Galatians 3:19,23
Galatians 3:19 New King James Version (NKJV)
What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator.
Galatians 3:23 New King James Version (NKJV)
But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.
Galatians 3:19 New Living Translation (NLT)
Why, then, was the law given? It was given alongside the promise to show people their sins. But the law was designed to last only until the coming of the child who was promised. God gave his law through angels to Moses, who was the mediator between God and the people.
Galatians 3:23 New Living Translation (NLT)
Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed.
Galatians 3:18-20 The Message (MSG)
What is the point, then, of the law, the attached addendum? It was a thoughtful addition to the original covenant promises made to Abraham. The purpose of the law was to keep a sinful people in the way of salvation until Christ (the descendant) came, inheriting the promises and distributing them to us. Obviously this law was not a firsthand encounter with God. It was arranged by angelic messengers through a middleman, Moses. But if there is a middleman as there was at Sinai, then the people are not dealing directly with God, are they? But the original promise is the direct blessing of God, received by faith.
Galatians 3:23-24 The Message (MSG)
Until the time when we were mature enough to respond freely in faith to the living God, we were carefully surrounded and protected by the Mosaic law. The law was like those Greek tutors, with which you are familiar, who escort children to school and protect them from danger or distraction, making sure the children will really get to the place they set out for.
Galatians 3:19 King James Version (KJV)
Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
Galatians 3:23 King James Version (KJV)
But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Galatians 3:19 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made.
Galatians 3:23 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed.
Galatians 3:19 New Century Version (NCV)
So what was the law for? It was given to show that the wrong things people do are against God’s will. And it continued until the special descendant, who had been promised, came. The law was given through angels who used Moses for a mediator to give the law to people.
Galatians 3:23 New Century Version (NCV)
Before this faith came, we were all held prisoners by the law. We had no freedom until God showed us the way of faith that was coming.
Galatians 3:19 American Standard Version (ASV)
What then is the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise hath been made; and it was ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator.
Galatians 3:23 American Standard Version (ASV)
But before faith came, we were kept in ward under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Galatians 3:19 New International Version (NIV)
Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels and entrusted to a mediator.
Galatians 3:23 New International Version (NIV)
Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed.
Galatians 3:19 Amplified Bible (AMP)
Why, then, the Law [what was its purpose]? It was added [after the promise to Abraham, to reveal to people their guilt] because of transgressions [that is, to make people conscious of the sinfulness of sin], and [the Law] was ordained through angels and delivered to Israel by the hand of a mediator [Moses, the mediator between God and Israel, to be in effect] until the Seed would come to whom the promise had been made.
Galatians 3:23 Amplified Bible (AMP)
Now before faith came, we were kept in custody under the Law, [perpetually] imprisoned [in preparation] for the faith that was destined to be revealed
Galatians 3:19 The Passion Translation (TPT)
Why then was the law given at all? It was given alongside the promise to show people their sins. But the law was designed to last only until the coming of the “Seed,” the child who was promised. When God gave the law, he gave it first to angels; they gave it to Moses, his mediator, who then gave it to the people.
Galatians 3:23 The Passion Translation (TPT)
So until the revelation of faith for salvation was released, the law was a jailer, holding us as prisoners under lock and key until the “faith,” which was destined to be revealed, would set us free.