Galatians 3:23 “Before this faith came, we were held in custody under the law, locked…”

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

Other translations

King James Version

But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

World English Bible

But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, confined for the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

American Standard Version

But before faith came, we were kept in ward under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

Geneva Bible 1599

But before faith came, we were kept vnder the Law, as vnder a garison, and shut vp vnto that faith, which should afterward be reueiled.

Darby Translation

But before faith came, we were guarded under law, shut up to faith [which was] about to be revealed.

Young's Literal Translation

And before the coming of the faith, under law we were being kept, shut up to the faith about to be revealed,

Bible in Basic English

But before faith came, we were kept in prison under the law, waiting for the revelation of the faith which was to come.

.mt-body { max-height: none !important; -webkit-mask-image: none !important; mask-image: none !important; } .mt-bar { display: none !important; } .o-trans::after { display: block !important; }

Cross references

“faith came”

Galatians 3:19 Hebrews 12:2 Galatians 3:24 Galatians 3:25 Galatians 4:1–4

Galatians 3:19 · BSB

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.

Hebrews 12:2 · BSB

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Galatians 3:24 · BSB

So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Galatians 3:25 · BSB

Now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.

Galatians 4:1–4 · BSB

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.

“under”

Galatians 5:18 Romans 3:19 Galatians 4:21 Galatians 4:4 Galatians 4:5 Romans 6:14

Galatians 5:18 · BSB

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Romans 3:19 · BSB

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 4:21 · BSB

Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not understand what the law says?

Galatians 4:4 · BSB

But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

Galatians 4:5 · BSB

to redeem those under the law, that we might receive our adoption as sons.

Romans 6:14 · BSB

For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.

“the faith”

Hebrews 11:13 Luke 10:23 Luke 10:24 Hebrews 11:39 Hebrews 11:40 1 Peter 1:11

Hebrews 11:13 · BSB

All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised. However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

Luke 10:23 · BSB

Then Jesus turned to the disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.

Luke 10:24 · BSB

For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”

Hebrews 11:39 · BSB

These were all commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised.

Hebrews 11:40 · BSB

God had planned something better for us, so that together with us they would be made perfect.

1 Peter 1:11 · BSB

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.

Also

Romans 11:32

Romans 11:32 · BSB

For God has consigned everyone to disobedience so that He may have mercy on everyone.

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

22But the Scripture pronounces all things confined by sin, so that by faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe.

24So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Read Galatians 3