Galatians 3:7 kjv
Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
Galatians 3:7 nkjv
Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.
Galatians 3:7 niv
Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham.
Galatians 3:7 esv
Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham.
Galatians 3:7 nlt
The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God.
Galatians 3 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Galatians 3:7 | Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. | Abraham's faith counted as righteousness |
| Genesis 12:3 | I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. | Promise to Abraham extended to all nations |
| Genesis 15:6 | And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness. | Abraham's faith as foundational |
| Romans 4:11 | ...so that he might be the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, that righteousness might be counted to them also, | Spiritual fatherhood of Abraham |
| Romans 4:13 | For the promise to Abraham and his offspring not to be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. | Promise through faith, not law |
| Romans 4:16 | That is why it depends on faith, in order that the gift may be by grace and so be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are under the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all | Faith guarantees grace and inheritance |
| Galatians 3:29 | And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. | Believers as Abraham's offspring |
| John 8:39 | They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works of Abraham, | False claim of Abrahamic lineage |
| John 8:44 | You are of your father the devil, and your heart’s desire is to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning... | Contrast with true Abrahamic lineage |
| Acts 13:26 | ...and that every one who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. | Freedom through faith, not law |
| Acts 16:31 | And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you, your household.” | Faith in Jesus leads to salvation |
| Ephesians 2:11-13 | Therefore remember that formerly you were Gentiles in the flesh... But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. | Gentiles brought near by Christ |
| Ephesians 3:6 | ...that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. | Gentiles fellow heirs |
| Hebrews 11:8 | By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. | Abraham's obedience by faith |
| Romans 2:28-29 | For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. | Inner versus outer circumcision |
| Romans 9:7 | Nor because they are his offspring are they all children. But, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” | Not all physical descendants are true heirs |
| Romans 9:8 | This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. | Children of promise, not flesh |
| Galatians 3:8 | And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “All nations shall be blessed in you.” | Foresight of justification of Gentiles |
| Galatians 4:28 | Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. | Believers as children of promise |
| Isaiah 41:8 | But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, offspring of Abraham, my friend— | Abraham called friend of God |
Galatians 3 verses
Galatians 3 7 Meaning
All who believe are children of Abraham. This signifies a spiritual lineage based on faith, not physical descent. It establishes a universal basis for belonging to God's people, transcending ethnic boundaries.
Galatians 3 7 Context
Galatians chapter 3 addresses the core of the Gospel, particularly the conflict between those who insisted on justification through the Law (circumcision, Mosaic regulations) and Paul's teaching that justification comes by faith in Jesus Christ. This verse follows the argument that God's promises were made to Abraham based on his faith, long before the Law was given. The Galatians, a predominantly Gentile church, were being influenced by Judaizers who taught that Gentiles must also follow the Law to be true children of Abraham and heirs of God's promises. Paul counters this by asserting that true sonship is inherited through faith, a concept established with Abraham himself.
Galatians 3 7 Word Analysis
οἴδατε (oidate):
- Meaning: "you know," "you understand," "you are aware."
- Analysis: This is a second-person plural, present active indicative of the verb oida, meaning "to know" or "to perceive." It carries a strong sense of certainty and shared understanding. Paul assumes his readers possess this knowledge, urging them to recognize its implications.
ὅτι (hoti):
- Meaning: "that."
- Analysis: A common conjunction introducing a subordinate clause, functioning here to introduce the content of the knowledge.
ἐκ (ek):
- Meaning: "from," "out of," "by."
- Analysis: A preposition indicating origin or source. It highlights that the identity as "sons of Abraham" stems from or is derived by faith.
πίστεως (pisteōs):
- Meaning: "of faith," "faith."
- Analysis: This is the genitive case of pistis, a crucial New Testament term encompassing belief, trust, conviction, and faithfulness. Here, it signifies the quality or principle by which one is identified as Abraham’s offspring. This faith is not merely intellectual assent but a deep reliance and commitment to God’s promises as revealed in Christ.
οὗτοι (houtoi):
- Meaning: "these," "they."
- Analysis: A demonstrative pronoun in the nominative plural, referring back to "those" who are identified by their faith. It emphasizes a distinct group within humanity.
vioὶ (huioi):
- Meaning: "sons."
- Analysis: The nominative plural of huios, meaning "son." While literally meaning "sons," in biblical usage, it often signifies "children" or "offspring" in a broader, familial sense, implying inheritance and belonging to the family. In this context, it directly links believers to the promised lineage of Abraham.
Ἀβραάμ (Abraam):
- Meaning: "Abraham."
- Analysis: The proper name of the patriarch. Referring to Abraham is central to Paul's argument because Abraham was declared righteous before circumcision and before the Law of Moses, grounding the concept of justification by faith in the foundational figure of Israel's heritage.
Word Group Analysis
"οἴδατε ὅτι..." (oidate hoti...) - "Know then that..."
- Analysis: This introductory phrase emphasizes that Paul is not presenting new information but recalling a truth already known or expected to be understood. It serves as an assertive statement drawing a logical conclusion from previous arguments.
"...ἐκ πίστεως..." (...ek pisteōs...) - "...by faith..."
- Analysis: This phrase firmly links Abraham's spiritual posterity to the possession of faith. It defines the criterion for inclusion, decoupling it from external rituals or physical lineage. The preposition "ek" emphasizes faith as the originating source.
"...οὗτοι vioὶ Ἀβραάμ." (...houtoi vioi Abraam.) - "...these are sons of Abraham."
- Analysis: This identifies the "sons of Abraham" not by their ancestry or outward practices, but by their possession of faith. It is a decisive statement that redefines Abrahamic heritage, making it accessible to anyone, Gentile or Jew, who shares Abraham's faith in God’s promises.
Galatians 3 7 Bonus Section
The concept of "sons of Abraham" extends to include both Jews and Gentiles who place their trust in God's salvific plan. This inclusivity directly counters the exclusivity often associated with Abraham's physical descendants and the Law. The emphasis on faith here echoes the Old Testament account of Abraham's own justification, serving as a template for all subsequent believers, highlighting that the heart attitude of trust is paramount. This understanding also lays the groundwork for Paul’s later argument about believers being heirs of the promise according to Christ (Galatians 3:29), emphasizing the unified spiritual family under God’s covenant of grace.
Galatians 3 7 Commentary
Paul establishes a profound spiritual principle: true sonship with Abraham, and by extension, with God, is not determined by bloodline or adherence to the Law, but by the possession of faith. This faith is a steadfast trust in God and His promises, mirroring Abraham’s own unwavering belief that led to his righteousness. The reference to Abraham serves as an anchor, demonstrating that this mode of relating to God—through faith leading to divine righteousness—was established in God's dealings with Abraham himself, predating and superseding any later legalistic requirements. Believers, through their faith in Jesus Christ, become part of this original, true lineage of Abraham, inheritors of God's promises.