Galatians 3:26
What does Galatians 3:26 mean?
A plain-English look at Galatians 3:26 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Galatians 3:26 means
Paul declares the new status of believers: all are sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. This is not achieved by law or lineage but granted by union with Christ. “Sons” emphasizes full heirship in the ancient context; all believers, regardless of background, share equal standing in God’s family. Faith is the instrument, Christ is the mediator, and God is the Father who adopts. This identity reframes everything. The question is no longer, “Have you kept the law?” but “Are you in Christ by faith?” Those who are have the dignity and security of God’s own children.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus.
KJV
King James Version · 1611For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Because you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862for ye are all sons of God through the faith in Christ Jesus,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For you are all the children of God, by faith in Christ Jesus.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890for ye are allGod's sons by faith in Christ Jesus.
Context
Having concluded that believers are no longer under the tutor (verse 25), Paul now opens a series of identity declarations (verses 26–29). He begins with sonship through faith in Christ Jesus, which will be illustrated by baptismal union (verse 27) and expanded into radical unity across social and ethnic lines (verse 28). The section climaxes in verse 29 with the assertion that belonging to Christ makes believers Abraham’s seed and heirs according to promise, tying back to the Abraham argument and the priority of promise over law.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Ephesians 5:1
Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children;
- Galatians 4:5
that he might redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
- Ephesians 1:5
having foreordained us unto adoption as sons through Jesus Christ unto himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
- Revelation 21:7
He that overcometh shall inherit these things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
- Philippians 2:15
that ye may become blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye are seen as lights in the world,
- 2 Corinthians 6:18
And will be to you a Father, And ye shall be to me sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
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