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.
• New International Version (NIV)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.
• 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.

Context of Galatians 3:18

16God gave the promises to Abraham and his child. And notice that the Scripture doesn’t say “to his children,” as if it meant many descendants. Rather, it says “to his child”—and that, of course, means Christ. 17This is what I am trying to say: The agreement God made with Abraham could not be canceled 430 years later when God gave the law to Moses. God would be breaking his promise. 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. 19Why, then, was the law given? It was given alongside the promise to show people their sins. But the law was designed to last only until the coming of the child who was promised. God gave his law through angels to Moses, who was the mediator between God and the people. 20Now a mediator is helpful if more than one party must reach an agreement. But God, who is one, did not use a mediator when he gave his promise to Abraham.

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 3:10But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.”
• Galatians 2:21I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.
• Romans 4:13Clearly, God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based not on his obedience to God’s law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by faith.
• Romans 8:17And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.
• Galatians 3:16God gave the promises to Abraham and his child. And notice that the Scripture doesn’t say “to his children,” as if it meant many descendants. Rather, it says “to his child”—and that, of course, means Christ.
• Psalms 105:6you children of his servant Abraham, you descendants of Jacob, his chosen ones.
• Micah 7:18Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people? You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love.
• Luke 1:54He has helped his servant Israel and remembered to be merciful.
• Hebrews 6:12Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance.

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