Galatians 3:19

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

Why, then, was the law given? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise was made would come. It was administered through angels by a mediator.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Τί οὖν ὁ νόμος; Τῶν παραβάσεων χάριν προσετέθη, ἄχρις οὗ ἔλθῃ τὸ σπέρμα ᾧ ἐπήγγελται· διαταγεὶς διʼ ἀγγέλων ἐν χειρὶ μεσίτου.

Transliteration

What then the nomos? Of the parabaseōn charin it was prosetethē, until which should elthē the sperma to whom it has been epēngeltai; having been diatageis through angelōn in cheiri of mesitou.

Grammar Details

• *nomos*: nominative, masculine, singular - law
• *parabaseōn*: genitive, feminine, plural - transgressions/violations
• *charin*: preposition with genitive - for the sake of/because of
• *prosetethē*: aorist, passive, indicative, 3rd person, singular - was added
• *elthē*: aorist, active, subjunctive, 3rd person, singular - might come
• *sperma*: nominative, neuter, singular - seed/offspring
• *epēngeltai*: perfect, passive, indicative, 3rd person, singular - has been promised
• *diatageis*: aorist, passive, participle, nominative, masculine, singular - having been ordained/arranged
• *angelōn*: genitive, masculine, plural - angels/messengers
• *cheiri*: dative, feminine, singular - hand
• *mesitou*: genitive, masculine, singular - mediator/intermediary

Word Meanings

• *nomos*: law/legal system/Torah
• *parabaseōn*: transgressions/violations/breaches of law
• *charin*: for the sake of/because of/on account of
• *prosetethē*: was added/was introduced
• *elthē*: might come/should arrive
• *sperma*: seed/offspring/descendant
• *epēngeltai*: has been promised/has been announced
• *diatageis*: having been ordained/arranged/appointed/established
• *angelōn*: angels/messengers
• *mesitou*: mediator/intermediary/go-between

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  Why then serves the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the seed should come to whom the promise was made, and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  What{G5101} then{G3767} is the law?{G3551} It was added{G4369} because{G5484} of transgressions,{G3847} till{G891} {G3739} the seed{G4690} should come{G2064} to whom{G3739} the promise hath been made;{G1861} [and it was] ordained{G1299} through{G1223} angels{G32} by{G1722} the hand{G5495} of a mediator.{G3316}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Wherefore{G5101} then{G3767} serveth the law{G3551}? It was added{G4369}{(G5681)} because of{G5484} transgressions{G3847}, till{G891}{G3739} the seed{G4690} should come{G2064}{(G5632)} to whom{G3739} the promise was made{G1861}{(G5766)}; and it was ordained{G1299}{(G5651)} by{G1223} angels{G32} in{G1722} the hand{G5495} of a mediator{G3316}.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  Wherfore then serveth ye lawe? The lawe was added because of transgression (tyll the seed cam to which ye promes was made) and it was ordeyned by angels in ye honde of a mediator.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Wherfore the serueth the lawe? It was added because of trangression, tyll the sede came, to the which the promes was made. And it was geuen of angels, by the hande of the mediatoure.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Wherefore then serueth the Law? It was added because of the transgressions, til the seed came, vnto the which the promise was made: and it was ordeined by Angels in the hande of a Mediatour.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Wherfore then serueth the lawe? It was added because of transgressions, tyl the seede came to whom the promise was made: and it was ordayned by Angels in the hande of a mediatour.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ¶ Wherefore then [serveth] the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; [and it was] ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  What then is the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the seed should come to whom the promise has been made. It was ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  Why, then, the law? on account of the transgressions it was added, till the seed might come to which the promise hath been made, having been set in order through messengers in the hand of a mediator --

• American Standard Version (1901)

  What then is the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise hath been made; `and it was' ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  What then is the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise hath been made; [and it was] ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  What then is the law? It was an addition made because of sin, till the coming of the seed to whom the undertaking had been given; and it was ordered through angels by the hand of a go-between.

• World English Bible (2000)

  What then is the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the seed should come to whom the promise has been made. It was ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions, until the arrival of the descendant to whom the promise had been made. It was administered through angels by an intermediary.

Referenced Verses

• Acts 7:53 : 53 you who received the law through angels but have not obeyed it.
• Gal 3:16 : 16 Now to Abraham the promises were spoken, and to his seed. It does not say, 'and to seeds,' as if referring to many, but, 'and to your seed,' meaning one, who is Christ.
• Rom 7:7-9 : 7 What shall we say then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, 'You shall not covet.' 8 But sin, seizing the opportunity provided by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead. 9 At one time I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin came to life and I died. 10 I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. 11 For sin, seizing the opportunity provided by the commandment, deceived me and through the commandment put me to death. 12 So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous, and good. 13 Did what is good then become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, in order to be recognized as sin, used what is good to bring about my death, so that sin might become utterly sinful through the commandment.
• Heb 2:2 : 2 For if the message spoken through angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty,
• Deut 5:5 : 5 At that time, I stood between the LORD and you to declare His word to you, because you were afraid of the fire and did not go up the mountain. He said:
• Acts 7:38 : 38 This is the one who was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors; he received living words to pass on to us.
• Rom 4:15 : 15 For the law brings wrath, and where there is no law, there is no transgression.
• Rom 5:20-21 : 20 Now the law was brought in so that the trespass might increase; but where sin increased, grace increased all the more. 21 So that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
• Gal 3:21-25 : 21 Is the law, therefore, 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 by the law. 22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise, by faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. 23 Before this faith came, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. 24 So the law was our guardian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.
• Gal 4:1-4 : 1 I say that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, even though he is the master of everything. 2 But he is under guardians and managers until the time set by his father. 3 In the same way, we too, when we were children, were enslaved under the elemental principles of the world. 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
• 1 Tim 1:8-9 : 8 Now we know that the law is good if one uses it properly. 9 We also know that the law is not made for the righteous but for the lawless and rebellious, the ungodly and sinners, the unholy and profane, those who strike their fathers and mothers, and murderers,
• Heb 2:5 : 5 For it was not to angels that He subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking.
• Deut 5:22-33 : 22 These are the words the LORD spoke to your entire assembly at the mountain from the midst of the fire, the cloud, and the profound darkness, with a loud voice. He added no more, and He wrote them on two stone tablets and gave them to me. 23 When you heard the voice from the darkness, while the mountain was ablaze with fire, all the heads of your tribes and your elders came to me. 24 And you said, 'Behold, the LORD our God has shown us His glory and His greatness, and we have heard His voice from the fire. Today we have seen that a person can live even if God speaks with them. 25 But now why should we die? This great fire will consume us, and we will die if we continue to hear the voice of the LORD our God. 26 For who among all flesh has ever heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the fire, as we have, and lived? 27 Go near and listen to all that the LORD our God says. Then you can tell us everything the LORD our God tells you, and we will listen and obey. 28 The LORD heard your words when you spoke to me, and He said to me, 'I have heard the words of this people, which they have spoken to you. They have done well in all that they have spoken. 29 Oh, that their hearts would always fear Me and keep all My commands, so that it might go well with them and their children forever! 30 Go and tell them to return to their tents. 31 But as for you, stay here with Me, so that I may give you all the commands, decrees, and laws you are to teach them to follow in the land I am giving them to possess. 32 So be careful to do as the LORD your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or the left. 33 Walk in all the ways that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land you will possess.
• Deut 9:13-20 : 13 The LORD also said to me, 'I have seen this people, and indeed, they are a stiff-necked people. 14 Let me alone, so I may destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven. Then I will make you into a nation stronger and more numerous than they are.' 15 So I turned and went down the mountain while it was ablaze with fire, with the two tablets of the covenant in my hands. 16 I saw that you had sinned against the LORD your God. You had made a molten calf for yourselves. You had quickly turned aside from the way the LORD had commanded you. 17 So I took hold of the two tablets and threw them down, shattering them before your eyes. 18 Then I fell down before the LORD as I had done before, for forty days and forty nights. I ate no bread and drank no water because of all the sin you had committed, doing what was evil in the LORD's sight and provoking him to anger. 19 I was afraid of the fierce anger and wrath the LORD had directed against you, enough to destroy you. But the LORD listened to me that time also. 20 The LORD was very angry with Aaron, and he was ready to destroy him. But I prayed for Aaron at that time as well.
• Deut 9:25-29 : 25 So I fell down before the LORD for forty days and forty nights, just as I had done before, because the LORD had said he would destroy you. 26 I prayed to the LORD and said, 'O Lord GOD, do not destroy your people, your inheritance, whom you redeemed through your greatness and brought out of Egypt with a strong hand. 27 Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Do not focus on the stubbornness of this people, their wickedness, or their sin. 28 Otherwise, the land from which you brought us out will say, "The LORD was not able to bring them into the land he promised them, and because he hated them, he brought them out to kill them in the wilderness." 29 But they are your people, your inheritance, whom you brought out by your great power and your outstretched arm.
• Deut 18:15-19 : 15 The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people. You must listen to him. 16 This is what you asked of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, saying, 'Let us not hear the voice of the LORD our God or see this great fire anymore, or we will die.' 17 The LORD said to me, 'What they say is good.' 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. 19 If anyone does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name, I myself will call them to account.
• Deut 33:2 : 2 He said: 'The Lord came from Sinai, and shone forth from Seir to them; He appeared in radiance from Mount Paran, and came with myriads of holy ones. From His right hand came a fiery law for them.
• Ps 106:23 : 23 So He said He would destroy them had not Moses, His chosen one, stood in the breach before Him to turn His wrath away from destroying them.
• Ps 147:19-20 : 19 He declares His word to Jacob, His statutes and judgments to Israel. 20 He has not done this for any other nation; they do not know His judgments. Hallelujah!
• Luke 16:31 : 31 But Abraham said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'
• John 1:17 : 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
• John 5:45-47 : 45 Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom you have set your hope. 46 If you believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me. 47 But if you do not believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?
• John 15:22 : 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.
• Rom 2:13 : 13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but it is the doers of the law who will be justified.
• Rom 3:1-2 : 1 What advantage is there, then, in being a Jew? Or what benefit is there in circumcision? 2 Much in every way! First of all, they were entrusted with the very words of God.
• Rom 3:19-20 : 19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20 Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law; for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.
• Exod 20:19-22 : 19 They said to Moses, 'Speak to us yourself, and we will listen. But do not let God speak to us, or we will die.' 20 Moses said to the people, 'Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of Him may be before you to keep you from sinning.' 21 The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was. 22 Then the LORD said to Moses, 'This is what you shall say to the children of Israel: You yourselves have seen that I have spoken to you from heaven.'
• Exod 24:1-9 : 1 The LORD said to Moses, "Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of Israel's elders, and worship from a distance." 2 Only Moses is to approach the LORD; the others must not come near, and the people must not go up with him. 3 Moses came and told the people all the LORD's words and laws. The people responded with one voice, saying, "We will do everything the LORD has said." 4 Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. Early the next morning, he built an altar at the base of the mountain and set up twelve pillars representing the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 Then he sent young men of the Israelites, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed bulls as fellowship offerings to the LORD. 6 Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls, and the other half he sprinkled on the altar. 7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They said, "We will do everything the LORD has said; we will obey." 8 Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, "This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you concerning all these words." 9 Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up. 10 They saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement of sapphire stone, as clear as the sky itself. 11 But God did not raise his hand against the leaders of the Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and drank. 12 The LORD said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain and stay there, so I can give you the stone tablets with the law and commandments I have written to teach them."
• Exod 34:27-35 : 27 The LORD said to Moses, "Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel." 28 Moses was there with the LORD for forty days and forty nights. He did not eat any bread or drink any water, and he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments. 29 When Moses descended from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant in his hands, he was unaware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD. 30 When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. 31 But Moses called to them, so Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation came back to him, and Moses spoke to them. 32 Afterward, all the Israelites came near, and he gave them all the commands that the LORD had given him on Mount Sinai. 33 When Moses finished speaking with them, he covered his face with a veil. 34 But whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with Him, he would remove the veil until he came out. When he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, 35 they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the LORD again.
• Lev 15:32 : 32 This is the law concerning the man with a discharge and anyone who has an emission of semen that makes him unclean.
• Deut 4:8-9 : 8 And what great nation has righteous statutes and judgments like this entire law that I am setting before you today? 9 Only be careful and guard your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen, and so that they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.