Bible Strands
Galatians 3:23
Before this faith came, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until faith should be revealed.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul addresses the Galatian believers to explain the historical sequence of God’s redemptive plan, stating that the law’s custodial role preceded the arrival of faith.
The words — ὑπὸ νόμον (hupo nomon) translates literally to “under the law,” and πίστιν (pistin) denotes the faith that arrives to end that confinement.
The thread — The text places believers under the law’s custody until faith is revealed, a sequence echoed in Galatians 5:18 and Romans 6:14 where believers are contrasted as no longer under law, and in Galatians 3:24 which identifies the law’s temporary custodial function.
Why it lands — The passage plainly states that the law confined people until faith came, so it requires readers to abandon legal observance as a basis for standing before God and to receive righteousness through revealed faith in Christ.
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
But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Cross-references
- Galatians 5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
- Galatians 3:24 So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
- Romans 6:14 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.
- Romans 11:32 For God has consigned everyone to disobedience so that He may have mercy on everyone.
- Galatians 3:19 Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions, until the arrival of the seed to whom the promise referred. It was administered through angels by a mediator.
- Romans 3:19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.
- Galatians 4:1 What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he is the owner of everything.
- 1 Peter 1:11 trying to determine the time and setting to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.
- Luke 10:23 Then Jesus turned to the disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.
- 1 Corinthians 9:20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), to win those under the law.