Galatians 3:21
What does Galatians 3:21 mean?
A plain-English look at Galatians 3:21 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Galatians 3:21 means
Paul rejects the notion that the law and the promises are at odds. The law is not contrary to God’s promises; it simply cannot give life. If a law had been given that could impart life, righteousness would indeed come through the law. But since it cannot, righteousness must come another way—through the promise received by faith. The law’s role is diagnostic, not curative. It reveals sin and our need, but it does not supply the power or life to make us righteous. This preserves the law’s value while guarding the uniqueness of the gospel’s promise.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could make alive, verily righteousness would have been of the law.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could make alive, verily righteousness would have been of the law.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Is the law then against the words of God? in no way; because if there had been a law which was able to give life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862the law, then, <FI>is<Fi> against the promises of God? --let it not be! for if a law was given that was able to make alive, truly by law there would have been the righteousness,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Was the law then against the promises of God: God forbid! For if there had been a law given which could give life, verily justice should have been by the law.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890[Is] then the law against the promises ofGod? Far be the thought. For if a law had been given able to quicken, then indeed righteousness were on the principle of law;
Context
Building on verses 19–20’s explanation of the law’s temporary and mediated nature, verse 21 answers a potential misunderstanding: the law isn’t opposed to God’s promises. Instead, it has a different purpose. Verse 22 will describe Scripture’s verdict on humanity—imprisoned under sin—so that the promise becomes the only doorway to life, given through faith in Jesus Christ. Then verses 23–25 will portray the law as a guardian or tutor until faith came, preparing for the freedom and sonship described in verses 26–29.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Romans 3:4
God forbid: yea, let God be found true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy words, And mightest prevail when thou comest into judgment.
- Romans 3:31
Do we then make the law of none effect through faith? God forbid: nay, we establish the law.
- Matthew 5:17
Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfil.
- Galatians 2:17
But if, while we sought to be justified in Christ, we ourselves also were found sinners, is Christ a minister of sin? God forbid.
- Romans 10:3
For being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.
- Romans 3:20
because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight; for through the law cometh the knowledge of sin.
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