Galatians 3 · Verse 22

Galatians 3:22

But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

Galatians 3:22, King James Version

Galatians 3:22 in other translations

BSB	But the Scripture pronounces all things confined by sin, so that by faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe.
WEB	But the Scripture imprisoned all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
ASV	But the scripture shut up all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
YLT	but the Writing did shut up the whole under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ may be given to those believing.
DARBY	but the scripture has shut up all things under sin, that the promise, on the principle of faith of Jesus Christ, should be given to those that believe.
BBE	However, the holy Writings have put all things under sin, so that that for which God gave the undertaking, based on faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who have such faith.
Webster	But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

What does Galatians 3:22 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

22. But--as the law cannot give life or righteousness [Alford]. Or the "But" means, So far is righteousness from being of the law, that the knowledge of sin is rather what comes of the law [Bengel]. the scripture--which began to be written after the time of the promise, at the time when the law was given. The written letter was needed SO as PERMANENTLY to convict man of disobedience to God's command. Therefore he says, "the Scripture," not the "Law." Compare Ga 3:8, "Scripture," for "the God of the Scripture." concluded--"shut up," under condemnation, as in a prison. Compare Is 24:22, "As prisoners gathered in the pit and shut up in the prison." Beautifully contrasted with "the liberty wherewith Christ makes free," which follows, Ga 3:7, 9, 25, 26; 5:1; Is 61:1. all--Greek neuter, "the universe of things": the whole world, man, and all that appertains to him. under sin--(Ro 3:9, 19; 11:32). the promise--the inheritance promised (Ga 3:18). by faith of Jesus Christ--that is which is by faith in Jesus Christ. might be given--The emphasis is on "given": that it might be a free gift; not something earned by the works of the law (Ro 6:23). to them that believe--to them that have "the faith of (in) Jesus Christ" just spoken of.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 22. But the Scripture. The Old Testament, Jn 5:39, containing the law of Moses.

Hath concluded all under sin. Has shut up συνεκλεισεν all under the condemnation of sin; that is, has declared all men, no matter what their rank and external character, to be sinners. Of course, they cannot be justified by that law which declares them to be guilty, and which condemns them, any more than the law of the land will acquit a murderer, and pronounce him innocent, at the same time that it holds him to be guilty. In regard to the meaning of the expression here used, Rom 11:32. Comp. Rom 3:9,19.

That the promise by faith of Jesus Christ, etc. That the promise referred to in the transaction with Abraham, the promise of justification and life by faith in the Messiah. Here we see one design of the law. It was to show that they could not be justified by their own works, to hedge up their way in regard to justification by their own righteousness, and to show them their need of a better righteousness. The law accomplishes the same end now. It shows men that they are guilty; and it does it in order that they may be brought under the influence of the pure system of the gospel, and become interested in the promises which are connected with eternal salvation.

(c) "all under sin" Rom 3:19,19,23 (d) "promise by faith" Rom 4:11,12,16

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 22 But the scripture hath concluded - All the writings of the prophets have uniformly declared that men are all sinners, and the law declares the same by the continual sacrifices which it prescribes. All, therefore have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; and, being tried and found guilty, συνεκλεισεν ἡ γραφη, the Scripture hath shut them up - put them in prison, and locked them up, till the time should come in which the sentence of the law should be executed upon them: (See Rom 3:9-20, and the notes there; and particularly Rom 11:32 (note), where the apostle uses the same metaphor, and which in the note is particularly explained.) That the promise of justification, by faith of Jesus Christ, might be given to them that believe.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Galatians 3:19-22

If that promise was enough for salvation, wherefore then serveth the law? The Israelites, though chosen to be God's peculiar people, were sinners as well as others. The law was not intended to discover a way of justification, different from that made known by the promise, but to lead men to see their need of the promise, by showing the sinfulness of sin, and to point to Christ, through whom alone they could be…

Read the full comment on Galatians 3:19-22 →

Galatians 3:22 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἀλλὰallabutG235

συνέκλεισενsunekleisenimprisonedG4788

ἡhētheG3588

γραφὴgraphēScriptureG1124

τὰta<the> [things]G3588

πάνταpantaallG3956

ὑπὸhupounderG5259

ἁμαρτίαν,hamartiansin,G266

ἵναinaso thatG2443

ἡhētheG3588

ἐπαγγελίαepangeliapromiseG1860

ἐκekbyG1537

πίστεωςpisteōsfaithG4102

ἸησοῦIēsoufrom JesusG2424

ΧριστοῦChristouChristG5547

δοθῇdothēamay be givenG1325

τοῖςtoisto thoseG3588

πιστεύουσιν.¶pisteuousinbelieving.G4100

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Galatians 3:22

Romans 11:32
For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
Hebrews 9:15
And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
John 11:25-26
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
Galatians 3:23
But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
1 John 2:25
And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
John 3:36
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Romans 5:20-21
Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 3:9-20
What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. …
1 John 3:23-24
And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
Psalms 143:2
And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.
John 12:46
I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
John 5:24
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

concluded.
8-10,23; Ps 143:2; Ro 3:9-20,23; 5:12,20; 11:32
that.
14,17,29; Ro 4:11-16; 5:20,21; 2Ti 1:1; Heb 6:13-17; 9:15; 2Pe 1:4
2Pe 3:13; 1Jo 2:25; 5:11-13
to.
Mr 16:16; Joh 3:15-18,36; 5:24; 6:40; 11:25,26; 12:46; 20:31
Ac 16:31; Ro 10:9; 1Jo 3:23,24; 5:13

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Galatians 3:21
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.
Galatians 3:22
But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
Galatians 3:23
But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

Read all of Galatians 3

Galatians 3:22 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Mas encerró la Escritura todo bajo pecado, para que la promesa fuese dada á los creyentes por la fe de Jesucristo.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Mais l’écriture a renfermé toutes choses sous le péché, afin que la promesse, sur le principe de la foi en Jésus Christ, soit donnée à ceux qui croient.
German Elberfelder 1871	Die Schrift aber hat alles unter die Sünde eingeschlossen, auf daß die Verheißung aus Glauben an Jesum Christum denen gegeben würde, die da glauben.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Sed conclusit Scriptura omnia sub peccato, ut promissio ex fide Jesu Christi daretur credentibus.