Galatians 3:12
What does Galatians 3:12 mean?
A plain-English look at Galatians 3:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Galatians 3:12 means
Paul clarifies that the law operates on a different principle from faith. The law says, in effect, that life under its system is tied to doing what it commands. That is not wrong, but for sinners it becomes a dead end, because perfect obedience is required. Faith, however, trusts God and receives life as a gift. Therefore, justification cannot come by the law’s pathway of performance. By contrasting the two, Paul shows why relying on the law leads to a curse (since none obey perfectly), while relying on faith leads to life. The two approaches cannot be mixed as a basis for righteousness.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000and the law is not of faith; but, He that doeth them shall live in them.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901and the law is not of faith; but, He that doeth them shall live in them.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And the law is not of faith; but, He who does them will have life by them.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and the law is not by faith, but--`The man who did them shall live in them.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But the law is not of faith: but he that doth those things shall live in them.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890but the law is not on the principle of faith; but, He that shall have done these things shall live by them.
Context
This verse completes Paul’s contrast in verses 10–12: law brings a curse to those who rely on it because it demands ongoing obedience; Scripture declares justification is by faith; and law’s principle is doing, not believing. Having shown the impossibility of justification by law, Paul now turns to God’s remedy in verses 13–14. Christ took the curse upon Himself in His crucifixion so that the blessing promised to Abraham and the gift of the Spirit might come to the Gentiles through faith in Christ Jesus.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Ezekiel 20:13
But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they rejected mine ordinances, which if a man keep, he shall live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly profaned. Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.
- Matthew 19:17
And he said unto him, Why askest thou me concerning that which is good? One there is who is good: but if thou wouldest enter into life, keep the commandments.
- Romans 4:16
For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace; to the end that the promise may be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all
- Nehemiah 9:29
and testifiedst against them, that thou mightest bring them again unto thy law. Yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto thy commandments, but sinned against thine ordinances (which if a man do, he shall live in them), and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear.
- Romans 4:14
For if they that are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of none effect:
- Romans 10:5
For Moses writeth that the man that doeth the righteousness which is of the law shall live thereby.
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