Galatians

Galatians 3:16–21

¹⁶The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,”^h meaning One, who is Christ.

¹⁷What I mean is this: The law that came 430 years later does not revoke the covenant previously established by God, so as to nullify the promise. ¹⁸For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God freely granted it to Abraham through a promise.

¹⁹Why then was the law given ? It was added because of transgressions, until the arrival of the seed to whom the promise referred. It was administered through angels by a mediator. ²⁰A mediator is unnecessary, however, for only one party ; but God is one.

²¹Is the law, then, opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come from the law.

Footnotes

h 3:16 Genesis 12:7|GEN 12:7; Genesis 13:15

Read all of Galatians 3

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Greek it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Galatians 3:16

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
The	αἱ	hai	Article - Nominative Feminine Plural	G3588 the
promises	ἐπαγγελίαι	epangeliai	Noun - Nominative Feminine Plural	G1860 a promise
were spoken	ἐρρέθησαν	errethēsan	Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural	G2046 I say, speak
to Abraham	Ἀβραὰμ	Abraam	Noun - Dative Masculine Singular	G11 Abraham
and	καὶ	kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
to	τῷ	tō	Article - Dative Masculine Singular	G3588 the
his	αὐτοῦ	autou	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular	G846 he, she, it, they, them, same
seed	σπέρματι	spermati	Noun - Dative Neuter Singular	G4690 seed, offspring
does not say	λέγει	legei	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G3004 I say, speak
and	Καὶ	Kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
to seeds	σπέρμασιν	spermasin	Noun - Dative Neuter Plural	G4690 seed, offspring
meaning	ἐπὶ	epi	Preposition	G1909 on, to, against, on the basis of, at
many	πολλῶν	pollōn	Adjective - Genitive Neuter Plural	G4183 much, many, often
but	ἀλλ’	all’	Conjunction	G235 but, except
and	Καὶ	Kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
to	τῷ	tō	Article - Dative Neuter Singular	G3588 the
your	σου	sou	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular	G4771 you
seed	σπέρματί	spermati	Noun - Dative Neuter Singular	G4690 seed, offspring
meaning	ἐφ’	eph’	Preposition	G1909 on, to, against, on the basis of, at
One	ἑνός	henos	Adjective - Genitive Neuter Singular	G1520 one
who	ὅς	hos	Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular	G3739 who, which, what, that
is	ἐστιν	estin	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G1510 I am, exist
Christ	Χριστός	Christos	Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular	G5547 anointed, the Messiah, the Christ

Galatians 3:17

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
What I mean	λέγω	legō	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular	G3004 I say, speak
this	Τοῦτο	Touto	Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular	G3778 this, he, she, it
law	νόμος	nomos	Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular	G3551 a law, the Mosaic Law
that came	γεγονὼς	gegonōs	Verb - Perfect Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular	G1096 I come into being, am born
430	τετρακόσια	tetrakosia	Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural	G5071 four hundred
years	ἔτη	etē	Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural	G2094 a year
later	μετὰ	meta	Preposition	G3326 with, after
does not revoke	ἀκυροῖ	akyroi	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G208 I annul, make of no effect, cancel
covenant	διαθήκην	diathēkēn	Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular	G1242 a covenant, will, testament
previously established	προκεκυρωμένην	prokekyrōmenēn	Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Feminine Singular	G4300 I establish before
by	ὑπὸ	hypo	Preposition	G5259 by, under, about
God	Θεοῦ	Theou	Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular	G2316 God, a god
so as	εἰς	eis	Preposition	G1519 into, in, among, till, for
to nullify	καταργῆσαι	katargēsai	Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active	G2673 I bring to naught, sever, abolish
the	τὴν	tēn	Article - Accusative Feminine Singular	G3588 the
promise	ἐπαγγελίαν	epangelian	Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular	G1860 a promise

Galatians 3:18

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
For	γὰρ	gar	Conjunction	G1063 for
if	εἰ	ei	Conjunction	G1487 if
the	ἡ	hē	Article - Nominative Feminine Singular	G3588 the
inheritance	κληρονομία	klēronomia	Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular	G2817 an inheritance
depends on	ἐκ	ek	Preposition	G1537 from out, out from among, from
law	νόμου	nomou	Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular	G3551 a law, the Mosaic Law
no longer	οὐκέτι	ouketi	Adverb	G3765 no longer, no more
depends on	ἐξ	ex	Preposition	G1537 from out, out from among, from
a promise	ἐπαγγελίας	epangelias	Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular	G1860 a promise
but	δὲ	de	Conjunction	G1161 but, on the other hand, and
God	Θεός	Theos	Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular	G2316 God, a god
freely granted	κεχάρισται	kecharistai	Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular	G5483 I show favor to, forgive
to Abraham	Ἀβραὰμ	Abraam	Noun - Dative Masculine Singular	G11 Abraham
through	δι’	di’	Preposition	G1223 through, on account of
a promise	ἐπαγγελίας	epangelias	Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular	G1860 a promise

Galatians 3:19

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Why	Τί	Ti	Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular	G5101 who, which, what
then	οὖν	oun	Conjunction	G3767 therefore, then
the	ὁ	ho	Article - Nominative Masculine Singular	G3588 the
law	νόμος	nomos	Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular	G3551 a law, the Mosaic Law
It was added	προσετέθη	prosetethē	Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular	G4369 I put to, add, do again
because of	χάριν	charin	Preposition	G5484 on account of
transgressions	παραβάσεων	parabaseōn	Noun - Genitive Feminine Plural	G3847 a transgression
until	ἄχρις	achris	Preposition	G891 as far as, up to, until
arrival	ἔλθῃ	elthē	Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular	G2064 I come, go
of the	τὸ	to	Article - Nominative Neuter Singular	G3588 the
seed	σπέρμα	sperma	Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular	G4690 seed, offspring
to whom	ᾧ	hō	Personal / Relative Pronoun - Dative Neuter Singular	G3739 who, which, what, that
promise referred	ἐπήγγελται	epēngeltai	Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular	G1861 I promise, profess
It was administered	διαταγεὶς	diatageis	Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular	G1299 I give orders to, prescribe
through	δι’	di’	Preposition	G1223 through, on account of
angels	ἀγγέλων	angelōn	Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural	G32 an angel, messenger
by	ἐν	en	Preposition	G1722 in, on, among
a mediator	μεσίτου	mesitou	Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular	G3316 a mediator, go-between

Galatians 3:20

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
A mediator	μεσίτης	mesitēs	Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular	G3316 a mediator, go-between
is	ἔστιν	estin	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G1510 I am, exist
unnecessary	οὐκ	ouk	Adverb	G3756 no, not
however	δὲ	de	Conjunction	G1161 but, on the other hand, and
one	ἑνὸς	henos	Adjective - Genitive Masculine Singular	G1520 one
but	δὲ	de	Conjunction	G1161 but, on the other hand, and
God	Θεὸς	Theos	Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular	G2316 God, a god
is	ἐστιν	estin	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G1510 I am, exist
one	εἷς	heis	Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular	G1520 one

Galatians 3:21

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
the	Ὁ	Ho	Article - Nominative Masculine Singular	G3588 the
law	νόμος	nomos	Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular	G3551 a law, the Mosaic Law
then	οὖν	oun	Conjunction	G3767 therefore, then
opposed to	κατὰ	kata	Preposition	G2596 down from, against, according to, throughout, during
the	τῶν	tōn	Article - Genitive Feminine Plural	G3588 the
promises	ἐπαγγελιῶν	epangeliōn	Noun - Genitive Feminine Plural	G1860 a promise
of God	Θεοῦ	Theou	Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular	G2316 God, a god
Certainly not	γένοιτο	genoito	Verb - Aorist Optative Middle - 3rd Person Singular	G1096 I come into being, am born
For	γὰρ	gar	Conjunction	G1063 for
if	εἰ	ei	Conjunction	G1487 if
a law	νόμος	nomos	Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular	G3551 a law, the Mosaic Law
had been given	ἐδόθη	edothē	Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular	G1325 I offer, give
that	ὁ	ho	Article - Nominative Masculine Singular	G3588 the
could	δυνάμενος	dynamenos	Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular	G1410 I am powerful, am able
impart life	ζωοποιῆσαι	zōopoiēsai	Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active	G2227 I make to live
then	ἂν	an	Particle	G302 an untranslatable word that makes a statement contingent
righteousness	δικαιοσύνη	dikaiosynē	Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular	G1343 justice, justness, righteousness
certainly	ὄντως	ontōs	Adverb	G3689 really, truly
have come	ἦν	ēn	Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G1510 I am, exist
from	ἐκ	ek	Preposition	G1537 from out, out from among, from
law	νόμου	nomou	Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular	G3551 a law, the Mosaic Law