Galatians 3:24
What does Galatians 3:24 mean?
A plain-English look at Galatians 3:24 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Galatians 3:24 means
Paul pictures the law as a tutor or guardian, assigned to lead us to Christ so that we might be justified by faith. A tutor supervises, disciplines, and prepares, but does not confer adult status. The law instructed, restrained, and exposed sin, creating a readiness for the gospel. Its purpose was never to justify; it was to drive us to the One who justifies. Justification—being declared righteous—comes only when we are united to Christ by faith. In this way, the law serves the gospel by pointing beyond itself to the fulfillment found in Jesus.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000So that the law is become our tutor to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901So that the law is become our tutor to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949So the law has been a servant to take us to Christ, so that we might have righteousness by faith.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862so that the law became our child-conductor--to Christ, that by faith we may be declared righteous,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Wherefore the law was our pedagogue in Christ: that we might be justified by faith.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890So that the law has been our tutor up to Christ, that we might be justified on the principle of faith.
Context
This verse unpacks the metaphor introduced in verse 23. The law’s role is pedagogical and preparatory, not final. It leads to Christ, where justification is received by faith. Verse 25 will mark the transition from the tutor’s oversight to the mature status of faith. After that, verses 26–29 will describe the new identity believers possess in Christ—sons of God, clothed with Christ, one in Him, and heirs of Abraham’s promise—demonstrating the outcome of moving from law’s guardianship to gospel maturity.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 5:17
Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfil.
- Hebrews 10:1
For the law having a shadow of the goodthingsto come, not the very image of the things, can never with the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect them that draw nigh.
- Galatians 2:16
yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed on Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law: because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
- Romans 10:4
For Christ is the end of the law unto righteousness to every one that believeth.
- Galatians 3:25
But now that faith is come, we are no longer under a tutor.
- 1 Corinthians 4:15
For though ye have ten thousand tutors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I begat you through the gospel.
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