The man who does those things shall live by them.”
• Romans 11:6And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.
• Leviticus 18:5You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the Lord.
• Nehemiah 9:29And testified against them, That You might bring them back to Your law. Yet they acted proudly, And did not heed Your commandments, But sinned against Your judgments, ‘Which if a man does, he shall live by them.’ And they shrugged their shoulders, Stiffened their necks, And would not hear.
• Ezekiel 20:11And I gave them My statutes and showed them My judgments, ‘which, if a man does, he shall live by them.’
• Matthew 19:17So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
• Luke 10:25And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall 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