Internet Verse Search Commentaries Word Analysis ITL - draft

Galatians 3:16

NETBible	Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his descendant.¹ Scripture² does not say, “and to the descendants,”³ referring to many, but “*and to your descendant*,”⁴ referring to one, who is Christ.
NIV © biblegateway Gal 3:16	The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say "and to seeds," meaning many people, but "and to your seed," meaning one person, who is Christ.
NASB © biblegateway Gal 3:16	Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, "And to seeds," as referring to many, but rather to one, "And to your seed," that is, Christ.
NLT © biblegateway Gal 3:16	God gave the promise to Abraham and his child. And notice that it doesn’t say the promise was to his children, as if it meant many descendants. But the promise was to his child––and that, of course, means Christ.
MSG © biblegateway Gal 3:16	Now, the promises were made to Abraham and to his descendant. You will observe that Scripture, in the careful language of a legal document, does not say "to descendants," referring to everybody in general, but "to your descendant" (the noun, note, is singular), referring to Christ.
BBE © SABDAweb Gal 3:16	Now to Abraham were the undertakings given, and to his seed. He says not, And to seeds, as of a great number; but as of one, he says, And to your seed, which is Christ.
NRSV © bibleoremus Gal 3:16	Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring; it does not say, "And to offsprings," as of many; but it says, "And to your offspring," that is, to one person, who is Christ.
NKJV © biblegateway Gal 3:16	Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is Christ.
[+] More English


KJV	Now <1161> to Abraham <11> and <2532> his <846> seed <4690> were <4483> (0) the promises <1860> made <4483> (5681)_. He saith <3004> (5719) not <3756>_, And <2532> to seeds <4690>_, as <5613> of <1909> many <4183>_; but <235> as <5613> of <1909> one <1520>_, And <2532> to thy <4675> seed <4690>_, which <3739> is <2076> (5748) Christ <5547>_.
NASB © biblegateway Gal 3:16	Now <1161> the promises <1860> were spoken <3004> to Abraham <11> and to his seed <4690> . He does not say <3004> , "And to seeds <4690> ," as referring to many <4183> , but rather to one <1520> , "And to your seed <4690> ," that is, Christ <5547> .
NET [draft] ITL	Now <1161> the promises <1860> were spoken <4482> to Abraham <11> and <2532> to his <846> descendant <4690> . Scripture does <3004> not <3756> say <3004> , “and <2532> to the descendants <4690> ,” referring <5613> to <1909> many <4183> , but <235> “and <2532> to your <4675> descendant <4690> ,” referring <5613> to <1909> one <1520> , who <3739> is <1510> Christ <5547> .
GREEK	tw de abraam erreyhsan epaggeliai kai tw spermati autou ou legei toiv spermasin wv epi pollwn all wv ef enov kai tw spermati sou ov estin

NETBible

Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his descendant.¹ Scripture² does not say, “and to the descendants,”³ referring to many, but “and to your descendant,”⁴ referring to one, who is Christ.

NET Notes

¹tn Grk “his seed,” a figurative extension of the meaning of σπέρμα (sperma) to refer to descendants (L&N 10.29).

²tn Grk “It”; the referent (the scripture) has been specified in the translation for clarity. The understood subject of the verb λέγει (legei) could also be “He” (referring to God) as the one who spoke the promise to Abraham.

³tn Grk “to seeds.” See the note on “descendant” earlier in this verse. Here the term is plural; the use of the singular in the OT text cited later in this verse is crucial to Paul’s argument.

⁴tn See the note on “descendant” earlier in this verse.

⁴sn A quotation from Gen 12:7; 13:15; 17:7; 24:7.