Galatians 3:27
What does Galatians 3:27 mean?
A plain-English look at Galatians 3:27 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Galatians 3:27 means
Paul explains that those baptized into Christ have “put on” Christ, like clothing a new identity. Baptism signifies and seals union with Him. To put on Christ means to be so identified with Him that His life, status, and righteousness define us. This is a public marker of the inward reality of faith. It is not the water that saves but the union with Christ it represents. Because believers are clothed with Christ, the old badges that separated people lose their power, and a new shared identity in Him comes to the front.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ.
KJV
King James Version · 1611For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For all those of you who were given baptism into Christ did put on Christ.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862for as many as to Christ were baptized did put on Christ;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For as many of you as have been baptized in Christ have put on Christ.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890For ye, as many as have been baptised unto Christ, have put on Christ.
Context
This follows verse 26’s declaration of sonship by faith. Verse 27 provides a vivid image of union with Christ through baptism, pointing to a new identity that outweighs former distinctions. That sets up verse 28’s statement about unity—neither Jew nor Greek, bond nor free, male and female—because all are one in Christ Jesus. Then verse 29 will conclude the chapter by tying this union to inheritance: those who belong to Christ are Abraham’s seed and heirs of the promise, reinforcing the whole chapter’s emphasis on faith, not law.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Isaiah 61:10
I will greatly rejoice in Jehovah, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with a garland, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
- Acts 16:15
And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.
- Acts 8:16
for as yet it was fallen upon none of them: only they had been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
- Colossians 3:10
and have put on the new man, that is being renewed unto knowledge after the image of him that created him:
- Romans 3:22
even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ unto all them that believe; for there is no distinction;
- 1 Peter 3:21
which also after a true likeness doth now save you, even baptism, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ;
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