Parallel Verses

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 For if the inheritance be from the law, it is no more from the promise: whereas God gave it to Abraham by promise. 19 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. 20 Now a mediator is not the mediator of one only; and God is but one.


Cross References

Acts 7:53

who received the law by the ministration of angels, and yet have not kept it.

Galatians 3:16

Now the promises were made to Abraham, and to his seed. He doth not say, "and to seeds," as of many; but as of one, "and to thy seed," which is Christ.

Romans 7:7-13

What shall we say then? is the law sin? God forbid! Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust to be sinful, if the law had not said, "Thou shalt not covet."

Hebrews 2:2

For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received it's just recompence;

Acts 7:38

This is he who was in the assembly in the wilderness, with the angel that spake to him on mount Sinai, and with our fathers; and who received the oracles of life to give unto us.

Romans 4:15

Now the law worketh wrath; for where there is no law, there is no transgression.

Luke 16:31

And he replied, If they hearken not to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one should rise from the dead.

John 1:17

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ:

John 5:45-47

Think not that I shall accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.

John 15:22

If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no excuse for their sin.

Romans 2:13

(for not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified:

Romans 3:1-2

What then is the advantage of the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision?

Romans 3:19-20

it saith to those under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world obnoxious to the justice of God.

Romans 5:20-21

Now the law made some entrance, that the offence might appear to abound; but where sin abounded, grace hath superabounded; that as sin had reigned in death,

Galatians 3:21-25

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.

Galatians 4:1-4

Now as long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a servant, though he is to be lord of all:

1 Timothy 1:8-9

But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;

Hebrews 2:5

For He hath not subjected to angels the world to come, of which we speak.

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