Galatians 3:17 kjv
And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
Galatians 3:17 nkjv
And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect.
Galatians 3:17 niv
What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise.
Galatians 3:17 esv
This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void.
Galatians 3:17 nlt
This is what I am trying to say: The agreement God made with Abraham could not be canceled 430 years later when God gave the law to Moses. God would be breaking his promise.
Galatians 3 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gal 3:17 | Covenant not annulled by law 430 years later | Establishes the timing of the covenant |
| Gen 12:1-3 | God's covenant promise to Abraham | The foundational promise |
| Gen 15:13-16 | God foretells Israel's 400 years in Egypt | Calculates the 430-year period |
| Gen 17:7-8 | God confirms everlasting covenant with Abraham and his descendants | Reaffirms the covenant |
| Ex 12:40-41 | Israelites' sojourn in Egypt lasted 430 years | Specific duration mentioned |
| Deut 9:5 | God's promise based on righteousness, not Israel's merit | Reinforces the promise's nature |
| Deut 32:1 | Heaven and earth as witnesses to God's covenant | Emphasis on divine oath |
| Ps 105:8-11 | God remembers His covenant with Abraham | God's faithfulness to the covenant |
| Jer 31:31-34 | The New Covenant superseding the Old | Contrasts covenant types |
| Matt 5:17 | Jesus did not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it | Fulfillment, not annulment of God's plan |
| Rom 4:13-16 | Abraham's inheritance by faith, not law | Law nullifies inheritance of faith |
| Rom 5:13-14 | Law came later, sin was in the world before Moses | Chronological placement of the Law |
| Rom 9:8 | Children of the promise are counted as offspring | Seed of Abraham |
| Rom 11:28 | Concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sake | Covenantal dealings with Israel |
| Heb 6:13-17 | God confirmed His promise with an oath | Divine certainty of the covenant |
| Heb 7:20-22 | Christ a priest by oath | Oath associated with God's promises |
| Heb 8:6-7 | Better covenant mediated by Christ | New covenant relationship |
| Gal 3:15 | Covenant between men not disannulled | Analogy for God's covenant |
| Gal 3:18 | Inheritance is not by law, but by promise | Reinforces the means of inheritance |
| Gal 3:21 | Law not contrary to promises | Law's role distinct from promise |
| Gal 3:29 | Heirs according to the promise | Identity in Christ based on promise |
Galatians 3 verses
Galatians 3 17 Meaning
The covenant God made with Abraham was established 430 years later and was not annulled by the Law given through Moses. The Law, introduced centuries after the covenant, could not invalidate God's prior promise to Abraham.
Galatians 3 17 Context
This verse is part of Galatians 3, where Paul is arguing that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ, not through observance of the Mosaic Law. He addresses the Galatians who were being swayed by teachers insisting on circumcision and adherence to the Law for salvation. Paul uses the example of Abraham, who was declared righteous by faith long before the Law was given, to demonstrate that God's promise to Abraham and his descendants is based on faith. Verse 17 emphasizes that the Law, introduced much later, could not invalidate God's prior covenant with Abraham, which was ratified by promise. This refutes the legalists' argument that adhering to the Law was necessary to be considered heirs of Abraham's promise.
Galatians 3 17 Word analysis
Epekoo (ἔπεκετο): “to follow after,” “to annul,” “to set aside,” or “to disannul.” Used here in the sense of “annul” or “disannul.” The King James Version translates this as "disannul."
Noma (νόμος): “law,” referring specifically to the Mosaic Law given at Mount Sinai.
Tuto (τοῦτο): “this,” referring to the covenant God made with Abraham.
Tessarakonta (τεσσαράκοντα): “forty.”
Etē (ἔτη): “years.”
Kai (καὶ): “and,” a conjunction.
Tessera (τέσσαρα): “four.”
Kosion (κόσιοι): “hundred.” Together, “430 years” (τεσσαράκοντα καὶ τετρακόσιοι).
Meta tauta (μετὰ ταῦτα): “after this,” indicating the passage of time.
Ginōmenen (γινόμενην): “made” or “established.”
Groups of words:
- "The law, which came four hundred and thirty years later": This phrase highlights the chronological order, emphasizing that the Law was a much later addition and could not therefore revoke or invalidate God's prior covenant established 430 years earlier. This interval of 430 years is often linked to the total time the Israelites spent in Egypt, as detailed in Exodus 12:40-41, covering the period from their entry into Egypt to their departure.
- "cannot disannul the covenant previously ratified by God": This emphasizes the unbreakable nature of God's promise. The covenant with Abraham was ratified by God Himself and based on His faithfulness, not on human merit or adherence to subsequent laws. This is supported by the concept of God's oath in Hebrews 6:17.
Galatians 3 17 Bonus section
The precise calculation of the 430 years has been a point of discussion among scholars. While Josephus and the Septuagint link it to the Israelites' stay in Egypt, some interpretations, including Paul's here, consider it the total period from God's covenant promise to Abraham (Gen 12) until the Exodus. This temporal gap underscores that the Law was not the basis of God's initial saving relationship with Abraham or his spiritual descendants. The unbreakable nature of God's covenant is further emphasized by His oath in Genesis 15:8 and Hebrews 6:17. The emphasis is not on a specific count but on the significant time lag that makes the Law unable to nullify the prior covenant of promise.
Galatians 3 17 Commentary
The covenant God made with Abraham was the basis for all subsequent divine dealings with Israel, ultimately finding its fulfillment in Christ. The Law, though divinely given, served a different purpose and could not cancel the foundational promise. This passage stresses that God's promises are eternal and unalterable, relying on His faithfulness, not human performance. This understanding is crucial for grasping salvation by grace through faith, separate from works of the Law.