Galatians 3:19
Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
Original Language Analysis
Τί
Wherefore
G5101
Τί
Wherefore
Strong's:
G5101
Word #:
1 of 21
an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what (in direct or indirect questions)
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
3 of 21
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
νόμος
serveth the law
G3551
νόμος
serveth the law
Strong's:
G3551
Word #:
4 of 21
law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specially, (of moses (including the volume); also of the gospel), or figurat
τῶν
G3588
τῶν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
5 of 21
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
προσετέθη
It was added
G4369
προσετέθη
It was added
Strong's:
G4369
Word #:
8 of 21
to place additionally, i.e., lay beside, annex, repeat
ᾧ
to whom
G3739
ᾧ
to whom
Strong's:
G3739
Word #:
10 of 21
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
ἔλθῃ
should come
G2064
ἔλθῃ
should come
Strong's:
G2064
Word #:
11 of 21
to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
τὸ
G3588
τὸ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
12 of 21
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
σπέρμα
the seed
G4690
σπέρμα
the seed
Strong's:
G4690
Word #:
13 of 21
something sown, i.e., seed (including the male "sperm"); by implication, offspring; specially, a remnant (figuratively, as if kept over for planting)
ᾧ
to whom
G3739
ᾧ
to whom
Strong's:
G3739
Word #:
14 of 21
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
ἐπήγγελται
the promise was made
G1861
ἐπήγγελται
the promise was made
Strong's:
G1861
Word #:
15 of 21
to announce upon (reflexively), i.e., (by implication) to engage to do something, to assert something respecting oneself
διαταγεὶς
and it was ordained
G1299
διαταγεὶς
and it was ordained
Strong's:
G1299
Word #:
16 of 21
to arrange thoroughly, i.e., (specially) institute, prescribe, etc
δι'
by
G1223
δι'
by
Strong's:
G1223
Word #:
17 of 21
through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional)
ἀγγέλων
angels
G32
ἀγγέλων
angels
Strong's:
G32
Word #:
18 of 21
compare g0034) (to bring tidings); a messenger; especially an "angel"; by implication, a pastor
Cross References
Acts 7:53Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.Hebrews 2:2For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;Galatians 3:16Now 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.Romans 4:15Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.Acts 7:38This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:Romans 2:13(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.John 15:22If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.Deuteronomy 5:5(I stood between the LORD and you at that time, to shew you the word of the LORD: for ye were afraid by reason of the fire, and went not up into the mount;) saying,John 1:17For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.Hebrews 2:5For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.
Historical Context
Jewish tradition (reflected in Deuteronomy 33:2 LXX, Jubilees, Josephus, Acts 7:53, Hebrews 2:2) held that angels mediated the Law at Sinai, with Moses as the human mediator between God and Israel. Paul uses this tradition to argue the Law's inferiority: the promise came directly from God to Abraham; the Law came indirectly through angelic and human mediation. The Law's purpose was temporary and preparatory—revealing sin and restraining evil until Christ came. Once Christ arrived, the Law's custodial function ended (v. 24-25).
Questions for Reflection
- How does the Law's purpose ('added because of transgressions') differ from justification? What does the Law reveal about sin and human inability?
- What is the significance of the Law being 'until the seed should come'? How does Christ's arrival fulfill and end the Law's custodial function?
- Why does Paul emphasize the Law's indirect mediation (angels, Moses) compared to the promise's direct communication from God? What does this reveal about their relative importance?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. Paul anticipates an objection: 'Wherefore then serveth the law?' (ti oun ho nomos, τί οὖν ὁ νόμος)—if the Law cannot justify or inherit, what's its purpose? The answer: 'It was added because of transgressions' (tōn parabaseōn charin prosetethē, τῶν παραβάσεων χάριν προσετέθη). The phrase 'because of' (charin, χάριν) is ambiguous: 'for the sake of' could mean
Both are true—the Law exposes sin and temporarily governs conduct.
The clause 'till the seed should come to whom the promise was made' (achris hou elthē to sperma hō epēngeltai, ἄχρις οὗ ἔλθῃ τὸ σπέρμα ᾧ ἐπήγγελται) reveals the Law's temporary nature. The conjunction achris hou (ἄχρις οὗ)—'until'—indicates the Law's time-limited function, ending when the Seed (Christ, v. 16) came. The promise was made to Christ; the Law was a temporary addendum until Christ arrived.
The phrase 'ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator' (diatageis di' angelōn en cheiri mesitou, διαταγεὶς δι' ἀγγέλων ἐν χειρὶ μεσίτου) indicates the Law's inferior mediation—given through angels (Acts 7:53, Hebrews 2:2) and a human mediator (Moses), unlike the Abrahamic promise spoken directly by God. The Law's indirect, temporary, inferior status contrasts with the promise's direct, permanent, superior status.