GAL 3:18 Interlinear View

1. Greek word
2. Greek lemma
3. OET-LV words
4. OET-RV words
5. Strongs
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. εἰ
2. ei
3. if
4. -
5. 14870
6. C·······
7. if
8. if
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126671
1. Γάρ
2. gar
3. For/Because
4. 414\x*because
5. 10630
6. C·······
7. for
8. for
9. S
10. Y58
11. 126672
1. διά
2. dia
3. -
4. -
5. 12230
6. P·······
7. by
8. by
9. -
10. -
11. 126673
1. ἐκ
2. ek
3. by
4. -
5. 15370
6. P·······
7. by
8. by
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126674
1. νόμου
2. nomos
3. +the law
4. -
5. 35510
6. N····GMS
7. ˓the˒ law
8. ˓the˒ law
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126675
1. ἡ
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····NFS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126676
1. κληρονομία
2. klēronomia
3. inheritance is
4. inheritance
5. 28170
6. N····NFS
7. inheritance ‹is›
8. inheritance ‹is›
9. -
10. Y58; F126705
11. 126677
1. οὐκέτι
2. ouketi
3. it is no longer
4. longer
5. 37650
6. D·······
7. no_longer ‹it_is›
8. no_longer ‹it_is›
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126678
1. ἐξ
2. ek
3. by
4. -
5. 15370
6. P·······
7. by
8. by
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126679
1. ἐπαγγελίας
2. epaŋgelia
3. +a promise
4. -
5. 18600
6. N····GFS
7. ˓a˒ promise
8. ˓a˒ promise
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126680
1. τῷ
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····DMS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126681
1. δέ
2. de
3. but
4. -
5. 11610
6. C·······
7. but
8. but
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126682
1. Ἀβραάμ
2. abraam
3. to Abraʼam
4. Abraham
5. 110
6. N····DMS
7. ˱to˲ Abraʼam/(ʼAⱱrāhām)
8. ˱to˲ Abraham
9. U
10. Person=Abraham; Y58
11. 126683
1. διʼ
2. dia
3. through
4. -
5. 12230
6. P·······
7. through
8. through
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126684
1. ἐπαγγελίας
2. epaŋgelia
3. +a promise
4. -
5. 18600
6. N····GFS
7. ˓a˒ promise
8. ˓a˒ promise
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126685
1. κεχάρισται
2. χarizomai
3. has granted it
4. granted
5. 54830
6. VIEM3··S
7. ˓has˒ granted ‹it›
8. ˓has˒ granted ‹it›
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126686
1. ὁ
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····NMS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126687
1. Θεός
2. theos
3. god
4. God
5. 23160
6. N····NMS
7. god
8. God
9. GN
10. Y58; Person=God
11. 126688

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 3:15–25: The law did not cancel God’s promise to Abraham

This section has two parts. In the first part (3:15–18), Paul explained what the law was not intended to do. It was not intended to cancel or replace the blessing that God had promised to give to Abraham.

In the second part (3:19–25), Paul explained what the law was meant to do, how it was given, and how it was limited. It was limited as to what it could accomplish in people’s lives. And it was limited as to the time period during which it would govern God’s people.

Some other examples for a heading for this section are:

The law and the promise

The promise preceded the law

The law does not change the promise

3:18a–b

For: Verse 3:18 is an explanation of 3:15–17. In this verse Paul explained why the law cannot cancel God’s promises. The Greek introduces this explanation with a conjunction that the BSB translates as For.

Another way to introduce this explanation is:

I say this because

Some English versions do not translate this conjunction. In some languages, it will not be necessary to translate this conjunction either.

if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise: This sentence has a special type of “if” clause. In this “if” clause, Paul stated the opposite of what is true. The truth is that the inheritance (blessing) does not come by obeying the law. If it did come by the law, that would cancel the promise.

Some languages have a special way to translate this type of “if” sentence. Some examples are listed below. After the examples, each part of this verse is discussed.

Some ways to translate this sentence are:

Use an “if” clause that indicates the opposite of what is true. For example:
If we received the inheritance by obeying the law (but we do not), then we would not receive it by God’s promise.
If we inherit/receive what God gives because we obey the law, then we do not receive it because God promised it to us, but because of what we do.
Express the meaning without using an “if” clause. For example:
God does not bless people because they obey the law. He blesses them because he promised to do it.

3:18a

For if the inheritance depends on the law,

For if the inheritance could be received by keeping the law, (NLT)
If we have to obey the Law in order to receive God’s blessings, (CEV)
I say this because inheriting/receiving God’s blessing does not depend on obeying the law. If it did,

if the inheritance: In the Old Testament, the word inheritance referred to inheriting/receiving the Promised Land. When God gave the Jews the land, it showed his favor and blessing. Paul used this word to refer to God’s blessing in giving his people salvation. God’s people receive this inheritance/blessing as a result of his promise to bless them through Jesus, the special descendant of Abraham.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

if inheriting God’s blessings

If…God’s blessings (CEV)

if we received God’s blessing

if God’s gift (GNT)

The word inheritance does not refer to a human inheritance that is passed on to a person’s descendants after he dies.

depends on the law: This clause means that the inheritance “comes by keeping the law of Moses.”

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

is based on the law (NET)

could be received by keeping the law (NLT)

comes from obeying the law of Moses

because we obey the law

3:18b

then it no longer depends on a promise;

then it would not be the result of accepting God’s promise. (NLT)
those blessings don’t really come to us because of God’s promise. (CEV)
it would not depend on God’s promise. It would depend on doing something.

then it no longer depends on a promise: Here the pronoun it refers to the inheritance. The word promise refers to God’s promise to bless people through Abraham.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

then the inheritance does not come to us because God promised it

then we do not receive/inherit God’s blessings because he promised it, but because of what we have done

3:18c

but God freely granted it to Abraham through a promise.

But God kindly gave the inheritance to Abraham by/through a promise.
But Abraham received the blessing because God promised to bless him.
But God was kind and gave Abraham a blessing because he had made a promise.

but: There is a contrast between 3:18a–b and 3:18c. The contrast is between the way that the inheritance would not come (in 3:18b) and the way it actually came (in 3:18c). The BSB indicates this contrast with the conjunction but.

God freely granted it to Abraham through a promise: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as freely granted means “graciously/kindly gave.” God kindly gave the inheritance to Abraham simply because he promised it to him. This truth proves that the inheritance does not depend on obeying the law.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

God kindly gave the blessing/gift to Abraham because he made a promise to give it to him

it was because of his promise that God gave that gift to Abraham (GNT)

God was kind and gave Abraham a blessing because he promised it to him

uW Translation Notes:

εἰ & ἐκ & ἡ κληρονομία, οὐκέτι ἐξ

if & by & the inheritance_‹is› no_longer_‹it_is› by

Alternate translation: [if the inheritance is from … then it is no longer from]

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἡ κληρονομία

the inheritance_‹is›

Paul speaks of God’s blessings to those who believe in him as if they were an inheritance. If your readers would not understand what inheritance means in this context, you could use an equivalent metaphor from your culture. Alternatively, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [the blessing] or [God’s blessing]

ἐκ νόμου & οὐκέτι ἐξ

by ˓the˒_law & no_longer_‹it_is› by

Alternate translation: [is by the law, it is no longer by] or [is based on the law, it is no longer based on] or [comes from the law, it no longer comes from]

Note 2 topic: grammar-collectivenouns

νόμου

˓the˒_law

See how you translated the phrase the law in [2:16](../02/016.md).

Note 3 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

δὲ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἰ Γάρ ἐκ νόμου ἡ κληρονομία οὐκέτι ἐξ ἐπαγγελίας τῷ δέ Ἀβραάμ διʼ ἐπαγγελίας κεχάρισται ὁ Θεός)

What follows the word But here is in contrast to the idea that the inheritance is from the law. Instead, Paul points out that the inheritance is based on God’s promise. Use a natural way in your language for introducing a contrast. Alternate translation: [Rather]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

κεχάρισται

˓has˒_granted_‹it›

Here, the word it refers to the inheritance mentioned earlier in this verse. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: [has graciously given the inheritance]

δι’

through

Here, the word through is indicating means and is introducing the means through which God gave the inheritance … to Abraham, namely through a promise. Use a natural form in your language for indicating the means by which something happens.

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

1. OET-LV words
2. OET-RV words
3. Strongs
4. Greek word
5. Greek lemma
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. For/Because
2. 414\x*because
3. 10630
4. S
5. gar
6. C-·······
7. for
8. for
9. S
10. Y58
11. 126672
1. if
2. -
3. 14870
5. ei
6. C-·······
7. if
8. if
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126671
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····NFS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126676
1. inheritance is
2. inheritance
3. 28170
5. klēronomia
6. N-····NFS
7. inheritance ‹is›
8. inheritance ‹is›
9. -
10. Y58; F126705
11. 126677
1. by
2. -
3. 15370
5. ek
6. P-·······
7. by
8. by
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126674
1. +the law
2. -
3. 35510
5. nomos
6. N-····GMS
7. ˓the˒ law
8. ˓the˒ law
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126675
1. it is no longer
2. longer
3. 37650
5. ouketi
6. D-·······
7. no_longer ‹it_is›
8. no_longer ‹it_is›
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126678
1. by
2. -
3. 15370
5. ek
6. P-·······
7. by
8. by
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126679
1. +a promise
2. -
3. 18600
5. epaŋgelia
6. N-····GFS
7. ˓a˒ promise
8. ˓a˒ promise
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126680
1. but
2. -
3. 11610
5. de
6. C-·······
7. but
8. but
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126682
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····NMS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126687
1. god
2. God
3. 23160
4. GN
5. theos
6. N-····NMS
7. god
8. God
9. GN
10. Y58; Person=God
11. 126688
1. has granted it
2. granted
3. 54830
5. χarizomai
6. V-IEM3··S
7. ˓has˒ granted ‹it›
8. ˓has˒ granted ‹it›
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126686
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····DMS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126681
1. to Abraʼam
2. Abraham
3. 110
4. U
5. abraam
6. N-····DMS
7. ˱to˲ Abraʼam/(ʼAⱱrāhām)
8. ˱to˲ Abraham
9. U
10. Person=Abraham; Y58
11. 126683
1. through
2. -
3. 12230
5. dia
6. P-·······
7. through
8. through
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126684
1. +a promise
2. -
3. 18600
5. epaŋgelia
6. N-····GFS
7. ˓a˒ promise
8. ˓a˒ promise
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126685

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.