Bible Strands
Galatians 3:13
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul writes to Galatian churches being pressured to add circumcision and Torah-observance to their faith in Christ. This verse is the pivot of his argument in chapter 3: the law pronounces a curse on those who fail to keep it; Christ absorbs that curse so the blessing of Abraham reaches Gentiles.
The words — ἐξηγόρασεν (exēgorasen) is a commercial term meaning "to buy out" or "to ransom," as in purchasing a slave's freedom from a master. It frames redemption as a legal transaction, not a moral gesture.
The thread — The quotation is Deuteronomy 21:23, where a hung body marks divine curse. 1 Peter 2:24 picks up the same "tree" language and adds that Christ bore sins in His body on it.
Why it lands — The verse forecloses the option of earning standing before God through law-keeping. If Christ has already absorbed the curse the law pronounces on you, the only remaining response is to receive the promise by faith.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
Cross-references
- 1 Peter 2:24 He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. “By His stripes you are healed.”
- Deuteronomy 21:23 you must not leave the body on the tree overnight, but you must be sure to bury him that day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God’s curse. You must not defile the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.
- Hebrews 9:12 He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption.
- Hebrews 9:15 Therefore Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, now that He has died to redeem them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.
- 1 Peter 1:18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers,
- Hebrews 10:4 because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
- Revelation 5:9 And they sang a new song: “Worthy are You to take the scroll and open its seals, because You were slain, and by Your blood You purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
- Galatians 4:5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive our adoption as sons.
- Matthew 26:28 This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
- Romans 3:24 and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.