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Galatians 3

Gal. 3:19 KJV (With Strong’s)

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19
Wherefore
tis (Greek #5101)
an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what (in direct or indirect questions)
KJV usage: every man, how (much), + no(-ne, thing), what (manner, thing), where (-by, -fore, -of, -unto, - with, -withal), whether, which, who(-m, -se), why.
Pronounce: tis
Origin: probably emphatic of 5100
then
oun (Greek #3767)
(adverbially) certainly, or (conjunctionally) accordingly
KJV usage: and (so, truly), but, now (then), so (likewise then), then, therefore, verily, wherefore.
Pronounce: oon
Origin: apparently a primary word
serveth the law
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
nomos (Greek #3551)
law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specially, (of Moses (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively (a principle)
KJV usage: law.
Pronounce: nom'-os
Origin: from a primary νέμω (to parcel out, especially food or grazing to animals)
? Iti was added
prostithemi (Greek #4369)
to place additionally, i.e. lay beside, annex, repeat
KJV usage: add, again, give more, increase, lay unto, proceed further, speak to any more.
Pronounce: pros-tith'-ay-mee
Origin: from 4314 and 5087
because
charin (Greek #5484)
through favor of, i.e. on account of
KJV usage: be-(for) cause of, for sake of, +...fore, X reproachfully.
Pronounce: khar'-in
Origin: accusative case of 5485 as preposition
of transgressions
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
parabasis (Greek #3847)
violation
KJV usage: breaking, transgression.
Pronounce: par-ab'-as-is
Origin: from 3845
, till
achri (Greek #891)
akin to 206 (through the idea of a terminus); (of time) until or (of place) up to
KJV usage: as far as, for, in(-to), till, (even, un-)to, until, while. Compare 3360.
Pronounce: akh'-ree
Origin: or ἄχρις (akh'-rece)
the seed
hos (Greek #3739)
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
KJV usage: one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc. See also 3757.
Pronounce: hos
Origin: ἥ (hay), and neuter ὅ (ho) probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article 3588)
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
sperma (Greek #4690)
something sown, i.e. seed (including the male "sperm"); by implication, offspring; specially, a remnant (figuratively, as if kept over for planting)
KJV usage: issue, seed.
Pronounce: sper'-mah
Origin: from 4687
l should come
erchomai (Greek #2064)
middle voice of a primary verb (used only in the present and imperfect tenses, the others being supplied by a kindred (middle voice) ἐλεύθομαι (el-yoo'-thom-ahee), or (active) ἔλθω (el'-tho), which do not otherwise occur) to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
KJV usage: accompany, appear, bring, come, enter, fall out, go, grow, X light, X next, pass, resort, be set.
Pronounce: er'-khom-ahee
to whom
hos (Greek #3739)
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
KJV usage: one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc. See also 3757.
Pronounce: hos
Origin: ἥ (hay), and neuter ὅ (ho) probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article 3588)
the promise was made
epaggello (Greek #1861)
to announce upon (reflexively), i.e. (by implication) to engage to do something, to assert something respecting oneself
KJV usage: profess, (make) promise.
Pronounce: ep-ang-el'-lo
Origin: from 1909 and the base of 32
; and it was ordained
diatasso (Greek #1299)
to arrange thoroughly, i.e. (specially) institute, prescribe, etc.
KJV usage: appoint, command, give, (set in) order, ordain.
Pronounce: dee-at-as'-so
Origin: from 1223 and 5021
by
dia (Greek #1223)
through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional)
KJV usage: after, always, among, at, to avoid, because of (that), briefly, by, for (cause) ... fore, from, in, by occasion of, of, by reason of, for sake, that, thereby, therefore, X though, through(-out), to, wherefore, with (-in). In composition it retains the same general importance.
Pronounce: dee-ah'
Origin: a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act
angels
aggelos (Greek #32)
a messenger; especially an "angel"; by implication, a pastor
KJV usage: angel, messenger.
Pronounce: ang'-el-os
Origin: from ἀγγέλλω (probably derived from 71; compare 34) (to bring tidings)
o in
en (Greek #1722)
"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.
KJV usage: about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.
Pronounce: en
Origin: a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537)
the hand
cheir (Greek #5495)
the hand (literally or figuratively (power); especially (by Hebraism) a means or instrument)
KJV usage: hand.
Pronounce: khire
Origin: perhaps from the base of 5494 in the sense of its congener the base of 5490 (through the idea of hollowness for grasping)
p of a mediator
mesites (Greek #3316)
a go-between, i.e. (simply) an internunciator, or (by implication) a reconciler (intercessor)
KJV usage: mediator.
Pronounce: mes-ee'-tace
Origin: from 3319
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i
Rom. 5:20• 20Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: (Rom. 5:20)
l
Gal. 3:16• 16Now 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. (Gal. 3:16)
o
Acts 7:53• 53Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. (Acts 7:53)
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Heb. 2:2• 2For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; (Heb. 2:2)
p
Ex. 20:19‑22• 19And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.
 20And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.
 21And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.
 22And the Lord said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven. (Ex. 20:19‑22)
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Deut. 5:22‑31• 22These words the Lord spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me.
 23And it came to pass, when ye heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, (for the mountain did burn with fire,) that ye came near unto me, even all the heads of your tribes, and your elders;
 24And ye said, Behold, the Lord our God hath showed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and he liveth.
 25Now therefore why should we die? for this great fire will consume us: if we hear the voice of the Lord our God any more, then we shall die.
 26For who is there of all flesh, that hath heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?
 27Go thou near, and hear all that the Lord our God shall say: and speak thou unto us all that the Lord our God shall speak unto thee; and we will hear it, and do it.
 28And the Lord heard the voice of your words, when ye spake unto me; and the Lord said unto me, I have heard the voice of the words of this people, which they have spoken unto thee: they have well said all that they have spoken.
 29O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!
 30Go say to them, Get you into your tents again.
 31But as for thee, stand thou here by me, and I will speak unto thee all the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which thou shalt teach them, that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess it. (Deut. 5:22‑31)

More on:

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Angels,
Disposition of Angels,
Law,
mediator,
Ordain,
Seed,
Transgression

Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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then.
Rom. 3:1‑2• 1What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?
 2Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. (Rom. 3:1‑2)
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Rom. 7:7‑13• 7What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
 8But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
 9For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
 10And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.
 11For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.
 12Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
 13Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. (Rom. 7:7‑13)
It was added.
Gal. 3:21‑24• 21Is 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.
 22But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
 23But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
 24Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. (Gal. 3:21‑24)
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Deut. 4:8‑9• 8And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?
 9Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons; (Deut. 4:8‑9)
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Psa. 147:19‑20• 19He showeth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.
 20He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the Lord. (Psa. 147:19‑20)
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Luke 16:31• 31And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. (Luke 16:31)
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John 5:45‑47• 45Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.
 46For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.
 47But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words? (John 5:45‑47)
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John 15:22• 22If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. (John 15:22)
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Rom. 2:13• 13(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. (Rom. 2:13)
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Rom. 3:19‑20• 19Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
 20Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. (Rom. 3:19‑20)
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Rom. 4:15• 15Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. (Rom. 4:15)
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Rom. 5:20‑21• 20Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
 21That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. (Rom. 5:20‑21)
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Rom. 7:7‑13• 7What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
 8But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
 9For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
 10And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.
 11For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.
 12Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
 13Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. (Rom. 7:7‑13)
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1 Tim. 1:8‑9• 8But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
 9Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, (1 Tim. 1:8‑9)
till.
Gal. 3:16,25• 16Now 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.
 25But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. (Gal. 3:16,25)
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Gal. 4:1‑4• 1Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
 2But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
 3Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
 4But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, (Gal. 4:1‑4)
by.
Deut. 33:2• 2And he said, The Lord came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them. (Deut. 33:2)
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Acts 7:53• 53Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. (Acts 7:53)
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Heb. 2:2,5• 2For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
 5For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. (Heb. 2:2,5)
in.
Ex. 20:19‑22• 19And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.
 20And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.
 21And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.
 22And the Lord said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven. (Ex. 20:19‑22)
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Ex. 24:1‑12• 1And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the Lord, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off.
 2And Moses alone shall come near the Lord: but they shall not come nigh; neither shall the people go up with him.
 3And Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the Lord hath said will we do.
 4And Moses wrote all the words of the Lord, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.
 5And he sent young men of the children of Israel, which offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen unto the Lord.
 6And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basons; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar.
 7And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient.
 8And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord hath made with you concerning all these words.
 9Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel:
 10And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness.
 11And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink.
 12And the Lord said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them. (Ex. 24:1‑12)
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Ex. 34:27‑35• 27And the Lord said unto Moses, Write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel.
 28And he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.
 29And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.
 30And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him.
 31And Moses called unto them; and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned unto him: and Moses talked with them.
 32And afterward all the children of Israel came nigh: and he gave them in commandment all that the Lord had spoken with him in mount Sinai.
 33And till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a vail on his face.
 34But when Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he took the vail off, until he came out. And he came out, and spake unto the children of Israel that which he was commanded.
 35And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone: and Moses put the vail upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him. (Ex. 34:27‑35)
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Lev. 15:32• 32This is the law of him that hath an issue, and of him whose seed goeth from him, and is defiled therewith; (Lev. 15:32)
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Deut. 5:5,22‑33• 5(I stood between the Lord and you at that time, to show you the word of the Lord: for ye were afraid by reason of the fire, and went not up into the mount;) saying,
 22These words the Lord spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me.
 23And it came to pass, when ye heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, (for the mountain did burn with fire,) that ye came near unto me, even all the heads of your tribes, and your elders;
 24And ye said, Behold, the Lord our God hath showed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and he liveth.
 25Now therefore why should we die? for this great fire will consume us: if we hear the voice of the Lord our God any more, then we shall die.
 26For who is there of all flesh, that hath heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?
 27Go thou near, and hear all that the Lord our God shall say: and speak thou unto us all that the Lord our God shall speak unto thee; and we will hear it, and do it.
 28And the Lord heard the voice of your words, when ye spake unto me; and the Lord said unto me, I have heard the voice of the words of this people, which they have spoken unto thee: they have well said all that they have spoken.
 29O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!
 30Go say to them, Get you into your tents again.
 31But as for thee, stand thou here by me, and I will speak unto thee all the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which thou shalt teach them, that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess it.
 32Ye shall observe to do therefore as the Lord your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.
 33Ye shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess. (Deut. 5:5,22‑33)
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Deut. 9:13‑20,25‑29• 13Furthermore the Lord spake unto me, saying, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people:
 14Let me alone, that I may destroy them, and blot out their name from under heaven: and I will make of thee a nation mightier and greater than they.
 15So I turned and came down from the mount, and the mount burned with fire: and the two tables of the covenant were in my two hands.
 16And I looked, and, behold, ye had sinned against the Lord your God, and had made you a molten calf: ye had turned aside quickly out of the way which the Lord had commanded you.
 17And I took the two tables, and cast them out of my two hands, and brake them before your eyes.
 18And I fell down before the Lord, as at the first, forty days and forty nights: I did neither eat bread, nor drink water, because of all your sins which ye sinned, in doing wickedly in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger.
 19For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure, wherewith the Lord was wroth against you to destroy you. But the Lord hearkened unto me at that time also.
 20And the Lord was very angry with Aaron to have destroyed him: and I prayed for Aaron also the same time.
 25Thus I fell down before the Lord forty days and forty nights, as I fell down at the first; because the Lord had said he would destroy you.
 26I prayed therefore unto the Lord, and said, O Lord God, destroy not thy people and thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed through thy greatness, which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand.
 27Remember thy servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; look not unto the stubbornness of this people, nor to their wickedness, nor to their sin:
 28Lest the land whence thou broughtest us out say, Because the Lord was not able to bring them into the land which he promised them, and because he hated them, he hath brought them out to slay them in the wilderness.
 29Yet they are thy people and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest out by thy mighty power and by thy stretched out arm. (Deut. 9:13‑20,25‑29)
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Deut. 18:15‑19• 15The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;
 16According to all that thou desiredst of the Lord thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not.
 17And the Lord said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken.
 18I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
 19And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him. (Deut. 18:15‑19)
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Psa. 106:23• 23Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them. (Psa. 106:23)
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John 1:17• 17For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. (John 1:17)
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Acts 7:38• 38This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us: (Acts 7:38)
The Apostle, having just before been speaking of the promise made to Abraham, and representing that as the rule of our justification, and not the law, lest they should think he derogated too much from the law, and thereby rendered it useless--he thence takes occasion to discourse of the design and tendency of it, and to acquaint us for what purposes it was given.
• God had made an unconditional promise to the seed of Abraham. He will infallibly perform it, for He is God. But in the communication of the law there is nothing immediate and direct from God simply. It is ordained by the hand of angels. (“Galatians 3” by J.N. Darby)
• It was ordained by angels who, though making known His majesty, did not directly bring God into display in all the glory of His love and grace. Moreover, it was not, like the promise, directly dependent upon God who made the promise. It was given through a mediator. (“Galatians 3” by H. Smith)
• The law proves that, if God bestows the blessing in sovereign grace, He does not do so at the expense of righteousness. Thus the law raises the question of righteousness, both the righteousness of man and the righteousness of God. (“Galatians 3” by H. Smith)

J. N. Darby Translation

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19
Why then the law? It was added for the sake of transgressionsb, until the seed came to whom the promise was made, ordained through angels in the hand of a mediator.

JND Translation Notes

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b
i.e. in order to bring evil into relief by transgressions.

W. Kelly Translation

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19
Why then the law? For the sake of transgressions it was added, until the seed came to whom the promise was made, being ordained by means of angels in a mediator’s hand.