Galatians 3:9
What does Galatians 3:9 mean?
A plain-English look at Galatians 3:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Galatians 3:9 means
Paul sums up the Abraham argument: all who rely on faith share the blessing that God gave to Abraham. This means believers—Jew and Gentile alike—stand under God’s favor apart from the law. They do not need to add circumcision or ceremonial works to possess God’s blessing. Faith links them to the same gracious verdict Abraham received when God counted him righteous. The blessing is not a vague feeling but the covenant favor of God—acceptance, life, and promise—secured through trusting God’s word and ultimately fulfilled in Christ, the promised descendant through whom the nations receive grace.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000So then they that are of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham.
KJV
King James Version · 1611So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901So then they that are of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949So then those who are of faith have a part in the blessing of Abraham who was full of faith.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`Blessed in thee shall be all the nations;' so that those of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Therefore, they that are of faith shall be blessed with faithful Abraham.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890So that they who are on the principle of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.
Context
Verses 6–9 form a unit: Abraham was counted righteous by faith; therefore those of faith are his children; Scripture predicted Gentile justification by faith; and believers share Abraham’s blessing. With that positive case in place, verses 10–12 will present the negative side: those who rely on the law are under a curse because the law requires perfect performance. Then verses 13–14 will reveal God’s remedy—Christ bearing the curse—to bring the Abrahamic blessing and the promised Spirit to all who believe.
v.8And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all the nations be blessed.
v.9This passage
v.10For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one who continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Galatians 4:28
Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise.
- Galatians 3:14
that upon the Gentiles might come the blessing of Abraham in Christ Jesus; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
- Galatians 3:29
And if ye are Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, heirs according to promise.
- Romans 4:16
For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace; to the end that the promise may be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all
- Galatians 3:7
Know therefore that they that are of faith, the same are sons of Abraham.
- Romans 4:11
and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while he was in uncircumcision: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be in uncircumcision, that righteousness might be reckoned unto them;
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