Galatians 3:17
What does Galatians 3:17 mean?
A plain-English look at Galatians 3:17 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Galatians 3:17 means
Paul argues that the law, which came 430 years after God’s covenant with Abraham, cannot annul or invalidate the earlier promise. The chronological order matters. God’s promise has priority and permanence. Therefore, whatever role the law plays, it does not replace or cancel the promise. This defends the integrity of salvation by promise and faith. If the law cannot undo God’s earlier word, then insisting on law-keeping for inheritance contradicts the very structure of God’s dealings. The promise remains the controlling reality, and it stands firm despite the later addition of the Mosaic law.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Now this I say: A covenant confirmed beforehand by God, the law, which came four hundred and thirty years after, doth not disannul, so as to make the promise of none effect.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Now this I say: A covenant confirmed beforehand by God, the law, which came four hundred and thirty years after, doth not disannul, so as to make the promise of none effect.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Now this I say: The law, which came four hundred and thirty years after, does not put an end to the agreement made before by God, so as to make the undertaking without effect.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and this I say, A covenant confirmed before by God to Christ, the law, that came four hundred and thirty years after, doth not set aside, to make void the promise,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Now this I say: that the testament which was confirmed by God, the law which was made after four hundred and thirty years doth not disannul, to make the promise of no effect.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Now I say this, A covenant confirmed beforehand byGod, the law, which took place four hundred and thirty years after, does not annul, so as to make the promise of no effect.
Context
This statement builds directly on verses 15–16. Having established that God’s promise is like an unchangeable covenant and that Christ is the promised seed, Paul now shows that the later law cannot nullify what came first. Verse 18 will draw out the implication: if inheritance were by the law, it would cease to be by promise. After this, verses 19–20 will ask why the law was given at all and explain its temporary, mediated role until the coming of the promised seed.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Genesis 17:7
And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee.
- Romans 3:25
whom God set forth to be a propitiation, through faith, in his blood, to show his righteousness because of the passing over of the sins done aforetime, in the forbearance of God;
- 1 Corinthians 10:19
What say I then? that a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?
- Hebrews 7:18
For there is a disannulling of a foregoing commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness
- Numbers 23:19
God is not a man, that he should lie, Neither the son of man, that he should repent: Hath he said, and will he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and will he not make it good?
- Galatians 3:15
Brethren, I speak after the manner of men: Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet when it hath been confirmed, no one maketh it void, or addeth thereto.
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