King James Version

What Does Galatians 3:12 Mean?

Galatians 3:12 in the King James Version says “And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.” — study this verse from Galatians chapter 3 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

“And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.”

Galatians 3:12 · KJV

Faith

Context

10

For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

11

But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

12

And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

13

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

14

That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Read Galatians 3 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. This verse states the fundamental incompatibility between Law and faith. 'The law is not of faith' (ho nomos ouk estin ek pisteōs, ὁ νόμος οὐκ ἔστιν ἐκ πίστεως)—the Law does not operate on the faith-principle; it operates on a different principle entirely. The quote from Leviticus 18:5—'The man that doeth them shall live in them' (ho poiēsas auta zēsetai en autois, ὁ ποιήσας αὐτὰ ζήσεται ἐν αὐτοῖς)—reveals the Law's principle: do and live.

The participle 'doeth' (poiēsas, ποιήσας) is aorist, but the verb 'shall live' (zēsetai, ζήσεται) is future—the one who does the Law's commands will live. The Law promises life on condition of perfect obedience. This is the works-principle: life is earned by doing. Faith says 'believe and live' (v. 11); Law says 'do and live' (v. 12). These are mutually exclusive systems.

Paul's point: the Law cannot be fulfilled by faith because the Law demands works. The Law says nothing about believing; it says 'do.' Therefore, seeking justification through Law contradicts the faith-righteousness of verse 11. The tragedy: the Law's promise of life (Leviticus 18:5) is unattainable because no one perfectly 'does' the Law. Romans 10:5-13 develops this further—Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Leviticus 18:5 stands within the holiness code (Leviticus 17-26), commanding Israel to live by God's statutes and judgments as the basis for life in the Promised Land. Jewish interpretation saw this as the path to covenant blessing; Paul sees it as an unattainable standard that highlights the need for faith-righteousness. Romans 10:5 quotes this same verse, contrasting Law-righteousness (do and live) with faith-righteousness (believe and live). Ezekiel 20:11, 13, 21 also quotes Leviticus 18:5, lamenting Israel's failure to do the statutes—thus proving Paul's point: the Law's promise remains unfulfilled by works.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the Law's principle ('do and live') differ fundamentally from the gospel's principle ('believe and live')? Why are they incompatible?
  2. What does it reveal about human nature that no one can fulfill Leviticus 18:5's promise of life through doing the Law?
  3. In what ways might you be subtly operating on the 'do and live' principle in your relationship with God rather than 'believe and live'?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 15 words
ὁ1 of 15
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

δὲ2 of 15

“And”

G1161

but, and, etc

νόμος3 of 15

“the law”

G3551

law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specially, (of moses (including the volume); also of the gospel), or figurat

οὐκ4 of 15

“not”

G3756

the absolute negative (compare g3361) adverb; no or not

ἔστιν5 of 15

“is”

G2076

he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are

ἐκ6 of 15

“of”

G1537

a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause literal or figurative; direct

πίστεως7 of 15

“faith”

G4102

persuasion, i.e., credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of god or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon christ

ἀλλ'8 of 15

“but”

G235

properly, other things, i.e., (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations)

Ὁ9 of 15
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ποιήσας10 of 15

“that doeth”

G4160

to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct)

αὐτοῖς11 of 15

“them”

G846

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

ἄνθρωπος12 of 15

“The man”

G444

man-faced, i.e., a human being

ζήσεται13 of 15

“shall live”

G2198

to live (literally or figuratively)

ἐν14 of 15

“in”

G1722

"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc

αὐτοῖς15 of 15

“them”

G846

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Galatians. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Galatians 3:12 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Galatians 3:12 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Leviticus 18:5Romans 10:5-6Nehemiah 9:29Romans 4:14Romans 4:16Luke 10:25-28

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