Galatians 3:16
Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
Original Language Analysis
τῷ
G3588
τῷ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
1 of 29
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
αἱ
G3588
αἱ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
5 of 29
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἐπαγγελίαι
the promises
G1860
ἐπαγγελίαι
the promises
Strong's:
G1860
Word #:
6 of 29
an announcement (for information, assent or pledge; especially a divine assurance of good)
Καὶ
And
G2532
Καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
7 of 29
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
τῷ
G3588
τῷ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
8 of 29
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
σπέρματί
seed
G4690
σπέρματί
seed
Strong's:
G4690
Word #:
9 of 29
something sown, i.e., seed (including the male "sperm"); by implication, offspring; specially, a remnant (figuratively, as if kept over for planting)
αὐτοῦ
his
G846
αὐτοῦ
his
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
10 of 29
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
λέγει
He saith
G3004
λέγει
He saith
Strong's:
G3004
Word #:
12 of 29
properly, to "lay" forth, i.e., (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas g2036 and g5346 generally refer to an
Καὶ
And
G2532
Καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
13 of 29
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
τοῖς
G3588
τοῖς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
14 of 29
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
σπέρματί
seed
G4690
σπέρματί
seed
Strong's:
G4690
Word #:
15 of 29
something sown, i.e., seed (including the male "sperm"); by implication, offspring; specially, a remnant (figuratively, as if kept over for planting)
ὡς
as
G5613
ὡς
as
Strong's:
G5613
Word #:
16 of 29
which how, i.e., in that manner (very variously used, as follows)
ἐφ'
of
G1909
ἐφ'
of
Strong's:
G1909
Word #:
17 of 29
properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e., over, upon, etc.; of re
πολλῶν
many
G4183
πολλῶν
many
Strong's:
G4183
Word #:
18 of 29
(singular) much (in any respect) or (plural) many; neuter (singular) as adverbial, largely; neuter (plural) as adverb or noun often, mostly, largely
ἀλλ'
but
G235
ἀλλ'
but
Strong's:
G235
Word #:
19 of 29
properly, other things, i.e., (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations)
ὡς
as
G5613
ὡς
as
Strong's:
G5613
Word #:
20 of 29
which how, i.e., in that manner (very variously used, as follows)
ἐφ'
of
G1909
ἐφ'
of
Strong's:
G1909
Word #:
21 of 29
properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e., over, upon, etc.; of re
Καὶ
And
G2532
Καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
23 of 29
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
τῷ
G3588
τῷ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
24 of 29
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
σπέρματί
seed
G4690
σπέρματί
seed
Strong's:
G4690
Word #:
25 of 29
something sown, i.e., seed (including the male "sperm"); by implication, offspring; specially, a remnant (figuratively, as if kept over for planting)
ὅς
which
G3739
ὅς
which
Strong's:
G3739
Word #:
27 of 29
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
Cross References
Romans 4:13For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.Luke 1:55As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.Romans 4:16Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,Genesis 12:7And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.Galatians 3:8And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.Genesis 12:3And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.Acts 3:25Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.Genesis 21:12And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.Colossians 3:11Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.Genesis 15:5And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
Historical Context
Genesis repeatedly uses 'seed' (Hebrew *zera*, Greek *sperma*) to describe Abraham's descendants: Genesis 12:7, 13:15, 15:18, 17:7-8, 22:17-18, 24:7. While the word is collective (referring to many descendants), its singular form allows Paul to see Messianic significance. Jewish interpretation applied 'seed' to ethnic Israel; Paul applies it ultimately to Christ, through whom believing Gentiles become Abraham's seed (v. 29). This same hermeneutic appears in Romans 4:13-16—the promise to Abraham's seed is fulfilled in Christ and those who share Abraham's faith.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Paul's focus on 'seed' (singular) rather than 'seeds' (plural) demonstrate that Christ is the ultimate fulfillment of the Abrahamic promises?
- What does it mean that the promises were made 'to Abraham and his seed, which is Christ'? How do believers participate in these promises?
- How does this verse support a Christocentric reading of the Old Testament, seeing Christ as the goal and fulfillment of the patriarchal promises?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. Paul's grammatical argument from Genesis focuses on the word 'seed' (sperma, σπέρμα). 'To Abraham and his seed were the promises made'—the covenant promises of Genesis 12:7, 13:15, 17:8, 22:18. Paul notes that Scripture says 'seed' (singular), not 'seeds' (plural): 'He saith not, And to seeds (spermasi, σπέρμασι), as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed (spermati, σπέρματι), which is Christ.'
The word sperma (σπέρμα) is a collective singular in Greek (like 'offspring'), but Paul exploits the grammatical singularity to make a Christological point: the ultimate 'seed' of Abraham is Christ. The promises were made to Abraham and to Christ, and believers inherit the promises only through union with Christ (v. 29). This isn't mere wordplay—it's theological insight: the Abrahamic promises find their fulfillment in Christ, not in ethnic Israel or the Law.
Paul's logic: the Judaizers claimed the promises belong to Abraham's physical descendants who keep the Law; Paul insists the promises belong to Abraham's singular Seed, Christ, and to all who are 'in Christ' by faith (v. 26). This verse grounds the New Testament's Christocentric reading of the Old—the Old Testament is about Christ from Genesis onward.