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OET interlinear GAL 3:24

◄ ← GAL 3:24 ↓ → ► ║ ©

SR Greek word order (including unused variant words in grey)

    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. Ὥστε
    2. hōste
    3. So that
    4. -
    5. 56200
    6. C·······
    7. so_that
    8. so_that
    9. S
    10. Y58
    11. 126788
    1. ὁ
    2. ho
    3. the
    4. -
    5. 35880
    6. E····NMS
    7. the
    8. the
    9. -
    10. Y58
    11. 126789
    1. νόμος
    2. nomos
    3. law
    4. -
    5. 35510
    6. N····NMS
    7. law
    8. law
    9. -
    10. Y58
    11. 126790
    1. παιδαγωγός
    2. paidagōgos
    3. tutor
    4. tutor
    5. 38070
    6. N····NMS
    7. tutor
    8. tutor
    9. -
    10. Y58
    11. 126791
    1. ἡμῶν
    2. egō
    3. of us
    4. our
    5. 14730
    6. R···1G·P
    7. ˱of˲ us
    8. ˱of˲ us
    9. -
    10. Y58; R125554; Person=Paul; R125580; R126602; R126771; R126183; R126187; Person=Barnabas; R126206
    11. 126792
    1. γέγονεν
    2. ginomai
    3. has become
    4. -
    5. 10960
    6. VIEA3··S
    7. ˓has˒ become
    8. ˓has˒ become
    9. -
    10. Y58
    11. 126793
    1. ἐγένετο
    2. ginomai
    3. -
    4. -
    5. 10960
    6. VIAM3··S
    7. became
    8. became
    9. -
    10. -
    11. 126794
    1. εἰς
    2. eis
    3. to
    4. -
    5. 15190
    6. P·······
    7. to
    8. to
    9. -
    10. Y58
    11. 126795
    1. Χριστόν
    2. χristos
    3. chosen one messiah
    4. messiah
    5. 55470
    6. N····AMS
    7. chosen_one/messiah
    8. Christ
    9. WN
    10. Y58; Person=Jesus
    11. 126796
    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. 126797
    1. ἐκ
    2. ek
    3. by
    4. -
    5. 15370
    6. P·······
    7. by
    8. by
    9. -
    10. Y58
    11. 126798
    1. πίστεως
    2. pistis
    3. faith
    4. faith
    5. 41020
    6. N····GFS
    7. faith
    8. faith
    9. -
    10. Y58
    11. 126799
    1. δικαιωθῶμεν
    2. dikaioō
    3. we may be justified
    4. we
    5. 13440
    6. VSAP1··P
    7. ˱we˲ ˓may_be˒ justified
    8. ˱we˲ ˓may_be˒ justified
    9. -
    10. Y58; R125554; Person=Paul; R125580; R126602; R126771; R126183; R126187; Person=Barnabas; R126206
    11. 126800

OET (OET-LV) So_that the law, has_become tutor of_us to chosen_one/messiah, in_order_that we_may_be_justified by faith.

OET (OET-RV) So the law was our tutor until the messiah came so that we could then be made guiltless by faith,

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

Paragraph 3:23–25

In this paragraph, Paul’s main point is that we are sons of God through faith in Christ. The role of the law is finished because Christ has come. He pointed out that once people have become children of God, they are entitled to all the blessings of the new life in Christ. He reminded the Christians in Galatia that they became children of God through faith. Because they were now children of God there was no longer a dividing line between Jew or non-Jew, male or female, slave or free.

3:24a

So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ,

So: In 3:24, Paul used another figure of speech to explain further what he had already said about the law in the previous verses.

The Greek conjunction that Paul used here normally indicates result. That is why some English versions begin this verse with the conjunction So. However, here, it is better to see 3:24 as simply another figure of speech to explain the role of the law.

Some ways to introduce this verse are:

Let me put it another way (NLT)

In other words (NCV)

Or, to change the metaphor (JBP)

Also

Some English versions do not use a conjunction here. In some languages, a conjunction will not be necessary either.

the law became our guardian: This is a metaphor. In this metaphor, the law is compared to a guardian. The word guardian refers to a slave who was put in charge of his master’s child. This word is further defined below.

The law and a guardian are similar in that both (harshly) control someone for a temporary period of time. Just as a guardian controlled a child until he became an adult, so also the law controlled people until Christ came.

Some ways to translate this metaphor are:

guardian: The word guardian refers to a slave who was put in charge of his master’s child. (The child was about 6 to 16 years of age.) The slave’s job was to discipline the child. He made sure that the child did what he was required to do, including going to school. He did this until the child became an adult. Guardians were often very strict. Sometimes they would slap, beat, whip, or pinch the child to punish and correct him.

It was not the responsibility of a guardian to teach the child formally. Other people were the child’s teachers. So words such as “teacher” or “schoolmaster” are not good words to translate this Greek word.

Some other ways to translate the word guardian are:

child-watcher

slave in charge of a child

In some languages, it may be more natural to translate the noun guardian as a verb. For example:

the Law was in charge of us until Christ came (GNT)

the law was like a person who was in control of us until Christ came

to lead us to Christ: The phrase that the BSB translates as to lead us to Christ is literally just “to Christ.” There are two ways to interpret this phrase:

  1. It refers to the time of Christ’s coming. For example:

    until Christ came (NIV11) (NIV11, RSV, ESV, GNT, CEV, NET, REB, NLT)

  2. It refers to the purpose of having the law as a guardian. The purpose was to lead people to Christ. For example:

    to lead us to Christ (NIV) (BSB, NIV, KJV, NASB, NCV, NJB)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This interpretation fits the context well. In this paragraph, Paul was talking about the temporary role of the law. The time of the law ended when the time of faith in Christ came.

3:24b

that we might be justified by faith.

that we might be justified by faith: This is a purpose clause. There are two things that this could be the purpose of:

  1. It is the purpose of all of 3:24a. The law had a role, but it was only temporary. It was temporary so that we might be justified by faith. We could not be justified by following the law. For example:

    athe Law was in charge of us until Christ came, bin order that we might then be put right with God through faith (GNT) (BSB, NIV11, ESV, GNT, RSV, NET)

  2. It is the purpose of Christ’s coming. For example:

    aBefore Christ came, Moses’ laws served as our guardian. bChrist came so that we could receive God’s approval because of faith. (GW)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). It is a suitable way to understand the Greek grammar.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

so that, when Christ arrived, we might be justified by faith

The law did this so that we might be justified by faith.

we might be justified by faith: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as justified means “cause/make to be acceptable/right.” This same verb occurs in 3:8b and 3:11a.

This verb is passive. Some ways to translate this clause are:

See also justify in the Glossary.

by faith: The phrase by faith means that a person will be made righteous because of his faith/belief in God. This same phrase occurs in 3:11b.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

through faith

because of his faith/believing

See faith, Meaning 1 in the Glossary.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

ὥστε

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὥστε ὁ νόμος παιδαγωγός ἡμῶν γέγονεν εἰς Χριστόν ἵνα ἐκ πίστεως δικαιωθῶμεν)

Here, the phrase So is introducing a result. Use a natural form for introducing a result. Alternate translation: [Thus,] or [Therefore,]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ὁ νόμος, παιδαγωγὸς ἡμῶν γέγονεν

the law (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὥστε ὁ νόμος παιδαγωγός ἡμῶν γέγονεν εἰς Χριστόν ἵνα ἐκ πίστεως δικαιωθῶμεν)

Paul speaks of the law as if it were a guardian. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent metaphor from your culture. Alternatively, you could express the meaning by using a simile.

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive

ἡμῶν

˱of˲_us

When Paul says our, he is including the Galatian believers, so our would be inclusive. Your language may require you to mark these forms.

Note 4 topic: translate-unknown

παιδαγωγὸς

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὥστε ὁ νόμος παιδαγωγός ἡμῶν γέγονεν εἰς Χριστόν ἵνα ἐκ πίστεως δικαιωθῶμεν)

In Paul’s culture a guardian was a slave whose task was to discipline and take care of a child who was not yet an adult. If your readers would not be familiar with this term, you could either explain the meaning of this word in your translation, or you could use the term from your culture that comes the closest to expressing the meaning of this word and then write a footnote explaining this word. Alternate translation: [custodian] or [guide]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

παιδαγωγὸς

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὥστε ὁ νόμος παιδαγωγός ἡμῶν γέγονεν εἰς Χριστόν ἵνα ἐκ πίστεως δικαιωθῶμεν)

Here, Paul speaks of the law as though it were a guardian whose job or role was to watch over people’s actions until Christ came. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [guide]

Note 6 topic: grammar-connect-logic-goal

εἰς

to

See how you translated the word until in [3:23](../03/23.md).

Note 7 topic: grammar-connect-logic-goal

ἵνα

in_order_that

The phrase so that introduces a purpose clause. Paul is stating the purpose for which the law became our guardian until Christ which was for the intended purpose that we might later be justified by faith in Christ. Use a natural way in your language for introducing a purpose clause. Alternate translation: [with the purpose that]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

δικαιωθῶμεν

˱we˲_˓may_be˒_justified

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. Alternate translation: [God might justify us]

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive

δικαιωθῶμεν

˱we˲_˓may_be˒_justified

When Paul says we, he is including the Galatian believers, so we would be inclusive. Your language may require you to mark these forms.

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἐκ

by

Here, the word by is indicating the basis or source of God’s act of justifying sinners. The word by is indicating that faith is the basis on which we might be justified. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: [on the basis of] or [by means of]

Note 11 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.

Note 12 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

πίστεως

faith

Here, the context implies (as does also Paul’s use of the similar phrase “by faith in Christ” in [2:16](../02/16.md)), that the object of faith is Christ. If it would be helpful to your readers to state the object of faith here, you could indicate it explicitly. Alternate translation: [faith in Christ]

TSN Tyndale Study Notes:

3:24 The law is like a child’s guardian (Greek paidagōgos, “tutor”). In Greco-Roman culture, a guardian was a faithful slave responsible for training and protecting the heir until he came of age.

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. So that
    2. -
    3. 56200
    4. S
    5. hōste
    6. C-·······
    7. so_that
    8. so_that
    9. S
    10. Y58
    11. 126788
    1. the
    2. -
    3. 35880
    5. ho
    6. E-····NMS
    7. the
    8. the
    9. -
    10. Y58
    11. 126789
    1. law
    2. -
    3. 35510
    5. nomos
    6. N-····NMS
    7. law
    8. law
    9. -
    10. Y58
    11. 126790
    1. has become
    2. -
    3. 10960
    5. ginomai
    6. V-IEA3··S
    7. ˓has˒ become
    8. ˓has˒ become
    9. -
    10. Y58
    11. 126793
    1. tutor
    2. tutor
    3. 38070
    5. paidagōgos
    6. N-····NMS
    7. tutor
    8. tutor
    9. -
    10. Y58
    11. 126791
    1. of us
    2. our
    3. 14730
    5. egō
    6. R-···1G·P
    7. ˱of˲ us
    8. ˱of˲ us
    9. -
    10. Y58; R125554; Person=Paul; R125580; R126602; R126771; R126183; R126187; Person=Barnabas; R126206
    11. 126792
    1. to
    2. -
    3. 15190
    5. eis
    6. P-·······
    7. to
    8. to
    9. -
    10. Y58
    11. 126795
    1. chosen one messiah
    2. messiah
    3. 55470
    4. WN
    5. χristos
    6. N-····AMS
    7. chosen_one/messiah
    8. Christ
    9. WN
    10. Y58; Person=Jesus
    11. 126796
    1. in order that
    2. -
    3. 24430
    5. hina
    6. C-·······
    7. in_order_that
    8. in_order_that
    9. -
    10. Y58
    11. 126797
    1. we may be justified
    2. we
    3. 13440
    5. dikaioō
    6. V-SAP1··P
    7. ˱we˲ ˓may_be˒ justified
    8. ˱we˲ ˓may_be˒ justified
    9. -
    10. Y58; R125554; Person=Paul; R125580; R126602; R126771; R126183; R126187; Person=Barnabas; R126206
    11. 126800
    1. by
    2. -
    3. 15370
    5. ek
    6. P-·······
    7. by
    8. by
    9. -
    10. Y58
    11. 126798
    1. faith
    2. faith
    3. 41020
    5. pistis
    6. N-····GFS
    7. faith
    8. faith
    9. -
    10. Y58
    11. 126799

OET (OET-LV) So_that the law, has_become tutor of_us to chosen_one/messiah, in_order_that we_may_be_justified by faith.

OET (OET-RV) So the law was our tutor until the messiah came so that we could then be made guiltless by faith,

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.

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◄ ← GAL 3:24 ↑ → ► ║ ©