GAL 3:22 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. Ἀλλά
2. alla
3. But
4. -
5. 2350
6. C·······
7. but
8. but
9. S
10. Y58
11. 126754
1. συνέκλεισεν
2. sugkleiō
3. imprisoned
4. imprisoned
5. 47880
6. VIAA3··S
7. imprisoned
8. imprisoned
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126755
1. ἡ
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····NFS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126756
1. Γραφή
2. grafē
3. scripture
4. scriptures
5. 11240
6. N····NFS
7. scripture
8. Scripture
9. W
10. Y58
11. 126757
1. τά
2. ho
3. the things
4. -
5. 35880
6. R····ANP
7. the ‹things›
8. the ‹things›
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126758
1. παντᾶ
2. pas
3. all
4. -
5. 39560
6. E····ANP
7. all
8. all
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126759
1. ὑπό
2. hupo
3. under
4. -
5. 52590
6. P·······
7. under
8. under
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126760
1. ἁμαρτίαν
2. hamartia
3. sin
4. sin
5. 2660
6. N····AFS
7. sin
8. sin
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126761
1. ἵνα
2. hina
3. in order that
4. -
5. 24430
6. C·······
7. in_order_that
8. in_order_that
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126762
1. ἡ
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····NFS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126763
1. ἐπαγγελία
2. epaŋgelia
3. promise
4. promise
5. 18600
6. N····NFS
7. promise
8. promise
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126764
1. ἐκ
2. ek
3. by
4. -
5. 15370
6. P·······
7. by
8. by
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126765
1. πίστεως
2. pistis
3. faith
4. faith
5. 41020
6. N····GFS
7. faith
8. faith
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126766
1. Ἰησοῦ
2. iēsous
3. in Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa)
4. -
5. 24240
6. N····GMS
7. ˱in˲ Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa)
8. ˱in˲ Jesus
9. UN
10. Person=Jesus; Y58
11. 126767
1. Χριστοῦ
2. χristos
3. chosen one messiah
4. everyone messiah
5. 55470
6. N····GMS
7. chosen_one/messiah
8. Christ
9. WN
10. Y58; Person=Jesus
11. 126768
1. δοθῇ
2. didōmi
3. may be given
4. -
5. 13250
6. VSAP3··S
7. ˓may_be˒ given
8. ˓may_be˒ given
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126769
1. τοῖς
2. ho
3. to the ones
4. -
5. 35880
6. R····DMP
7. ˱to˲ the ‹ones›
8. ˱to˲ the ‹ones›
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126770
1. πιστεύουσιν
2. pisteuō
3. believing
4. believe
5. 41000
6. VPPA·DMP
7. believing
8. believing
9. -
10. Y58; F126780; F126782; F126792; F126800; F126900; F126902; F126939; F126955; F127262; F127403; F127688; F127692; F127694; F127696; F127697; F127698; F127700; F127829; F127831; F127836; F127839; F127844; F127846; F127922; F127990
11. 126771

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

3:22a

But the Scripture pronounces all things confined by sin,

However, as Scripture says, the whole world is a prisoner of sin,
But the law cannot give life. Rather in the Holy Book it says that sin controls everyone
Instead the Scripture declares that the desire to sin has power over everyone.

But: There is a contrast between 3:21 and 3:22. The contrast is between what the law cannot do (give life) and what the law does (imprisons/confines). Languages have different ways to indicate this negative-positive order of contrast. Some of the ways are:

With the conjunction “but.”
With a conjunction other than “but.” For example:
Rather
Instead (NCV)
With no conjunction.

the Scripture pronounces all things confined by sin: In this clause, Paul spoke about the Scripture as if it were a judge who condemns people to prison/jail, and Paul spoke about sin as if it were a jailer who has control over prisoners.Fung says, “The positive aspect of the law’s function is stated with the help of the figure of a jail sentence, with Scripture as the magistrate…and sin as the jailer who carries out the sentence” (p. 164). These are two figures of speech called personification. In some languages, it will not be possible to translate one or both of these personifications.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

the Scriptures have declared that we are all prisoners of sin (NLT96)

the Scriptures say that sin controls everyone (CEV)

They wrote in God’s book that that sin ties up all people

God in his holy book says that the desire to sin has power over everyone

the Scripture: When Paul used the phrase the Scripture, he often referred to a particular verse in Scripture.For example, Galatians 4:30 says, “But what does the Scripture say? ‘Expel the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.’” Here, the phrase “the Scripture” refers to Genesis 21:10. Here, he was probably referring to Deuteronomy 27:26, “Cursed is he who does not put the words of this law into practice.” This verse is part of the law that God gave to Moses. So here the phrase the Scripture is a way to refer to the law.

The law tells people what sin is. It says that when someone sins, he is guilty. In that sense, Scripture is like a judge who says/declares that people are guilty. The law also shows people that they are under the power of sin.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

the scripture says that (GNT)

the law written in Scripture tells us that

God in his holy book says that

they wrote in God’s book that

all things: The Greek word that the BSB translates as all things refers to everything that God created. In this passage, the focus is on people. So here the word refers particularly to “everyone.”

Some other ways to translate this word are:

everyone (CEV)

the whole world (NIV)

we are all (NLT)

confined by sin: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as confined by sin means “under the power of sin” or “controlled by sin.” By using the word confined, Paul was using imprisonment terminology and speaking of sin as if it were a jailer who controls human beings as a jailer controls prisoners. Just as prisoners do what the jailer says, human beings do what sin tells them to do. Sin controls them.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

a prisoner of sin (NIV)

controlled by the power of sin (GW)

under the power of sin (GNT)

the desire to sin controls everyone

3:22b

so that by faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe.

in order that what was promised through faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
so that God might give the blessing to those who believe. This is the blessing that he promised through faith in Jesus Christ.
This has happened so that God might give the blessing that he promised to those who believe in Jesus Christ.

so that: There are two ways to interpret the Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as so that:

It introduces God’s purpose for imprisoning people under sin. His purpose is to give people the promise by means of their faith in Jesus. For example:
so that (NIV) (BSB, NIV, ESV, NET, RSV, CEV, NCV, KJV, NASB, REB, JBP)
In introduces the result of our being a prisoner under sin.
Therefore (GW) (GNT, GW, NLT, NJB)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). The majority of English versions follow this interpretation.

Some other ways to introduce this purpose are:

This was so (NCV)

He did this so that

by faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe: The word faith is the noun form of the Greek verb that English versions translate as believe. So in these phrases, to have faith in Jesus Christ is the same thing as to believe in him. The same idea is repeated. People receive the promise by (or because of) their faith/belief in Jesus Christ. And God gives the promise to people who believe.

Paul repeated the idea of believing to add emphasis. He emphasized that believing in Jesus is what is important. It is more important than obeying the law.

In some languages, it will not be natural to repeat the idea of believing. So the phrase faith in Jesus Christ and the phrase those who believe can be translated as one. For example:

God’s promises will be for anyone who has faith in Jesus Christ (CEV)

God will give the blessing that he promised to people who believe in Jesus Christ.

faith: See faith, Meaning 1, in the Glossary.

the promise might be given: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as might be given is passive.

Some ways to translate this clause are:

Use a passive verb. For example:
the promise would be given (NCV)
Use an active verb. For example
God might give the promise
God might give the blessing that he promised

the promise: This phrase refers to the promise that God made to Abraham. More specifically, it refers to what God promised Abraham. He promised to bless all the nations through him.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

what was promised (RSV)

what God promised

the promised blessing (REB)

the blessing that God promised

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

ἀλλὰ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀλλά συνέκλεισεν ἡ Γραφή τά παντᾶ ὑπό ἁμαρτίαν ἵνα ἡ ἐπαγγελία ἐκ πίστεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ δοθῇ τοῖς πιστεύουσιν)

Here Paul uses the word But to indicate a strong contrast between the hypothetical and false possibility that the law could make a person righteous and to introduce his explanation of what the law actually does. Use a natural way in your language for introducing a contrast. Alternate translation: [But rather,]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

συνέκλεισεν ἡ Γραφὴ τὰ πάντα ὑπὸ ἁμαρτίαν

imprisoned the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀλλά συνέκλεισεν ἡ Γραφή τά παντᾶ ὑπό ἁμαρτίαν ἵνα ἡ ἐπαγγελία ἐκ πίστεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ δοθῇ τοῖς πιστεύουσιν)

Paul speaks of the Scripture as if it were an authority figure who imprisoned people. He speaks of sin as if it were a jail from which people cannot break free. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent metaphor from your culture. Alternatively, you could express the meaning plainly.

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

ἡ Γραφὴ

the the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀλλά συνέκλεισεν ἡ Γραφή τά παντᾶ ὑπό ἁμαρτίαν ἵνα ἡ ἐπαγγελία ἐκ πίστεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ δοθῇ τοῖς πιστεύουσιν)

Here, the word Scripture could: (1) refer to all Old Testament Scripture. The ULT indicates when the word Scripture refers to the entire Bible or the entire Old Testament by capitalizing the word Scripture. (2) refer to a particular passage of scripture such as Deuteronomy 27:26 or some other specific Old Testament passage. Alternate translation: [the scripture]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

ἡ Γραφὴ

Paul is describing God doing something by association with his Word, the Scripture. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use plain language. Alternate translation: [God]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τὰ πάντα

Here, the phrase all things could refer to: (1) all people. If your language requires you to indicate explicitly what all things refers to, you could indicate that it refers to people. Alternate translation: [all humans] (2) the entire creation and the things which make up this present fallen world. See Romans 8:18-22. If you decide that this is what Paul means, you should use a general phrase such as all things.

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ὑπὸ ἁμαρτίαν

Here, the phrase under sin refers to being under the power of sin. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: [under the power of sin]

Note 7 topic: grammar-connect-logic-goal

ἵνα

in_order_that

The phrase so that introduces a purpose clause. Following the phrase so that, Paul states the purpose for which the Scripture imprisoned all things under sin. Use a natural way in your language for introducing a purpose clause. Alternate translation: [in order that]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἡ ἐπαγγελία ἐκ πίστεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ δοθῇ τοῖς πιστεύουσιν

the the promise by faith ˱in˲_Jesus Christ ˓may_be˒_given ˱to˲_the_‹ones› believing

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you could state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you must state who did the action, Paul implies that God did it. Alternate translation: [God might give the promise by faith in Jesus Christ to the ones believing]

ἡ ἐπαγγελία ἐκ πίστεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ δοθῇ τοῖς πιστεύουσιν

the the promise by faith ˱in˲_Jesus Christ ˓may_be˒_given ˱to˲_the_‹ones› believing

Alternate translation: [God’s promise to Abraham which is received through faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe]

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἡ ἐπαγγελία

the the promise

The phrase the promise refers to the promise given to Abraham. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: [the promise given to Abraham] or [the promise that God gave to Abraham]

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

πίστεως

faith

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of faith, you could express the same idea with a verb such as “trust,” or you could express the meaning in some other way that is natural in your language.

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

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.

OET interlinear GAL 3:22

SR Greek word order

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

3:22a

3:22b

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