Galatians 3 · Verse 23

Galatians 3:23

But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Galatians 3:23, King James Version

Galatians 3:23 in other translations

BSBBefore this faith came, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until faith should be revealed.
WEBBut before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, confined for the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
ASVBut before faith came, we were kept in ward under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
YLTAnd before the coming of the faith, under law we were being kept, shut up to the faith about to be revealed,
DARBYBut before faith came, we were guarded under law, shut up to faith which was about to be revealed.
BBEBut before faith came, we were kept in prison under the law, waiting for the revelation of the faith which was to come.
WebsterBut before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up to the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

What does Galatians 3:23 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
23. faith--namely, that just mentioned (Ga 3:22), of which Christ is the object. kept--Greek, "kept in ward": the effect of the "shutting up" (Ga 3:22; Ga 4:2; Ro 7:6). unto--"with a view to the faith," &c. We were, in a manner, morally forced to it, so that there remained to us no refuge but faith. Compare the phrase, Psa 78:50, Margin; Psa 31:8. which should afterwards, &c.--"which was afterwards to be revealed."

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 23. But before faith came. That is, the system of salvation by faith in the Lord Jesus. Faith here denotes the Christian religion, because faith is its distinguishing characteristic.

We were kept under the law. We, who were sinners; we, who have violated the law. It is a general truth, that before the gospel was introduced, men were under the condemning sentence of the law.

Shut up unto the faith. Enclosed by the law with reference to the full and glorious revelation of a system of salvation by faith. The design and tendency of the law was to shut us up to that as the only method of salvation. All other means failed. The law condemned every other mode, and the law condemned all who attempted to be justified in any other way. Man, therefore, was shut up to that as his last hope; and could look only to that for any possible prospect of salvation. The word which in this verse is rendered "were kept," εφρουρουμεθα, usually means to guard or watch, as in a castle, or as prisoners are guarded; and though the word should not be pressed too far in the interpretation, yet it implies that there was a rigid scrutiny observed; that the law guarded: them; that there was no way of escape; and that they were shut up, as prisoners under sentence of death, to the only hope, which was that of pardon.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 23 But before faith came - Before the Gospel was published. We were kept under the law, shut up - Εφρουρουμεθα· We were kept as in a strong hold, συγκεκλεισμενοι, locked up, unto the faith - the religion of the Lord Jesus, which should afterwards be revealed. Here the same metaphor is used as above, and for its explanation I must refer the reader to the same place, Rom 11:32 (note).

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Galatians 3:23-25
The law did not teach a living, saving knowledge; but, by its rites and ceremonies, especially by its sacrifices, it pointed to Christ, that they might be justified by faith. And thus it was, as the word properly signifies, a servant, to lead to Christ, as children are led to school by servants who have the care of them, that they might be more fully taught by Him the true way of justification and salvation, which is only by faith in Christ. And the vastly greater advantage of the gospel state is shown, under which we enjoy a clearer discovery of Divine grace and mercy than the Jews of old. Most men continue shut up as in a dark dungeon, in love with their sins, being blinded and lulled asleep by Satan, through wordly pleasures, interests, and pursuits. But the awakened sinner discovers his dreadful condition. Then he feels that the mercy and grace of God form his only hope. And the terrors of the law are often used by the convincing Spirit, to show the sinner his need of Christ, to bring him to rely on his sufferings and merits, that he may be justified by faith. Then the law, by the teaching of the Holy Spirit, becomes his loved rule of duty, and his standard for daily self-examination. In this use of it he learns to depend more simply on the Saviour.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Galatians 3:23 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.

ΠρὸProBeforeG4253
τοῦtou<the>G3588
δὲdenowG1161
ἐλθεῖνeltheincomingG2064
τὴνtēn<the>G3588
πίστινpistinfaithG4102
ὑπὸhupounderG5259
νόμονnomon[the] LawG3551
ἐφρουρούμεθαephrouroumethawe were held in custodyG5432
συγκλειόμενοιsugkleiomenoibeing locked upG4788
εἰςeisuntilG1519
τὴνtēnwhichG3588
μέλλουσανmellousanis being soonG3195
πίστινpistinfaithG4102
ἀποκαλυφθῆναι.apokaluphthēnaito be revealed.G601

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

Cross references for Galatians 3:23

  • Galatians 5:18

    But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

  • Galatians 3:24-25

    Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

  • Romans 6:14-15

    For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

  • Romans 11:32

    For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

  • Galatians 3:19

    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.

  • Romans 3:19

    Now 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.

  • Galatians 4:1-5

    Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, …

  • 1 Peter 1:11-12

    Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

  • Luke 10:23-24

    And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

  • Hebrews 12:2

    Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

  • 1 Corinthians 9:20-21

    And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.

  • Hebrews 11:13

    These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
faith came.
19,24,25; 4:1-4; Heb 12:2
under.
4:4,5,21; 5:18; Ro 3:19; 6:14,15; 1Co 9:20,21
the faith.
Lu 10:23,24; Heb 11:13,39,40; 1Pe 1:11,12

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

Context

  • 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.

  • Galatians 3:24

    Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Read all of Galatians 3

Galatians 3:23 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Empero antes que viniese la fe, estábamos guardados bajo la ley, encerrados para aquella fe que había de ser descubierta.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Or avant que la foi vienne, nous étions gardés sous la loi, renfermés pour la foi qui devait être révélée;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Bevor aber der Glaube kam, wurden wir unter dem Gesetz verwahrt, eingeschlossen auf den Glauben hin, der geoffenbart werden sollte.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Prius autem quam veniret fides, sub lege custodiebamur conclusi in eam fidem quæ revelanda erat.