Galatians 3:19
ContextNETBible | Why then was the law given? 1 It was added 2 because of transgressions, 3 until the arrival of the descendant 4 to whom the promise had been made. It was administered 5 through angels by an intermediary. 6 |
XREF | Ex 20:19-22; Ex 24:1-12; Ex 34:27-35; Le 15:32; De 4:8,9; De 5:5,22-33; De 9:13-20,25-29; De 18:15-19; De 33:2; Ps 106:23; Ps 147:19,20; Lu 16:31; Joh 1:17; Joh 5:45-47; Joh 15:22; Ac 7:38; Ac 7:53; Ro 2:13; Ro 3:1,2; Ro 3:19,20; Ro 4:15; Ro 5:20,21; Ro 7:7-13; Ga 3:16,25; Ga 3:21-24; Ga 4:1-4; 1Ti 1:8,9; Heb 2:2,5 |
NET © Notes |
1 tn Grk “Why then the law?” 2 tc For προσετέθη (proseteqh) several Western 3 tc παραδόσεων (paradosewn; “traditions, commandments”) is read by D*, while the vast majority of witnesses read παραβάσεων (parabasewn, “transgressions”). D’s reading makes little sense in this context. πράξεων (praxewn, “of deeds”) replaces παραβάσεων in Ì46 F G it Irlat Ambst Spec. The wording is best taken as going with νόμος (nomo"; “Why then the law of deeds?”), as is evident by the consistent punctuation in the later witnesses. But such an expression is unpauline and superfluous; it was almost certainly added by some early scribe(s) to soften the blow of Paul’s statement. 4 tn Grk “the seed.” See the note on the first occurrence of the word “descendant” in 3:16. 5 tn Or “was ordered.” L&N 31.22 has “was put into effect” here. 6 tn Many modern translations (NASB, NIV, NRSV) render this word (μεσίτης, mesith"; here and in v. 20) as “mediator,” but this conveys a wrong impression in contemporary English. If this is referring to Moses, he certainly did not “mediate” between God and Israel but was an intermediary on God’s behalf. Moses was not a mediator, for example, who worked for compromise between opposing parties. He instead was God’s representative to his people who enabled them to have a relationship, but entirely on God’s terms. |