GAL 3:29 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. if
5. 14870
6. C·······
7. if
8. if
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126857
1. Δέ
2. de
3. And
4. then and
5. 11610
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. S
10. Y58
11. 126858
1. ὑμεῖς
2. su
3. you all are
4. -
5. 47710
6. R···2N·P
7. you_all ‹are›
8. you_all ‹are›
9. -
10. Y58; R126826
11. 126859
1. Χριστοῦ
2. χristos
3. of chosen one messiah
4. messiah
5. 55470
6. N····GMS
7. ˱of˲ chosen_one/messiah
8. ˱of˲ Christ
9. WN
10. Y58; Person=Jesus
11. 126860
1. ἄρα
2. ara
3. consequently
4. -
5. 6860
6. C·······
7. consequently
8. consequently
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126861
1. τοῦ
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····GMS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126862
1. Ἀβραάμ
2. abraam
3. of Abraʼam/(ʼAⱱrāhām)
4. of
5. 110
6. N····GMS
7. ˱of˲ Abraʼam/(ʼAⱱrāhām)
8. ˱of˲ Abraham
9. U
10. Person=Abraham; Y58
11. 126863
1. σπέρμα
2. sperma
3. +the seed
4. the
5. 46900
6. N····NNS
7. ˓the˒ seed
8. ˓the˒ seed
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126864
1. σπέρματος
2. sperma
3. -
4. -
5. 46900
6. N····GNS
7. ˱of˲ ˓the˒ seed
8. ˱of˲ ˓the˒ seed
9. -
10. -
11. 126865
1. ἐστέ
2. eimi
3. you all are
4. -
5. 15100
6. VIPA2··P
7. ˱you_all˲ are
8. ˱you_all˲ are
9. -
10. Y58; R126826
11. 126866
1. καί
2. kai
3. -
4. -
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. -
11. 126867
1. κατʼ
2. kata
3. according to
4. -
5. 25960
6. P·······
7. according_to
8. according_to
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126868
1. ἐπαγγελίαν
2. epaŋgelia
3. +the promise
4. promise
5. 18600
6. N····AFS
7. ˓the˒ promise
8. ˓the˒ promise
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126869
1. κληρονόμοι
2. klēronomos
3. heirs
4. heirs
5. 28180
6. N····NMP
7. heirs
8. heirs
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126870

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 3:26–4:7: A child of God is not a slave of the law

In the previous section, Paul talked about people from a Jewish background. In this section, he returned to focus on the non-Jews whom he had talked about earlier.

This section has two parts. In the first one (3:26 to 3:29), Paul reminded the non-Jewish Christians in Galatia that they had become children of God through faith. When people become children of God, there is no longer a difference between Jew or non-Jew, male or female, slave or free. He further pointed out that once people have become children of God, they are entitled to all the blessings of the new life in Christ.

In the second part (4:1 to 4:7), Paul compared the time under the law to a time of slavery. But when Christ came, he freed people from slavery. The time under the law ended. So believers in Jesus Christ are God’s sons. They are not slaves to the law. It is no longer necessary to follow the law.

Some other examples for a heading for this section are:

By faith we are sons of God and are rescued from the law

You are not slaves but children of God

No longer prisoners to the law but sons

3:29

In this verse, Paul used an “if” clause to conclude the argument that he began in 3:6. He pointed out that once a person has trusted in Christ, then he is a true descendant of Abraham.

3:29a

And if you belong to Christ,

Since you^(plur) belong to Christ,
Now that you belong to Christ,
So because you are connected to Christ,

And if you belong to Christ: In this “if” clause, Paul stated a true fact. The Galatians, as believers, did belong to Christ. Paul was not questioning whether the Galatians belonged to Christ. He was stating that they ded belong to Christ and therefore certain other things were true.

In some languages, the word “if” might suggest doubt about whether the Galatians belonged to Christ. So, it may be more natural to avoid beginning this clause with the word ”if.” For example:

Since you belong to Christ

So because you are connected to Christ

And now that you belong to Christ (NLT)

You belong to Christ (NCV)

3:29b

then you are Abraham’s seed

you^(plur) are Abraham’s descendants
you are counted as descendants of Abraham,

then you are Abraham’s seed: The Greek word that the BSB translates as seed means “descendants.” Here it refers to “spiritual children/descendants.” The same word occurs in 3:16c.

The result of belonging to Christ is that we become offspring/children of Abraham. Paul already stated in 3:7 that those who believe in Christ are sons of Abraham.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

then you are the descendants of Abraham (GNT)

then you are counted as descendants of Abraham

3:29c

and heirs according to the promise.

and his heirs, as God promised.
and you inherit/receive the thing/blessing that God promised to him.
and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you. (NLT)

and heirs according to the promise: This phrase indicates that believers are also Abraham’s heirs. They are his heirs because that is what God promised. They inherit the same promise that God made to Abraham: they are justified by faith. This is one of Abraham’s blessings.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

and inherit/receive what God has promised to him

and will receive what God has promised (GNT)

and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you (NLT)

heirs: The word heirs refers to the people who will receive the inheritance.

Another way to translate this word is:

people who receive the inheritance

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

δὲ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἰ Δέ ὑμεῖς Χριστοῦ ἄρα τοῦ Ἀβραάμ σπέρμα ἐστέ κατʼ ἐπαγγελίαν κληρονόμοι)

Here Paul is using the word Now to introduce new information. Use a natural form for introducing new information. Alternate translation: [And]

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-condition-hypothetical

εἰ & ἄρα

if & consequently

Paul is using an if … then statement to express a hypothetical condition and what the result is for those people who meet the requirement of the condition. Paul is telling the Galatians that if they belong to Christ, then they are Abraham’s spiritual descendants. Use a natural form in your language for expressing a hypothetical condition.

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / yousingular

ὑμεῖς & ἐστέ

you_all_‹are› & ˱you_all˲_are

Here, both occurrences of the word you are plural and refer to the Galatian believers. Your language may require you to mark these forms as plural.

ὑμεῖς Χριστοῦ

you_all_‹are› ˱of˲_Christ

Alternate translation: [you are Christ’s] or [you belong to Christ]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

σπέρμα

˓the˒_seed

Here, the term seed means offspring. It is a word picture. Just as plants produce seeds that can grow into many more plants, so people can have many offspring. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent metaphor from your culture. See how you translated the word seed in [3:16](../03/16.md) where it is used with a similar meaning. Alternatively, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [offspring]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

κληρονόμοι

heirs

Paul speaks of believers, who are the spiritual descendants of Abraham, as if they were heirs who were to inherit property and wealth from a family member. 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 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

κατ’ ἐπαγγελίαν κληρονόμοι

according_to ˓the˒_promise heirs

If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate explicitly what the heirs will inherit. Alternate translation: [heirs of what God promised to Abraham and his descendants]

κατ’

according_to

Alternate translation: [by way of]

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. And
2. then and
3. 11610
4. S
5. de
6. C-·······
7. and
8. and
9. S
10. Y58
11. 126858
1. if
2. if
3. 14870
5. ei
6. C-·······
7. if
8. if
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126857
1. you all are
2. -
3. 47710
5. su
6. R-···2N·P
7. you_all ‹are›
8. you_all ‹are›
9. -
10. Y58; R126826
11. 126859
1. of chosen one messiah
2. messiah
3. 55470
4. WN
5. χristos
6. N-····GMS
7. ˱of˲ chosen_one/messiah
8. ˱of˲ Christ
9. WN
10. Y58; Person=Jesus
11. 126860
1. consequently
2. -
3. 6860
5. ara
6. C-·······
7. consequently
8. consequently
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126861
1. you all are
2. -
3. 15100
5. eimi
6. V-IPA2··P
7. ˱you_all˲ are
8. ˱you_all˲ are
9. -
10. Y58; R126826
11. 126866
1. +the seed
2. the
3. 46900
5. sperma
6. N-····NNS
7. ˓the˒ seed
8. ˓the˒ seed
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126864
1. of
2. of
3. 110
4. U
5. abraam
6. N-····GMS
7. ˱of˲ Abraʼam/(ʼAⱱrāhām)
8. ˱of˲ Abraham
9. U
10. Person=Abraham; Y58
11. 126863
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····GMS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126862
1. Abraʼam/(ʼAⱱrāhām)
2. of
3. 110
4. U
5. abraam
6. N-····GMS
7. ˱of˲ Abraʼam/(ʼAⱱrāhām)
8. ˱of˲ Abraham
9. U
10. Person=Abraham; Y58
11. 126863
1. heirs
2. heirs
3. 28180
5. klēronomos
6. N-····NMP
7. heirs
8. heirs
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126870
1. according to
2. -
3. 25960
5. kata
6. P-·······
7. according_to
8. according_to
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126868
1. +the promise
2. promise
3. 18600
5. epaŋgelia
6. N-····AFS
7. ˓the˒ promise
8. ˓the˒ promise
9. -
10. Y58
11. 126869

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.