GAL 3:11 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) It’s clear that the law can’t make anyone guiltless in God’s view, because it’s written that ‘those who are guiltless will live by faith’.[ref]

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT Now, that no one is justified before God by the law is clear, because “The righteous will live by faith.”

UST God does not regard any person as righteous as a result of their trying to obey the laws that he gave to Moses. This is evident since the Scriptures say, “Every righteous person lives spiritually as a result of their trusting God.”

BLB Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, because "The righteous will live by faith."

AICNT Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.”[fn]

3:11, Habakkuk 2:4

OEB Again, it is evident that no one is pronounced righteous before God through Law, for we read –
⇔ “Through faith the righteous will find life.”

WEBBE Now that no man is justified by the law before God is evident, for, “The righteous will live by faith.”

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Now it is clear no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous one will live by faith.

LSV and [it] is evident that in law no one is declared righteous with God, because “The righteous will live by faith”;

FBV Clearly nobody is made right with God by attempting to keep the law, for “Those who are made right will live by trusting God.”[fn]

3:11 Quoting Habakkuk 2:4.

TCNT Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, because “the righteous will live by faith.”

T4T But God has declared that if he erases the record of anyone’s sins, it will not be as a result of their obeying the laws God gave Moses. This is evident because the Scriptures say, “Every person whose record of sins God erases because that person trusts God will live spiritually.”

LEB Now it is clear that no one is justified in the sight of God by the law, because “the one who is righteous will live by faith.”[fn]

3:11 Or “the one who is righteous by faith will live,” a quotation from Hab 2:4|link-href="None"

BBE Now that no man gets righteousness by the law in the eyes of God, is clear; because, The upright will be living by faith.

Moff And because no one is justified on the score of the Law before God (plainly, by faith shall the just shall live,--

Wymth It is evident, too, that no one can find acceptance with God simply by obeying the Law, because "the righteous shall live by faith,"

ASV Now that no man is justified by the law before God, is evident: for, The righteous shall live by faith;

DRA But that in the law no man is justified with God, it is manifest: because the just man liveth by faith.

YLT and that in law no one is declared righteous with God, is evident, because 'The righteous by faith shall live;'

Drby but that by law no one is justified with [fn]God [is] evident, because The just shall live on the principle of faith;

3.11 Elohim

RV Now that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, is evident: for, The righteous shall live by faith;

SLT And that none is justified in the law before God, is manifest: for, The just shall live of faith.

Wbstr But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

KJB-1769 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

KJB-1611 But that no man is iustified by the Lawe in the sight of God, it is euident: for, The iust shall liue by faith.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation)

Bshps But that no man is iustified by ye lawe in the sight of God, it is euident. For the iust shall lyue by fayth.
(But that no man is justified by ye/you_all law in the sight of God, it is evident. For the just shall live by faith.)

Gnva And that no man is iustified by the Law in the sight of God, it is euident: for the iust shall liue by faith.
(And that no man is justified by the Law in the sight of God, it is evident: for the just shall live by faith. )

Cvdl That no man is iustified by the lawe in the sighte of God, it is euydet: For ye iust shal lyue by his faith.
(That no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is euydet: For ye/you_all just shall live by his faith.)

TNT That no man is iustified by the lawe in the sight of God is evidet. For the iuste shall live by fayth.
(That no man is justified by the law in the sight of God is evidet. For the just shall live by faith. )

Wycl And that no man is iustified in the lawe bifor God, it is opyn, for a riytful man lyueth of bileue.
(And that no man is justified in the law before God, it is open, for a rightful man liveth/lives of believe.)

Luth Daß aber durchs Gesetz niemand gerecht wird vor GOtt, ist offenbar; denn der Gerechte wird seines Glaubens leben.
(That but through law no_one just/fair becomes before/in_front_of God, is apparently; because/than the/of_the righteous_(one) becomes his faiths life.)

ClVg Quoniam autem in lege nemo justificatur apud Deum, manifestum est: quia justus ex fide vivit.[fn]
(Since however in/into/on lawfully nobody/no_one justificatur at God, obvious it_is: because just from with_faith lives. )

3.11 Justificatur apud Deum. Qui eum gratis colit, scilicet, non cupiditate appetendi aliquid ab ipso præter ipsum, vel timore amittendi. In ipso enim solo vera nostra beatitudo est, et perfecta est.

3.11 Justificatur at God. Who him for_free cultivates, namely, not/no with_desire appetendi something away himself besides him, or with_fear amittendi. In himself because solo true our happiness it_is, and perfecta it_is.

UGNT ὅτι δὲ ἐν νόμῳ, οὐδεὶς δικαιοῦται παρὰ τῷ Θεῷ δῆλον; ὅτι, ὁ δίκαιος ἐκ πίστεως ζήσεται.
(hoti de en nomōi, oudeis dikaioutai para tōi Theōi daʸlon; hoti, ho dikaios ek pisteōs zaʸsetai.)

SBL-GNT ὅτι δὲ ἐν νόμῳ οὐδεὶς δικαιοῦται παρὰ τῷ θεῷ δῆλον, ὅτι Ὁ δίκαιος ἐκ πίστεως ζήσεται,
(hoti de en nomōi oudeis dikaioutai para tōi theōi daʸlon, hoti Ho dikaios ek pisteōs zaʸsetai,)

RP-GNT Ὅτι δὲ ἐν νόμῳ οὐδεὶς δικαιοῦται παρὰ τῷ θεῷ, δῆλον· ὅτι Ὁ δίκαιος ἐκ πίστεως ζήσεται·
(Hoti de en nomōi oudeis dikaioutai para tōi theōi, daʸlon; hoti Ho dikaios ek pisteōs zaʸsetai;)

TC-GNT Ὅτι δὲ ἐν νόμῳ οὐδεὶς δικαιοῦται παρὰ τῷ Θεῷ, δῆλον· ὅτι Ὁ δίκαιος ἐκ πίστεως ζήσεται·
(Hoti de en nomōi oudeis dikaioutai para tōi Theōi, daʸlon; hoti Ho dikaios ek pisteōs zaʸsetai; )

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 3:1–14: We are justified by believing, not by obeying the law

In this section, Paul contrasted “doing” and “believing.” He began by rebuking the Galatians because they had forgotten something. They had forgotten that they had been made right with God (justified) and had received the Holy Spirit by believing. They should not then begin to do/obey the law to be made right with God.

Being made right with God (justification) has always been an issue of believing. Abraham himself was justified because he believed. People who are Abraham’s children are those who believe. They are the ones who are blessed. People who try to be made right with God by obeying the law are cursed, because no one can obey the entire law.

Paul wanted the Galatians to change their ways. He was convinced that if they thought about their actions and understood the truth, they would change.

Some other examples for a heading for this section are:

Justification by Law or by Faith? (NET)

Law or Faith

Paragraph 3:10–14

In this paragraph, Paul stated that people who want to be justified through obedience to the law are under a curse. But Christ freed us from the curse of the law by his death on the cross. People who have faith in Christ receive a blessing instead of a curse. It was God’s purpose that by faith the Gentiles would share in the blessing of Abraham and receive the Spirit.

3:11a

Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law,

It is evident that no one is put/made right before God by obeying the law,
Doing what the law of Moses commands never makes a person righteous/blameless in God’s sight. That is evident,
It is clear that God does not consider a person right/straight because he obeys the law of Moses.

Now: In 3:11–12, Paul briefly interrupted his new discussion about being cursed (in 3:10). He did this to remind his readers of one of his main themes: we are justified by faith, not by works. He then returned to the idea of curse in 3:13.

The Greek indicates this brief interruption with a conjunction that the BSB translates as Now.

Some English versions, such as the CEV and NIV, do not translate this conjunction. In some languages, no conjunction will be necessary either.

it is clear that: Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

it is evident (ESV)

it is obvious

we see/understand that

no one is justified before God: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as justified means “cause/make to be acceptable/right.” This same word occurs in 3:8b.

This verb is passive. Some ways to translate it are:

Use a passive. For example:
no one can be made right with God (NCV)
no one can be regarded as righteous/straight in front of God
Use an active. For example:
obeying the law cannot put/make a person right with God
God does not consider a person right

See also justify in the Glossary for more information.

by the law: The phrase by the law means the same thing as “by the works of the law” in 3:2b. It means “by keeping/obeying the law.”

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

by obeying/following the law

through keeping the law

if/when he obeys the law

because of his following the law

following the law

3:11b

because, “The righteous will live by faith.”

because the person who is put/made right by faith will live well.
because the word of God says “It is through believing that a person becomes righteous/blameless and gets real/eternal life.”
This is clear because the Scriptures say, “God makes a person upright/straight because he believes. This person will sit/walk well.”

because: The Greek word that the BSB translates as because introduces the basis for the statement in 3:11a. The basis for 3:11a is a verse from Scripture.

Some other ways to show the connection are:

for (NASB)

because the scripture says (GNT)

In some languages, it is natural to put the basis first. For example:

^11b“The righteous shall live by faith.” ^11aSo no one is justified by the law.

The righteous will live by faith: There are two ways to interpret the phrase by faith:

It is connected with the noun righteous. It means that those people whom God declares righteous because of their faith will live. For example:
Only the person who is put right with God through faith shall live (GNT) (GNT, RSV, REB, CEV, NLT)
It is connected with the verb live. It means that those people who are righteous will live because of their faith. For example:
Those who are right with God will live by faith (NCV) (BSB, NIV, ESV, NET, NRSV, NJB, KJV, NASB, GW, JBP, NCV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Throughout Galatians, Paul has connected righteousness and faith. God makes people righteous because of their faith, not because they follow the law.

It appears that more versions follow interpretation (2). But it is possible that some are simply ambiguous and do not intend to exclude interpretation (1).

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

The person whom God makes right because of his faith will live.

The people who believe in God are made right. These people will live.

The righteous: The phrase that the BSB translates as The righteous refers to a righteous person. It is a person whom God has declared right/straight. The word righteous is the noun form of the verb “justified” in 3:11a.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

The person who is justified

The person who is blameless

The one who is made right/straight

In some languages, it may be more natural to use the plural word “people” here. For example:

The people who are made right/straight

See also righteous in the Glossary.

will live: The verb will live refers to living/being in a good relationship with God. It is living for and with God both here on earth and after death. It does not refer to remaining alive on the earth.

Some other ways to translate this verb are:

will really live

will have true/genuine life

lives in right relationship with God (The Message)

will live forever (Easy-to-Read Version)

Languages have many ways to express the idea of live. In some languages, the idea of live is expressed by the verb “sit,” “stay,” or “be with someone.” Other languages use a metaphor such as “walk.” Those languages may have to translate will live by something like:

will sit/stay/be well

will walk with God

will have a relationship with God

by faith: The phrase by faith means that a person will be made righteous because of his faith/belief in God.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

through faith

because of his faith/believing

See faith, Meaning 1 in the Glossary.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἐν νόμῳ, οὐδεὶς δικαιοῦται παρὰ τῷ Θεῷ

by ˓the˒_law (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὅτι Δέ ἐν νόμῳ οὐδείς δικαιοῦται παρά τῷ Θεῷ δῆλον ὅτι Ὁ δίκαιος ἐκ πίστεως ζήσεται)

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 justifies no one by the law] or [God justifies no one as a result of them seeking to obey the law of Moses]

δῆλον

evident_‹it_is›

Alternate translation: [is evident]

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

ὅτι

that

The word because is introducing the quotation The righteous will live by faith from the Old Testament passage [Habakkuk 2:4](../hab/02/04.md). Use a natural way of introducing direct quotations from an important or sacred text. Alternate translation: [because it is written in Scripture,]

Note 3 topic: grammar-collectivenouns

νόμῳ

˓the˒_law

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

Note 4 topic: writing-quotations

ὁ δίκαιος ἐκ πίστεως ζήσεται

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὅτι Δέ ἐν νόμῳ οὐδείς δικαιοῦται παρά τῷ Θεῷ δῆλον ὅτι Ὁ δίκαιος ἐκ πίστεως ζήσεται)

The sentence The righteous will live by faith is a quotation from Habakkuk 2:4. Use a natural way of indicating that something is a quotation.

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

ὁ δίκαιος ἐκ πίστεως ζήσεται

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὅτι Δέ ἐν νόμῳ οὐδείς δικαιοῦται παρά τῷ Θεῷ δῆλον ὅτι Ὁ δίκαιος ἐκ πίστεως ζήσεται)

Paul is citing the prophet Habakkuk, who is using the adjective righteous as a noun in order to describe a group of people. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you could translate this with a noun phrase. Alternate translation: [People who are righteous will live by their faith]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ὁ δίκαιος ἐκ πίστεως ζήσεται

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὅτι Δέ ἐν νόμῳ οὐδείς δικαιοῦται παρά τῷ Θεῷ δῆλον ὅτι Ὁ δίκαιος ἐκ πίστεως ζήσεται)

The phrase by faith could be connected to: (1) the phrase will live and be describing the ongoing means by which a righteous person has spiritual life, namely by their faith. Alternate translation: [The righteous person has life through their faith] or [The righteous person lives as a result of their faith] (2) the phrase the righteous and be describing the means by which God considers a sinful person to be righteous, namely by their having faith in him. Alternate translation: [The person who is made right with God as a result of their faith will live] or [Every person will live spiritually whose record of sins God erases because that person trusts God]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἐκ πίστεως

by 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 “believe,” or you could express the meaning in some other way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [by believing] or [because they believe]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἐκ πίστεως

by faith

If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate explicitly that the object of faith here is God. Alternate translation: [by believing in God] or [because they believe in God]

Parallel GAL 3:11

Section 3:1–14: We are justified by believing, not by obeying the law

Paragraph 3:10–14

3:11a

3:11b