"Wherefore then {serveth} the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise …" — Galatians 3:19

Galatians 3:19 · 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 3:19

Verse 18

For if the inheritance {be} of the law, {it is} no more of promise: but God gave {it} to Abraham by promise.

Verse 20

Now a mediator is not {a mediator} of one, but God is one.

Galatians 3 — Context

And this I say, {that} the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

For if the inheritance {be} of the law, {it is} no more of promise: but God gave {it} to Abraham by promise.

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.

Now a mediator is not {a mediator} of one, but God is one.

{Is} the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

Cross References

Acts 7:53

Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept {it}.

Hebrews 2:2

For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;

Romans 7:7-13

What shall we say then? {Is} the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. {lust: or, concupiscence}

Galatians 3:16

Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

1 Timothy 1:8-9

But we know that the law {is} good, if a man use it lawfully;

Romans 5:20-21

Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

Romans 4:15

Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, {there is} no transgression.

Romans 3:19-20

Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. {guilty...: or, subject to the judgment of God}