The Promise to Abraham and His Descendant

15 Brothers, I am speaking according to a human perspective. Nevertheless, when[a] the covenant of a man has been ratified, no one declares it invalid or adds additional provisions to it. 16 Now to Abraham and to his descendant the promises were spoken. It does not say, “and to descendants,” as concerning many, but as concerning one, “and to your descendant,”[b] who is Christ. 17 Now I am saying this: the law, that came after four hundred and thirty years, does not revoke a covenant previously ratified by God, in order to nullify the promise.

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Footnotes

  1. Galatians 3:15 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“has been ratified”) which is understood as temporal
  2. Galatians 3:16 A quotation from Gen 12:7; 13:15; 17:7; 24:7

The Law and the Promise

15 Brothers and sisters,(A) let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. 16 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed.(B) Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,”[a](C) meaning one person, who is Christ. 17 What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years(D) later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise.

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Footnotes

  1. Galatians 3:16 Gen. 12:7; 13:15; 24:7