Parallel Verses
An Understandable Version
Is the law of Moses contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could provide [never ending] life, then a person could be considered right with God by [obeying the requirements of such] a law.
New American Standard Bible
Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God?
King James Version
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.
Holman Bible
Is the law therefore contrary to God’s promises? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, then righteousness would certainly be by the law.
International Standard Version
So is the Law in conflict with the promises of God? Of course not! For if a law had been given that could give us life, then certainly righteousness would come through the Law.
A Conservative Version
Is the law therefore against the promises of God? May it not happen! For if a law was given that could make alive, truly righteousness would be from law.
American Standard Version
Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could make alive, verily righteousness would have been of the law.
Amplified
Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a system of law had been given which could impart life, then righteousness (right standing with God) would actually have been based on law.
Anderson New Testament
Is the law, then, against the promises of God? It can not be. For if a law had been given which could have given life, surely righteousness would have been by law.
Bible in Basic English
Is the law then against the words of God? in no way; because if there had been a law which was able to give life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.
Common New Testament
Is the law then opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given which could impart life, then righteousness would indeed have come by the law.
Daniel Mace New Testament
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.
Darby Translation
Is then the law against the promises of God? Far be the thought. For if a law had been given able to quicken, then indeed righteousness were on the principle of law;
Godbey New Testament
Then was the law against the promises of God? it could not be so. For if the law was given being able to create life, truly justification would have been by law:
Goodspeed New Testament
Is the Law then contrary to God's promises? By no means. For if a law had been given that could have brought life, uprightness would really have come through law.
John Wesley New Testament
Is then the law against the promises of God? God forbid. But if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness would have been by the law.
Julia Smith Translation
The law then against the promises of God? It may not be: for if a law had been given able to make alive, truly justice would be by the law.
King James 2000
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.
Lexham Expanded Bible
Therefore [is] the law opposed to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, certainly righteousness would have been from the law.
Modern King James verseion
Is the Law then against the promises of God? Let it not be said! For if a law had been given which could have given life, indeed righteousness would have been out of Law.
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
Is the law, then, against the promise of God? God forbid. Howbeit, if there had been a law given which could have given life: then no doubt righteousness should have come by the law.
Moffatt New Testament
Then the Law is contrary to God's Promises? Never! Had there been any law which had the power of producing life, righteousness would really have been due to law,
Montgomery New Testament
Is the Law then opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not; for if a law had been given which could make alive, then righteousness would actually have come from law;
NET Bible
Is the law therefore opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law.
New Heart English Bible
Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not. For if there had been a law given which could make alive, most certainly righteousness would have been of the law.
Noyes New Testament
Is then the Law against the promises of God? Far be it! For if a law had been given which was able to give life, righteousness would indeed have been by the Law;
Sawyer New Testament
Is the law then against the promises of God? By no means. For if a law had been given, able to give life, righteousness would really have been by the law;
The Emphasized Bible
Is, the law, then, against the promises of God? Far be it! For, if a law had been given, which had been able to give life, verily, in law, would have been our righteousness;
Thomas Haweis New Testament
Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? God forbid. For if there had been a law given which was capable of procuring life, verily righteousness would have been by the law.
Twentieth Century New Testament
Does that set the Law in opposition to God's promises? Heaven forbid! For, if a Law had been given capable of bestowing Life, then righteousness would have actually owed its existence to Law.
Webster
Is the law then against the promises of God? By no means: for if there had been a law given which could give life, verily righteousness would have been by the law.
Weymouth New Testament
God, however, is only one. Is the Law then opposed to the promises of God? No, indeed; for if a Law had been given which could have conferred Life, righteousness would certainly have come by the Law.
Williams New Testament
Is the law then contrary to God's promises? Of course not. For if a law had been given that was able to impart life, surely, then, right standing would have come through law.
World English Bible
Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could make alive, most certainly righteousness would have been of the law.
Worrell New Testament
Is the law, then, against the promises of God? It could not be! For, if a law had been given, which was able to make alive, truly righteousness would have been by law;
Worsley New Testament
Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? not at all: for if a law had been given, which could have confered life, certainly righteousness would have been by the law.
Youngs Literal Translation
the law, then, is against the promises of God? -- let it not be! for if a law was given that was able to make alive, truly by law there would have been the righteousness,
Themes
the Law of moses » Could not give righteousness and life
Topics
Interlinear
Word Count of 37 Translations in Galatians 3:21
Images Galatians 3:21
Prayers for Galatians 3:21
Verse Info
Context Readings
The Addition Of The Law
20 Now an intermediary does not serve in a situation involving [only] one person. However, God is one [Being]. 21 Is the law of Moses contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could provide [never ending] life, then a person could be considered right with God by [obeying the requirements of such] a law. 22 But the Scriptures indicate that everything [i.e., everyone] is under the control of sin, so that the promise [of never ending life] could be available [only] to those who have faith in Jesus Christ.
Phrases
Cross References
Galatians 2:21
[In doing this] I am not trying to disregard God's unearned favor, for if a person could become right with God by [perfect obedience to the requirements of] the law of Moses, then Christ died for nothing.
Galatians 2:17
But, if while we were trying to be made right with God through a relationship with Christ, we were discovered to still be sinners [by acting like unsaved Gentiles], does that mean Christ is responsible for our sin? Of course not.
Matthew 5:17-20
"Do not think that I came to do away with the law of Moses or the prophets. I did not come to do away with them, but to fulfill them [i.e., their requirements and predictions].
Romans 3:4
But let God be truthful, [even if] everyone [else] is a liar. For it is written [Psa. 51:4], "[God], you should be proven right when you speak, and win [your case] when put on trial."
Romans 3:6
Certainly not, for then how could He judge the world?
Romans 3:20-22
This is because no human being can be considered right with God by [obeying] the requirements of a law. [Note: It is difficult to determine the exact sense in which "law" is used in these verses. It may be law generally, or the law of Moses specifically. See Bruce, pages 52-58]. For the knowledge of what sin is comes from the law of Moses.
Romans 3:31
Do we then [intend to] destroy law [observance] because faith [in Christ is now required]? Certainly not! But [instead], we uphold [the validity of] law.
Romans 7:7-13
What shall we say then? Is the law of Moses sinful? Certainly not! For I would not have known what sin was if it had not been for the law. For [example]; I would not have known [what it meant] to covet [i.e., have a strong desire for what belongs to someone else] except that the law said [Ex. 20:17], "You must not covet."
Romans 9:31
But the Israelites, who were attempting to become right with God by [conformity to] the law of Moses, never achieved [this righteousness] by that law.
Romans 10:3-6
For they did not know about God's way of making people right with Himself, so they attempted to establish their own way. In doing this they did not submit to God's way for being made right with Him.
Galatians 2:19
For it was by means of [this system of] law-keeping that I [realized I] was dead. This was so I could find life through a relationship with God.
Philippians 3:6-9
As far as enthusiasm is concerned, I persecuted the church; as far as being righteous according to the law of Moses is concerned, I was without just blame.
Hebrews 11:7
By [having] faith, when Noah was warned [by God] about conditions that had not yet been seen [i.e., regarding events of the coming Flood], he acted out of reverent concern [for God] by constructing a ship to save [i.e., rescue] his household [from the Flood waters]. By this [i.e., his faith which led to action], Noah condemned the world and inherited righteousness because of his faith.