Parallel Verses

Daniel Mace New Testament

"To what purpose then was the law?" it was added as a check to transgressors, till the offspring should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels with the intervention of a mediator.

New American Standard Bible

Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made.

King James 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.

Holman Bible

Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise was made would come. The law was put into effect through angels by means of a mediator.

International Standard Version

Why, then, was the Law added? Because of transgressions, until the descendant came about whom the promise pertained. It was put into effect through angels by means of a mediator.

A Conservative Version

Why then the law? It was added on account of transgressions, until the seed would come to whom it was promised, which was arranged through heavenly agents in the hand of a mediator.

American Standard Version

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.

Amplified

Why, then, the Law [what was its purpose]? It was added [after the promise to Abraham, to reveal to people their guilt] because of transgressions [that is, to make people conscious of the sinfulness of sin], and [the Law] was ordained through angels and delivered to Israel by the hand of a mediator [Moses, the mediator between God and Israel, to be in effect] until the Seed would come to whom the promise had been made.

An Understandable Version

What then is [the benefit of] the law of Moses? It was introduced [as part of God's revelation] in order to define what sin was, until the seed [i.e., Jesus] would come, to whom the promise [of never ending life] was made. The law of Moses was ordained through [the medium of] angels and [delivered] through the hand of an intermediary [i.e., Moses].

Anderson New Testament

What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added on account of transgressions, (till the offspring should come, to whom the promise was made,) having been appointed through the service of angels, in the hand of a mediator.

Bible in Basic English

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.

Common New Testament

Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made.

Darby Translation

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

Godbey New Testament

Then what is the law? It was added on account of the transgressions, until the seed to whom the promise was made should come; being ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

Goodspeed New Testament

Then what about the Law? It was a later addition, designed to produce transgressions, until the descendant to which the promise was made should come, and it was enacted by means of angels, through an intermediary;

John Wesley New Testament

Wherefore then was 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.

Julia Smith Translation

What then the law? It was added on account of transgressions, (till the seed come to whom it was promised;) appointed by angels in the hand of a mediator.

King James 2000

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

Lexham Expanded Bible

Why then the law? It was added on account of transgressions, until the descendant should come to whom it had been promised, having been ordered through angels by the hand of a mediator.

Modern King James verseion

Why then the Law? It was added because of transgressions, until the Seed should come to those to whom it had been promised, being ordained through angels in the Mediator's hand.

Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale

Wherefore then serveth the law? The law was added because of transgression - till the seed came, to which the promise was made - and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

Moffatt New Testament

Then what about the Law? Well, it was interpolated for the purpose of producing transgressions till such time as the Offspring arrived to whom the Promise was made; also, it was transmitted by means of angels through the agency of an intermediary

Montgomery New Testament

To what purpose, then, was the Law? It was imposed later for the sake of transgressions, until the "Offspring" should come to whom the promise had been made. It was arranged through angels by the hand of a mediator.

NET Bible

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.

New Heart English Bible

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.

Noyes New Testament

To what end then was the Law? It was added because of transgressions, till the offspring should come to whom the promise belongeth, having been ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator.

Sawyer New Testament

What then? The law was added on account of transgressions, till the offspring should come to which the promise was made, being appointed by angels by the hand of a mediator.

The Emphasized Bible

Why, then, the law? Because of the transgressions, it was added, until such time as the seed should come, unto whom the promise had been made, and was given in charge through messengers, at the hand of a mediator;

Thomas Haweis New Testament

To what end then was the law given? It was given on account of transgressions, until that seed should come to whom the promise was made, being delivered through the ministry of angels into the hand of a mediator.

Twentieth Century New Testament

What, then, you ask, was the use of the Law? It was a later addition, to make men conscious of their wrong-doings, and intended to last only till the coming of that 'offspring' to whom the promise had been made; and it was delivered through angels by a mediator.

Webster

What purpose 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.

Weymouth New Testament

Why then was the Law given? It was imposed later on for the sake of defining sin, until the seed should come to whom God had made the promise; and its details were laid down by a mediator with the help of angels.

Williams New Testament

Then what about the law? It was added later on to increase transgressions, until the descendant to whom the promise was made should come, enacted through the agency of angels in the person of an intermediary.

World English Bible

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.

Worrell New Testament

What, then, is the law? It was added because of the transgressions, until the Seed should come to Whom it had been promised; having been arranged through angels in the hand of a mediator.

Worsley New Testament

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

Youngs Literal Translation

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 --

Interlinear

English(KJV)
Strong's
Root Form
Definition
Usage
τίς 
Tis 
Usage: 344

οὖν 
Oun 
therefore, then, so, and, now, wherefore, but, not tr,
Usage: 417

serveth the law
νόμος 
Nomos 
law
Usage: 179

It was added
προστίθημι 
Prostithemi 
Usage: 11

χάριν 
Charin 
Usage: 8

παράβασις 
Parabasis 
Usage: 7

ἄχρι ἄχρις 
Achri 
until, unto, till, till 9 , until 9, while 9, even to,
Usage: 43

the seed
σπέρμα 
Sperma 
Usage: 37

ἔρχομαι 
Erchomai 
come, go, , vr come
Usage: 424

to whom
ὅς ἥ ὅ 
Hos 
Usage: 980

ἐπαγγέλλω 
Epaggello 
Usage: 15

and it was ordained
διατάσσω 
Diatasso 
Usage: 14

by
διά 
Dia 
by, through, with, for, for ... sake, therefore , for this cause , because,
Usage: 527

G32
ἄγγελος 
Aggelos 
Usage: 153

in
ἐν 
En 
in, by, with, among, at, on, through,
Usage: 2128

the hand
χείρ 
Cheir 
hand, not tr
Usage: 149

Devotionals

Devotionals about Galatians 3:19

Images Galatians 3:19

Context Readings

The Addition Of The Law

18 now if the right to the inheritance be from the law, it is no longer founded upon the promise; altho' God made a donation of it to Abraham by promise. 19 "To what purpose then was the law?" it was added as a check to transgressors, till the offspring should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels with the intervention of a mediator. 20 now a mediator supposes two parties, of which God is but one.


Cross References

Acts 7:53

you, I say, who received the law by the administration of angels, but have not however observ'd it.

Galatians 3:16

now to Abraham and his offspring were the promises made. he does not say, "to offsprings," as if he spoke of many; but as speaking of one, "and to thy offspring," which means Christ.

Romans 7:7-13

Do we then conclude, that the law is the cause of sin? by no means; but I should not have had such a notion of sin, had it not been for the law: for I should not have known concupiscence was a sin, unless the law had said, "thou shalt not covet."

Hebrews 2:2

for if the law deliver'd by angels was put in execution, and every transgression and disobedience was justly punish'd as it deserv'd;

Acts 7:38

'twas he that was in the assembly with our fathers in the wilderness, and with the angel that spoke to him on mount Sina: and delivered the oracles to him by word of mouth for our use.

Romans 4:15

because the effect of the law is punishment: for if there had been no law, there could have been no transgression.

Luke 16:31

Abraham replied, if they disregard Moses and the prophets, they will not believe any one, though he rose from the dead.

John 1:17

the law indeed was delivered by Moses, but grace and truth was the dispensation of Jesus Christ.

John 5:45-47

don't imagine that I shall accuse you to my father: even Moses himself in whom you confide, will be your accuser.

John 15:22

if I had not appear'd, and inform'd them, they would have been innocent: but now they have no excuse for their sin.

Romans 2:13

for not the bare hearers of the law, but they who observe the law, are such as shall be justified, before God.

Romans 3:1-2

What advantage then hath the Jew? or what benefit is there from circumcision?

Romans 3:19-20

Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law: that every one may be silenc'd, and all the world plead guilty before God.

Romans 5:20-21

the law was introduc'd, that the greatness of the fall might fully appear; but the more sin display'd its enormity, the divine favour was so much the more transcendent.

Galatians 3:21-25

Is the law then opposite to the promises? by no means. for if there had been a law given, which could have given life, certainly justification should have been by the law.

Galatians 4:1-4

Now I say, that the heir, as long as he is a child, is in a state of servitude, tho' he is to be lord of all;

1 Timothy 1:8-9

I own that the law is good, if a man make a right use of it:

Hebrews 2:5

'Tis not therefore to the angels that he has subjected the gospel state of which we are treating.

King James Version Public Domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org

American Standard Version Public Domain

NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NetBible

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain