GAL 3:20 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.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, pink:genitive/possessor, red:negative.
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).

UST Now, when a mediator functions, one person is not speaking with another directly; but God himself made his promises directly to Abraham.

AICNT Now a mediator is not for one party alone, but God is one.

OEB Now mediation implies more than one person, but God is one only.

WEBBE Now a mediator is not between one, but God is one.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Now an intermediary is not for one party alone, but God is one.

LSV and the mediator is not of one, but God is one.

FBV But a mediator isn't needed when there's only one person involved. And God is one![fn]

3:20 The idea here is that the Old Testament law needed a mediator (Moses). But in the case of the promise this was made directly to Abraham, and according the argument that Paul is developing here, directly fulfilled that promise through Jesus Christ. In this way, says Paul, the promise and its fulfillment are superior to the law.

TCNT Now a mediator does not represent just one party, but God is one.

T4T Now, when a mediator functions, one person is not speaking with another directly; but God himself made his promises directly to Abraham.

LEB Now the mediator is not for one, but God is one.

BBE Now a go-between is not a go-between of one; but God is one.

Moff (an intermediary implies more than one party, but God is one).

Wymth But there cannot be a mediator where only one individual is concerned.

ASV Now a mediator is not a mediator of one; but God is one.

DRA Now a mediator is not of one: but God is one.

YLT and the mediator is not of one, and God is one —

Drby But a mediator is not of one, but [fn]God is one.

3.20 Elohim

RV Now a mediator is not a mediator of one; but God is one.

SLT And a mediator is not of one, and God is one.

Wbstr Now a mediator is not a mediator of one; but God is one.

KJB-1769 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.

KJB-1611 Now a mediatour is not a Mediatour of one, but God is one.

Bshps A mediatour is not a mediatour of one, but God is one.

Gnva Nowe a Mediatour is not a Mediatour of one: but God is one.
(Now a Mediatour is not a Mediatour of one: but God is one. )

Cvdl A mediatour is not a mediatour of one onely, but God is one.
(A mediatour is not a mediatour of one only, but God is one.)

TNT A mediator is not a mediator of one. But God is one.

Wycl No Wycl GAL 3:20 verse available

Luth Ein Mittler aber ist nicht eines einigen Mittler; GOtt aber ist einig.
(A Mittler but is not one/a some Mittler; God but is united/single.)

ClVg Mediator autem unius non est: Deus autem unus est.[fn]
(Mediator however of_one not/no it_is: God however one it_is. )

3.20 Mediator. Lex quam habet mediator, unius populi tantum est: sed tamen ipse mediator, non est tantum unius populi, id est, Judæorum qui legem habuerunt sed et gentilium, et ideo non quæratis legem, ut habeatis mediatorem. Mediator non est unius, sed tamen est unus: sufficiens ad omnes reconciliandos Deo, quia Deus, et ideo aliud non adjungatis ei.

3.20 Mediator. Law how has mediator, of_one of_the_people only it_is: but nevertheless exactly_that/himself mediator, not/no it_is only of_one of_the_people, that it_is, Yudahorum who/which the_law they_had but and Gentile, and therefore/for_that_reason not/no seekis the_law, as you(pl)_have mediatorem. Mediator not/no it_is of_one, but nevertheless it_is unus: sufficiens to everyone reconciliandos to_God, because God, and therefore/for_that_reason something_else not/no adyungatis to_him.

UGNT ὁ δὲ μεσίτης ἑνὸς οὐκ ἔστιν, ὁ δὲ Θεὸς εἷς ἐστιν.
(ho de mesitaʸs henos ouk estin, ho de Theos heis estin.)

SBL-GNT ὁ δὲ μεσίτης ἑνὸς οὐκ ἔστιν, ὁ δὲ θεὸς εἷς ἐστιν.
(ho de mesitaʸs henos ouk estin, ho de theos heis estin.)

RP-GNT Ὁ δὲ μεσίτης ἑνὸς οὐκ ἔστιν, ὁ δὲ θεὸς εἷς ἐστίν.
(Ho de mesitaʸs henos ouk estin, ho de theos heis estin.)

TC-GNT Ὁ δὲ μεσίτης ἑνὸς οὐκ ἔστιν, ὁ δὲ Θεὸς εἷς ἐστιν.
(Ho de mesitaʸs henos ouk estin, ho de Theos heis estin. )

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

SOTN 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

3:20

In this verse Paul contrasted the work of a mediator (which involves two parties) and the oneness of God. Paul used this contrast to say that the law is inferior to the promise. God did not give the law directly to his people. He gave it through Moses, the mediator. But with the promise, God alone made a promise. And made it directly with Abraham. This shows that the promise is more important than the law.

3:20a

A mediator is unnecessary, however, for only one party;

A mediator does not work with only one person.
So the law did not come directly from God. There was a go-between.
But with/concerning the promise, there was no middleman.

A mediator is unnecessary, however, for only one party: In 3:20, Paul interrupted his discussion about the law to make a comment on the word “mediator.” He provided background information about the role of a mediator. Paul introduced this background information with a Greek conjunction that most English versions translate as “now.” In this context, “now” is not a time word. The BSB translates this conjunction as however, as does the NIV.

Some other versions, such as the CEV and GW, do not translate this conjunction. In some languages, it will not be necessary to translate it either. Connect 3:20a to 3:19e in a way that is natural in your language.

A mediator is unnecessary…for only one party: In Greek, this clause is more literally “the intermediary is not of one.” This means that when a mediator is involved, there is more than one side/party in the agreement or discussion.

This implies that when God gave the law, he gave it through a mediator (Moses) to his people. He did not give it directly.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

A mediator does not work with just one person.

Now a mediator is helpful if more than one party must reach an agreement. (NLT)

God gave the law to his people through Moses, a middleman

3:20b

but God is one.

But God is one person. He alone made the promise with Abraham.
But with the promise, God made it directly with Abraham.
God made the promise alone/himself.

but God is one: In this clause Paul contrasted God’s oneness with the more than one person with whom a mediator works. Paul used the truth stated in Deut. 6:4 to make this contrast.

This clause implies that with the promise, God alone made it. He did not use an intermediary. He made it directly with Abraham.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

But God, who is one, did not use a mediator when he gave his promise to Abraham. (NLT)

but God alone made the promise

but with the promise, God alone made it directly with Abraham

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / extrainfo

ὁ δὲ μεσίτης ἑνὸς οὐκ ἔστιν

the ¬the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὁ Δέ μεσίτης ἑνός οὐκ ἐστίν ὁ δέ Θεός εἱς ἐστίν)

In this verse Paul is proving to the Galatian believers that God’s promise to Abraham is superior to the law that he gave Moses. What Paul means by saying a mediator is not for one is that a mediator is not needed when one person is speaking with another person directly. Paul is implicitly expressing to the Galatian believers that the promise to Abraham is superior to the law because it was not given through a mediator but, rather, God gave the promise directly to Abraham. If it would help your readers and if you are using footnotes, you could indicate that information in a footnote.

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἑνὸς

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὁ Δέ μεσίτης ἑνός οὐκ ἐστίν ὁ δέ Θεός εἱς ἐστίν)

The phrase for one leaves the object implied. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate explicitly what one is referring to. Alternate translation: [for one party alone] or [needed when there is only one party involved]

Note 3 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

(Occurrence 2) δὲ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὁ Δέ μεσίτης ἑνός οὐκ ἐστίν ὁ δέ Θεός εἱς ἐστίν)

What follows the word but here is in contrast to the opening statement in this verse that a mediator is not for one. Use a natural way in your language for introducing a contrast.

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

(Occurrence 2) δὲ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὁ Δέ μεσίτης ἑνός οὐκ ἐστίν ὁ δέ Θεός εἱς ἐστίν)

Here, the word but is introducing the phrase God is one, which is an allusion to a phrase in Deuteronomy 6:4. The Galatians believers would have known that Paul was referencing this scripture. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate explicitly that the word but is introducing a reference from Scripture. Alternate translation: [but as Moses wrote in Scripture,]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

Θεὸς εἷς ἐστιν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὁ Δέ μεσίτης ἑνός οὐκ ἐστίν ὁ δέ Θεός εἱς ἐστίν)

Here Paul uses a well-known phrase about God to demonstrate that God's promises directly to Abraham were superior to the law that he gave through Moses. You can include some of this information in the text or a footnote if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [Abraham received the promises from God alone]

Parallel GAL 3:20

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

3:20

3:20a

3:20b