Galatians 3:18

BSB · Public Domain (CC0)

“For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God freely granted it to Abraham through a promise.”

What this verse means

A short, plain-language explanation of Galatians 3:18 goes here — the kind of answer a reader (or an AI assistant) can quote in one breath. Original meaning coming soon.

Compare translations
BSBPD

“For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God freely granted it to Abraham through a promise.”

Berean Standard Bible · Public Domain (CC0)
KJVPD

“For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.”

King James Version · Public Domain
ASVPD

“For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise: but God hath granted it to Abraham by promise.”

American Standard Version · Public Domain
YLTPD

“for if by law <FI>be<Fi> the inheritance, <FI>it is<Fi> no more by promise, but to Abraham through promise did God grant <FI>it<Fi> .”

Young's Literal Translation · Public Domain
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Cross references

Other passages that echo Galatians 3:18 — 14 related verses from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  1. Psalms 105:6O offspring of His servant Abraham, O sons of Jacob, His chosen ones.
  2. Psalms 105:42For He remembered His holy promise to Abraham His servant.
  3. Micah 7:18Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance— who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion?
  4. Luke 1:54He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful,
  5. Luke 1:72to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,
  6. Romans 4:13For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world was not given through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.
  7. Romans 8:17And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him.
  8. Galatians 2:21I do not set aside the grace of God. For if righteousness comes through the law, Christ died for nothing.
  9. Galatians 3:10All who rely on works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”
  10. Galatians 3:12The law, however, is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The man who does these things will live by them.”
  11. Galatians 3:16The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,” meaning One, who is Christ.
  12. Galatians 3:26You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
  13. Galatians 3:29And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.
  14. Hebrews 6:12Then you will not be sluggish, but will imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

Cross-reference data: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain) via OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0).

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