Galatians 3-4
King James Version
3 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.
16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
19 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.
20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
4 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
12 Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all.
13 Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.
14 And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
15 Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.
16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
17 They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.
18 But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.
19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
20 I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.
21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
Galatians 3-4
English Standard Version
By Faith, or by Works of the Law?
3 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? (A)It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly (B)portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: (C)Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by (D)hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? (E)Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by[a] the flesh? 4 (F)Did you suffer[b] so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and (G)works miracles among you do so (H)by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— 6 just as (I)Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?
7 Know then that it is (J)those of faith who are (K)the sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that (L)God would justify[c] the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, (M)“In you shall all the nations be blessed.” 9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
The Righteous Shall Live by Faith
10 For all who rely on works of the law are (N)under a curse; for it is written, (O)“Cursed be everyone who does not (P)abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” 11 Now it is evident that (Q)no one is justified before God by the law, for (R)“The righteous shall live by faith.”[d] 12 But the law is not of faith, rather (S)“The one who does them shall live by them.” 13 Christ (T)redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, (U)“Cursed is everyone who is hanged (V)on a tree”— 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might (W)come to the Gentiles, so that (X)we might receive (Y)the promised Spirit[e] through faith.
The Law and the Promise
15 (Z)To give a human example, brothers:[f] (AA)even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. 16 Now (AB)the promises were made (AC)to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, (AD)“And to your offspring,” who is Christ. 17 This is what I mean: the law, which came (AE)430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as (AF)to make the promise void. 18 For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but (AG)God gave it to Abraham by a promise.
19 Why then the law? (AH)It was added because of transgressions, (AI)until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was (AJ)put in place through angels (AK)by an intermediary. 20 Now (AL)an intermediary implies more than one, but (AM)God is one.
21 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For (AN)if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. 22 But the Scripture (AO)imprisoned everything under sin, so that (AP)the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given (AQ)to those who believe.
23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, (AR)imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, (AS)the law was our (AT)guardian until Christ came, (AU)in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus (AV)you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as (AW)were baptized (AX)into Christ have (AY)put on Christ. 28 (AZ)There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave[g] nor free, (BA)there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And (BB)if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, (BC)heirs according to promise.
Sons and Heirs
4 I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave,[h] though he is the owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. 3 In the same way we also, when we were children, (BD)were enslaved to the elementary principles[i] of the world. 4 But (BE)when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, (BF)born (BG)of woman, born (BH)under the law, 5 (BI)to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive (BJ)adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent (BK)the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then (BL)an heir through God.
Paul's Concern for the Galatians
8 Formerly, when you (BM)did not know God, you (BN)were enslaved to those that by nature (BO)are not gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather (BP)to be known by God, (BQ)how can you turn back again to (BR)the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? 10 (BS)You observe days and months and seasons and years! 11 I am afraid (BT)I may have labored over you in vain.
12 Brothers,[j] (BU)I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. (BV)You did me no wrong. 13 You know it was (BW)because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you (BX)at first, 14 and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me (BY)as an angel of God, (BZ)as Christ Jesus. 15 What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I then become your enemy by (CA)telling you the truth?[k] 17 They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. 18 It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and (CB)not only when I am present with you, 19 (CC)my little children, (CD)for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ (CE)is formed in you! 20 I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
Example of Hagar and Sarah
21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, (CF)one by a slave woman and (CG)one by a free woman. 23 But (CH)the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while (CI)the son of the free woman was born through promise. 24 Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two (CJ)covenants. (CK)One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia;[l] she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But (CL)the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written,
(CM)“Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear;
break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor!
For the children of the desolate one will be more
than those of the one who has a husband.”
28 Now you,[m] brothers, (CN)like Isaac, (CO)are children of promise. 29 But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh (CP)persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, (CQ)so also it is now. 30 But what does the Scripture say? (CR)“Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.” 31 So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but (CS)of the free woman.
Footnotes
- Galatians 3:3 Or now ending with
- Galatians 3:4 Or experience
- Galatians 3:8 Or count righteous; also verses 11, 24
- Galatians 3:11 Or The one who by faith is righteous will live
- Galatians 3:14 Greek receive the promise of the Spirit
- Galatians 3:15 Or brothers and sisters
- Galatians 3:28 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface
- Galatians 4:1 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; also verse 7
- Galatians 4:3 Or elemental spirits; also verse 9
- Galatians 4:12 Or Brothers and sisters; also verses 28, 31
- Galatians 4:16 Or by dealing truthfully with you
- Galatians 4:25 Some manuscripts For Sinai is a mountain in Arabia
- Galatians 4:28 Some manuscripts we
Galatians 3-4
New American Standard Bible
Faith Brings Righteousness
3 [a]You foolish (A)Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ (B)was publicly portrayed as crucified? 2 This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by works of [b]the Law, or by (C)hearing [c]with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun [d]by the Spirit, are you now [e]being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you [f]suffer so many things in vain—(D)if indeed it was in vain? 5 So then, does He who (E)provides you with the Spirit and (F)works [g]miracles among you, do it by works of [h]the Law, or by (G)hearing [i]with faith?
6 Just as (H)Abraham (I)believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. 7 Therefore, recognize that (J)it is those who are of faith who are (K)sons of Abraham. 8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God [j]would justify the [k]Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “(L)All the nations will be blessed in you.” 9 So then, (M)those who are of faith are blessed with [l]Abraham, the believer.
10 For all who are of works of [m]the Law are under a curse; for it is written: “(N)Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all the things written in the book of the Law, to do them.” 11 Now, that (O)no one is justified [n]by [o]the Law before God is evident; for, “[p](P)the righteous one will live by faith.” 12 [q]However, the Law is not [r]of faith; on the contrary, “(Q)The person who performs [s]them will live by [t]them.” 13 Christ (R)redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written: “(S)Cursed is everyone who hangs on (T)a [u]tree”— 14 in order that (U)in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles, so that we (V)would receive (W)the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Intent of the Law
15 (X)Brothers and sisters, (Y)I speak [v]in terms of human relations: (Z)even though it is only a man’s [w]covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds [x]conditions to it. 16 Now the promises were spoken (AA)to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as one would in referring to many, but rather as in referring to one, “(AB)And to your seed,” that is, Christ. 17 What I am saying is this: the Law, which came (AC)430 years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. 18 For (AD)if the inheritance is [y]based on law, it is no longer [z]based on a promise; but (AE)God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.
19 (AF)Why the Law then? It was added on account of the [aa]violations, having been (AG)ordered through angels (AH)at the hand of a [ab]mediator, until (AI)the Seed would come to whom the promise had been made. 20 Now (AJ)a mediator is not [ac]for one party only; but God is only one. 21 Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? [ad](AK)Far from it! For (AL)if a law had been given that was able to impart life, then righteousness [ae]would indeed have been [af]based on law. 22 But the Scripture has (AM)confined [ag]everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
23 But before faith came, [ah]we were kept in custody under the Law, (AN)being confined for the faith that was destined to be revealed. 24 Therefore the Law has become our [ai](AO)guardian to lead us to Christ, so that (AP)we may be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a [aj](AQ)guardian. 26 For you are all (AR)sons and daughters of God through faith in (AS)Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were (AT)baptized into Christ have (AU)clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 (AV)There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is [ak]neither male nor female; for (AW)you are all one in (AX)Christ Jesus. 29 And if (AY)you [al]belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s [am]descendants, heirs according to (AZ)promise.
Sonship in Christ
4 Now I say, as long as the heir is a [an]child, he does not differ at all from a slave, although he is [ao]owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and [ap]managers until the [aq]date set by the father. 3 So we too, when we were children, were held (BA)in bondage under the [ar](BB)elementary principles of the world. 4 But when (BC)the fullness of the time came, God sent His Son, (BD)born of a woman, born (BE)under [as]the Law, 5 so that He might redeem those who were under [at]the Law, that we might receive the adoption as (BF)sons and daughters. 6 Because you are sons, (BG)God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “(BH)Abba! [au]Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and (BI)if a son, then an heir [av]through God.
8 However at that time, (BJ)when you did not know God, you were (BK)slaves to (BL)those which by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be (BM)known by God, (BN)how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless [aw](BO)elementary principles, to which you want to be enslaved all over again? 10 You (BP)meticulously observe days and months and seasons and years. 11 I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored [ax]over you in vain.
12 I beg of you, (BQ)brothers and sisters, (BR)become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong; 13 but you know that it was because of a [ay]bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the [az]first time; 14 and you did not despise that which was a trial to you in my [ba]bodily condition, nor express contempt, but (BS)you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself. 15 Where then is [bb]that sense of blessing you had? For I testify about you that, if possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16 So have I become your enemy (BT)by [bc]telling you the truth? 17 They eagerly seek you, not [bd]in a commendable way, but they want to shut you out so that you will seek them. 18 But it is good always to be eagerly sought [be]in a commendable way, and (BU)not only when I am present with you. 19 (BV)My children, with whom (BW)I am again in labor until (BX)Christ is formed in you— 20 but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone of voice, for (BY)I am at a loss about you!
Slave and Free
21 Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not (BZ)listen to the Law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, (CA)one by the slave woman and (CB)one by the free woman. 23 But (CC)the son by the slave woman [bf]was born according to the flesh, and (CD)the son by the free woman through the promise. 24 [bg](CE)This is speaking allegorically, for these women are two covenants: one coming from (CF)Mount Sinai giving birth to children [bh]who are to be (CG)slaves; [bi]she is Hagar. 25 Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is enslaved with her children. 26 But (CH)the Jerusalem above is free; [bj]she is our mother. 27 For it is written:
“(CI)Rejoice, infertile one, you who do not give birth;
Break forth and shout, you who are not in labor;
For the children of the desolate one are more numerous
Than those of the one who has a husband.”
28 And you, brothers and sisters, (CJ)like Isaac, are (CK)children of promise. 29 But as at that time (CL)the son who was born according to the flesh (CM)persecuted the one who was born according to the Spirit, (CN)so it is even now. 30 But what does the Scripture say?
“(CO)Drive out the slave woman and her son,
For (CP)the son of the slave woman shall not be an heir with the son of the free woman.”
31 So then, brothers and sisters, we are not children of a slave woman, but of the free woman.
Footnotes
- Galatians 3:1 Lit O
- Galatians 3:2 Or law
- Galatians 3:2 Lit of faith
- Galatians 3:3 Or with
- Galatians 3:3 Or ending with
- Galatians 3:4 Or experience
- Galatians 3:5 Or works of power
- Galatians 3:5 Or law
- Galatians 3:5 Lit of faith
- Galatians 3:8 Lit justifies
- Galatians 3:8 Lit nations
- Galatians 3:9 Lit the believing Abraham
- Galatians 3:10 Or law
- Galatians 3:11 Or in
- Galatians 3:11 Or law
- Galatians 3:11 Or the one who is righteous by faith will live
- Galatians 3:12 Or And
- Galatians 3:12 Or based on
- Galatians 3:12 I.e., the statutes of the Law
- Galatians 3:12 I.e., the statutes of the Law
- Galatians 3:13 Or cross; lit wood; see Deut 21:23
- Galatians 3:15 Lit according to man
- Galatians 3:15 Or will; or testament
- Galatians 3:15 Or a codicil
- Galatians 3:18 Lit out of, from
- Galatians 3:18 Lit out of, from
- Galatians 3:19 I.e., of God’s commands
- Galatians 3:19 I.e., Moses
- Galatians 3:20 Lit of one
- Galatians 3:21 Lit May it never happen!
- Galatians 3:21 Or would indeed be
- Galatians 3:21 Lit out of, from
- Galatians 3:22 Lit all things
- Galatians 3:23 I.e., the Jews
- Galatians 3:24 I.e., children’s escort and supervisor
- Galatians 3:25 See note v 24
- Galatians 3:28 Lit not male and female
- Galatians 3:29 Lit are Christ’s
- Galatians 3:29 Lit seed
- Galatians 4:1 Or minor
- Galatians 4:1 Lit lord
- Galatians 4:2 Or stewards
- Galatians 4:2 I.e., when the child is no longer a minor
- Galatians 4:3 Or rudimentary teachings
- Galatians 4:4 Or law
- Galatians 4:5 Or law
- Galatians 4:6 I.e., Paul’s translation of the Aramaic Abba
- Galatians 4:7 I.e., through the gracious act of
- Galatians 4:9 Or rudimentary teachings
- Galatians 4:11 Or for
- Galatians 4:13 Lit weakness of the flesh
- Galatians 4:13 Or former
- Galatians 4:14 Lit flesh
- Galatians 4:15 I.e., considering yourselves fortunate
- Galatians 4:16 Or dealing truthfully with you
- Galatians 4:17 Or with good intentions
- Galatians 4:18 Or with good intentions
- Galatians 4:23 Lit has been born
- Galatians 4:24 Lit Which
- Galatians 4:24 Lit into slavery
- Galatians 4:24 Lit which
- Galatians 4:26 Lit which
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
