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

21Then is the Torah against the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given that could impart life, certainly righteousness would have been based on law. 22But the Scripture has locked up the whole world under sin, so that the promise based on trust in Messiah Yeshua might be given to those who trust. Now before faith came, we were being guarded under Torah—bound together until the coming faith would be revealed. 24Therefore the Torah became our guardian to lead us to Messiah, so that we might be made right based on trusting. 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 3:19Then why the Torah? It was added because of wrongdoings until the Seed would come—to whom the promise had been made. It was arranged through angels by the hand of an intermediary.
• Galatians 4:1Now I am saying, so long as the heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, even though he is the owner of everything.
• Hebrews 12:2focusing on Yeshua, the initiator and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame; and He has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of God.
• Galatians 4:4But when the fullness of time came, God sent out His Son, born of a woman and born under law—
• Galatians 5:18But if you are led by the Ruach, you are not under law.
• Romans 3:19Now we know that whatever the Torah says, it says to those within the Torah, so that every mouth may be shut and the whole world may become accountable to God.
• Romans 6:14For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
• 1 Corinthians 9:20To the Jewish people I identified as a Jew, so that I might win over the Jewish people. To those under Torah I became like one under Torah (though not myself being under Torah), so that I might win over those under Torah;
• Luke 10:23Then turning to the disciples, He 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 and welcomed them from afar, and they confessed that they were strangers and sojourners on the earth.
• 1 Peter 1:11They were trying to find out the time and circumstances the Ruach of Messiah within them was indicating, when predicting the sufferings in store for Messiah and the glories to follow.

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