The Meaning of Galatians 3:22 Explained

Galatians 3:22

KJV: But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

YLT: but the Writing did shut up the whole under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ may be given to those believing.

Darby: but the scripture has shut up all things under sin, that the promise, on the principle of faith of Jesus Christ, should be given to those that believe.

ASV: But the scriptures shut up all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But  the scripture  hath concluded  all  under  sin,  that  the promise  by  faith  of Jesus  Christ  might be given  to them that believe. 

What does Galatians 3:22 Mean?

Context Summary

Galatians 3:20-29 - The Law Leads To Christ
The Mosaic law was not designed to be the final code of the religious life, but to prepare the soil of the human heart to receive Jesus Christ in all the fullness of His salvation. It was the tutor of the Hebrew people, to enable them to become the religious teachers of mankind. It could not, therefore, take the place of the great covenant of grace, which had been initiated with Abraham before he had received the rite of circumcision, and when he thus stood for all who believe, whether Jew or Gentile. The mistake of those against whom Paul contended was that they treated as permanent a system which was temporary and parenthetic in its significance.
With many individuals now, as with the Hebrew race, there is often a period in which the conscience is confronted with the holy demands of God's law, which men cannot keep; but when they discover the full grace of God in Christ, they no longer suffer at the hand of the schoolmaster, but become as children in the Father's home. They put on Christ and stand accepted in the Beloved, and understand that they are in unity with all who believe. Theirs are all the promises that were made to Abraham, and as his spiritual children they claim their fulfillment. [source]

Chapter Summary: Galatians 3

1  He asks what moved them to leave the faith, and hold onto the law
6  Those who believe are justified,
9  and blessed with Abraham
10  And this he shows by many reasons
15  The purpose of the Law
26  You are sons of God

Greek Commentary for Galatians 3:22

Hath shut up [συνεκλεισεν]
Did shut together. First aorist active indicative of συνκλειω — sunkleiō old verb to shut together, on all sides, completely as a shoal of fish in a net (Luke 5:6). So Galatians 3:23; Romans 11:32. [source]
Under sin [υπο αμαρτιαν]
See υπο καταραν — hupo kataran in Galatians 3:10. As if the lid closed in on us over a massive chest that we could not open or as prisoners in a dungeon. He uses τα παντα — ta panta (the all things), the totality of everything. See Romans 3:10-19; Romans 11:32. That (ινα — hina). God‘s purpose, personifying scripture again. Might be given First aorist passive subjunctive of διδωμι — didōmi with ινα — hina f0). [source]
That [ινα]
God‘s purpose, personifying scripture again. [source]
Might be given [δοτηι]
First aorist passive subjunctive of διδωμι — didōmi with ινα — hina f0). [source]
[]
d But it is not true that the law gives life, for the law, according to scripture, condemned all alike. [source]
The scripture [ἡ γραφὴ]
Scripture is personified. See on Galatians 3:8. [source]
Hath concluded [συνέκλεισεν]
Better, hath shut up, as a jailer. Only in Paul, with the exception of Luke 5:6. Frequent in lxx. Not included with others, but confined as within an enclosure, as Luke 5:6, of the net enclosing the fish. Comp. Exodus 14:3; Joshua 6:1; Romans href="/desk/?q=ro+3:10-19&sr=1">Romans 3:10-19; Romans 11:32. [source]
All [τὰ πάντα]
Neuter, all things collectively: = all men. For the neuter in a similar comprehensive sense, see 1 Corinthians 1:27; Colossians 1:20; Ephesians 1:10. [source]
That [ἵνα]
In order that. That which is represented through a personification as the act of Scripture, is the act of God, according to a definite purpose that the promise should be inherited by believers only, through faith in Jesus Christ. [source]
The promise [ἡ ἐπαγγελία]
That is, the thing promised; the inheritance, Galatians 3:18. [source]
By faith [ἐκ πίστεως]
Const. with the promise, not with might be given. The promised gift which is the result of faith. The false teachers claimed that it was the result of works. [source]
To them that believe [τοῖς πιστεύουσιν]
Not tautological. Even the Judaisers held that salvation was intended for believers, but also that legal obedience was its procuring cause; against which Paul asserts that it is simply for those that believe. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Galatians 3:22

Romans 11:32 Concluded [συνέκλεισεν]
Only here, Luke 5:6; Galatians 3:22, Galatians 3:23. A very literal rendering, etymologically considered; con together, claudere to shut. The A.V. followed the Vulgate conclusit. So Hooker: “The person of Christ was only touching bodily substance concluded within the grave.” The word has lost this sense. Rev., hath shut up. Some explain in the later Greek sense, to hand over to a power which holds in ward. [source]
Romans 11:32 Hath shut up [συνεκλεισεν]
First aorist active indicative of συνκλειω — sunkleiō to shut together like a net (Luke 5:6). See note on Galatians 3:22 for this word with υπο αμαρτιαν — hupo hamartian (under sin). This is a resultant (effective) aorist because of the disbelief and disobedience of both Gentile (1:17-32) and Jew (2:1-3:20). [source]
Romans 3:9 Are we in worse case than they? [προεχομετα]
The American Revisers render it: “Are we in better case than they?” There is still no fresh light on this difficult and common word though it occurs alone in the N.T. In the active it means to have before, to excel. But here it is either middle or passive. Thayer takes it to be middle and to mean to excel to one‘s advantage and argues that the context demands this. But no example of the middle in this sense has been found. If it is taken as passive, Lightfoot takes it to mean, “Are we excelled” and finds that sense in Plutarch. Vaughan takes it as passive but meaning, “Are we preferred?” This suits the context, but no other example has been found. So the point remains unsettled. The papyri throw no light on it. No, in no wise (ου παντως — ou pantōs). “Not at all.” See note on 1 Corinthians 5:10. We before laid to the charge First aorist middle indicative of προαιτιαομαι — proaitiaomai to make a prior accusation, a word not yet found anywhere else. Paul refers to Romans 1:18-32 for the Greeks and 2:1-29 for the Jews. The infinitive ειναι — einai with the accusative παντας — pantas is in indirect discourse. Under sin (υπο αμαρτιαν — hupo hamartian). See note on Galatians 3:22; Romans 7:14. [source]
Romans 3:9 We before laid to the charge [προηιτιασαμετα]
First aorist middle indicative of προαιτιαομαι — proaitiaomai to make a prior accusation, a word not yet found anywhere else. Paul refers to Romans 1:18-32 for the Greeks and 2:1-29 for the Jews. The infinitive ειναι — einai with the accusative παντας — pantas is in indirect discourse. Under sin (υπο αμαρτιαν — hupo hamartian). See note on Galatians 3:22; Romans 7:14. [source]
Romans 3:9 Under sin [υπο αμαρτιαν]
See note on Galatians 3:22; Romans 7:14. [source]
Galatians 3:8 Foreseeing [προΐδοῦσα]
The passage of Scripture is personified. Comp. hath concluded, Galatians 3:22. The Jews had a formula of reference, “What did the Scripture see?” [source]
Galatians 3:7 They which are of faith [οἱ ἐκ πίστεως]
Ἑκ πίστεως fromor out of faith, is found with the verb to justify (Romans 3:26, Romans 3:30; Romans 5:1): with other verbs, as live (Romans 1:17); eat (Romans 14:23): with the noun δικαιοσύνη righteousness(Romans 1:17; Romans 9:30; Romans 10:6): with other nouns, as promise (Galatians 3:22), law (Galatians 3:12). For parallels to the phrase οἱ ἐκ πίστεως , see Romans 3:26; Romans 4:16; Romans 14:23; Galatians 3:9. It denotes believers as sprung from, or receiving their spiritual condition from that which specially characterizes them. Comp. οἱ ἐξ ἐριθίας theywho are of faction, Romans 2:8; οἱ ἐκ νόμου theywho are of the law, Romans 4:14; ὁ ἐκ τῆς ἀληθείας hewho is of the truth, John 18:37. [source]
Galatians 3:23 We were kept [ἐφρουρούμεθα]
Better, kept in ward, continuing the figure in shut up, Galatians 3:22. The imperfect tense indicates the continued activity of the law as a warder. [source]
Galatians 3:8 Foreseeing [προιδουσα]
Second aorist active participle of προοραω — prooraō The Scripture is here personified. Alone in this sense of “sight,” but common with λεγει — legei or ειπεν — eipen (says, said) and really in Galatians 3:22 “hath shut up” (συνεκλεισεν — sunekleisen). [source]
Galatians 3:23 Before faith came [προ του ελτειν την πιστιν]
“Before the coming (second aorist active infinitive of ερχομαι — erchomai definite event) as to the Faith” (note article, meaning the faith in Galatians 3:22 made possible by the historic coming of Christ the Redeemer), the faith in Christ as Saviour (Galatians 3:22). [source]
Galatians 3:23 We were kept in ward under the law [υπερ νομον επρουρουμετα]
Imperfect passive of προυρεω — phroureō to guard (from προυρος — phrouros a guard). See note on Acts 9:24; note on 2 Corinthians 11:32. It was a long progressive imprisonment. Unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed (eis tēn mellousan pistin apokaluphthēnai). “Unto the faith (Galatians 3:22 again) about to be revealed.” Mellō and the first aorist passive infinitive (regular idiom). [source]
Galatians 3:23 Unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed [eis tēn mellousan pistin apokaluphthēnai)]
“Unto the faith (Galatians 3:22 again) about to be revealed.” Mellō and the first aorist passive infinitive (regular idiom). [source]

What do the individual words in Galatians 3:22 mean?

but imprisoned the Scripture things all under sin so that promise by faith from Jesus Christ might be given to those believing
ἀλλὰ συνέκλεισεν γραφὴ τὰ πάντα ὑπὸ ἁμαρτίαν ἵνα ἐπαγγελία ἐκ πίστεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ δοθῇ τοῖς πιστεύουσιν

συνέκλεισεν  imprisoned 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: συγκλείω  
Sense: to shut up together, enclose.
γραφὴ  Scripture 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: γραφή  
Sense: a writing, thing written.
τὰ  things 
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ὑπὸ  under 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ὑπό  
Sense: by, under.
ἁμαρτίαν  sin 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ἁμαρτία  
Sense: equivalent to 264.
ἵνα  so  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἵνα  
Sense: that, in order that, so that.
ἐπαγγελία  promise 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: ἐπαγγελία  
Sense: announcement.
πίστεως  faith 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: πίστις  
Sense: conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervour born of faith and joined with it.
Ἰησοῦ  from  Jesus 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰησοῦς  
Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor.
Χριστοῦ  Christ 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: Χριστός  
Sense: Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God.
δοθῇ  might  be  given 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: διδῶ 
Sense: to give.
τοῖς  to  those 
Parse: Article, Dative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
πιστεύουσιν  believing 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: πιστεύω  
Sense: to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in.