Galatians 3 · Verse 6

Galatians 3:6

Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

Galatians 3:6, King James Version

Galatians 3:6 in other translations

BSB	So also, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
WEB	Even so, Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.”
ASV	Even as Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness.
YLT	according as Abraham did believe God, and it was reckoned to him--to righteousness;
DARBY	Even as Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.
BBE	Even as Abraham had faith in God, and it was put to his account as righteousness.
Webster	Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

What does Galatians 3:6 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

6. The answer to the question in Ga 3:5 is here taken for granted, It was by the hearing of faith: following this up, he says, "Even as Abraham believed," &c. (Ge 15:4-6; Ro 4:3). God supplies unto you the Spirit as the result of faith, not works, just as Abraham obtained justification by faith, not by works (Ga 3:6, 8, 16; Ga 4:22, 26, 28). Where justification is, there the Spirit is, so that if the former comes by faith, the latter must also.

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

Barnes' Notes

Verse 6. Even as Abraham believed God, etc. See this passage fully explained Rom 4:3. The passage is introduced here by the apostle to show that the most eminent of the patriarchs was not saved by the deeds of the law. He was saved by faith, and this fact showed that it was possible to be saved in that way, and that it was the design of God to save men in this manner. Abraham believed God, and was justified, before the law of Moses was given. It could not, therefore, be pretended that the law was necessary to justification; for if it had been, Abraham could not have been saved. But if not necessary in his case, it was in no other; and this instance demonstrated that the false teachers among the Galatians were wrong even according to the Old Testament.

(b) "Abraham believed" Gen 15:6 (1) "was accounted" "imputed" (*) "righteous" "in order to"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 6 Abraham believed God - This is quoted from Gen 15:6 (note); and St. Paul produces it, Rom 4:3-5 (note). Abraham, while even uncircumcised, believed in God, and his faith was reckoned to him for justification; and Abraham is called the father of the faithful, or, of believers. If, then, he was justified without the deeds of the law, he was justified by faith; and if he was justified by faith, long before the law was given then the law is not necessary to salvation. It is remarkable that the Jews themselves maintained that Abraham was saved by faith. Mehilta, in Yalcut Simeoni, page 1, fol. 69, makes this assertion: "It is evident that Abraham could not obtain an inheritance either in this world or in the world to come, but by faith."

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Galatians 3:6-14

The apostle proves the doctrine he had blamed the Galatians for rejecting; namely, that of justification by faith without the works of the law. This he does from the example of Abraham, whose faith fastened upon the word and promise of God, and upon his believing he was owned and accepted of God as a righteous man. The Scripture is said to foresee, because the Holy Spirit that indited the Scripture did foresee. Through faith in the promise of God he was blessed; and it is only in the same way that others obtain this privilege. Let us then study the object, nature, and effects of Abraham's faith; for who can in any other way escape the curse of the holy law? The curse is against all sinners, therefore against all men; for all have sinned, and are become guilty before God: and if, as transgressors of the law, we are under its curse, it must be vain to look for justification by it. Those only are just or righteous who are freed from death and wrath, and restored into a state of life in the favour of God; and it is only through faith that persons become righteous. Thus we see that justification by faith is no new doctrine, but was taught in the church of God, long before the times of the gospel. It is, in truth, the only way wherein any sinners ever were, or can be justified. Though deliverance is not to be expected from the law, there is a way open to escape the curse, and regain the favour of God, namely, through faith in Christ. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law; being made sin, or a sin-offering, for us, he was made a curse for us; not separated from God, but laid for a time under the Divine punishment. The heavy sufferings of the Son of God, more loudly warn sinners to flee from the wrath to come, than all the curses of the law; for how can God spare any man who remains under sin, seeing that he spared not his own Son, when our sins were charged upon him? Yet at the same time, Christ, as from the cross, freely invites sinners to take refuge in him.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Galatians 3:6 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.

καθὼςkathōsEven asG2531

ἈβραὰμAbraamAbrahamG11

ἐπίστευσενepisteusenbelievedG4100

τῷtō<the>G3588

θεῷtheōin GodG2316

καὶkaiandG2532

ἐλογίσθηelogisthēit was reckonedG3049

αὐτῷautōto himG846

εἰςeisasG1519

δικαιοσύνην.dikaiosunēnrighteousness.G1343

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

Cross references for Galatians 3:6

Genesis 15:6
And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
Romans 4:21-22
And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
James 2:23
And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
Romans 4:3-6
For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
Romans 4:24
But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
Romans 4:9-11
Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
Galatians 3:9
So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
Romans 9:32-33
Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
2 Corinthians 5:19-21
To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

as.
9; Ge 15:6; Ro 4:3-6,9,10,21,22; 9:32,33; Jas 2:23
accounted. or, imputed.
Ro 4:6,11,22,24; 2Co 5:19-21

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

Context

Galatians 3:5
He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Galatians 3:6
Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
Galatians 3:7
Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

Read all of Galatians 3

Galatians 3:6 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Como Abraham creyó á Dios, y le fué imputado á justicia.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	comme Abraham a cru Dieu, et cela lui fut compté à justice.
German Elberfelder 1871	Gleichwie Abraham Gott glaubte, und es ihm zur Gerechtigkeit gerechnet wurde.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Sicut scriptum est: Abraham credidit Deo, et reputatum est illi ad justitiam: