Galatians 3:10
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What's easy to miss here is that the verse isn't just talking about failing to obey some parts of the law; it's highlighting the demand for perfect and continuous obedience. The original text emphasizes that anyone who does not remain in all things written in the Book of the Law is cursed, leaving no room for partial credit or occasional success.
For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is arguing that salvation doesn't come through obeying the Law, but through faith in Christ. He's just established that Abraham was blessed because of his faith, not his actions, and that those who follow Christ share in that blessing. Now, he turns to the Law to show why it can't bring blessing, proving that anyone who tries to earn God's favor by following its commands actually falls under its curse instead.
Ever felt like you're one mistake away from disaster? The Law of God is like that, but with infinitely higher stakes.
Paul is crystal clear here: trying to earn God's favor by 'works of the law' puts you directly under its curse. Why? Because the Law, in its perfect nature, demands absolute and continuous obedience.
What 'Works of the Law' Means:
This isn't just about the Ten Commandments. It refers to the entire system of divine instruction – moral, ceremonial, and civil – given to Israel. It’s any attempt to establish righteousness before God based on your own performance.
The Impossible Standard:
The verse quotes Deuteronomy 27:26: “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”
If the Law demands perfection and no one can deliver it, what does that mean for us? It means trouble.
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Paul connects 'works of the law' directly to being 'under a curse.' This isn't just a mild inconvenience; it's a state of alienation from God and exposure to His just judgment because of sin.
What 'Under a Curse' Means:
It signifies being bound by the penalty the Law pronounces on disobedience. It implies a condition of being separated from God's favor and rightly deserving His wrath due to your failure to meet its perfect standard.
The Inescapable Reality:
Since no human being can perfectly keep all the commands of the Law all the time, everyone who relies on their own 'works' for righteousness is, by definition, outside of God's blessing and under His curse. There’s no partial credit; failure in any part means falling under the penalty.
This is a sobering truth. It reveals the utter inadequacy of human effort to bridge the gap between our sin and God's holiness.
Understand the original words
ergon nomou · Greek Noun phrase
The efforts or deeds performed by humans in an attempt to earn salvation or justify themselves before God through keeping the moral and ritual requirements of the Mosaic Law.
katara · Greek Noun
A state of divine judgment, condemnation, or separation from God; it is the consequence of failing to perfectly adhere to the requirements of God’s holy law.
nomos · Greek Noun
The comprehensive body of divine instructions and commandments given to Israel; it sets the standard of God's holiness and exposes the inability of humans to achieve righteousness on their own.
This verse highlights the absolute standard of God's Law, which was given at Sinai and reinforced throughout Israel's history. By quoting Deuteronomy 27:26, Paul shows that the Law itself pronounces a curse on *anyone* who fails to obey it perfectly, a standard no one can meet, thus pointing to the necessity of Christ's atoning work.
c. 1446 BC
Giving of the Law at Sinai
God delivers the Ten Commandments and the entire Mosaic Law to the Israelites through Moses. This Law includes blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience.
c. 1406 BC
Conquest and Division of Canaan
After entering the Promised Land, the Israelites are instructed by Moses to pronounce curses from Mount Ebal and blessings from Mount Gerizim, as recorded in Deuteronomy 27.
c. 722 BC
Fall of the Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern kingdom of Israel, exiling its people. This event serves as a stark reminder of God's judgment on disobedience to the Law.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
The Babylonian Empire destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling the remaining Judeans. This judgment is seen as a consequence of persistent failure to keep God's Law.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Crucifixion of Jesus Christ
Jesus is crucified. Paul's argument implies that Christ's death is the fulfillment of the curse pronounced on those who fail to keep the Law perfectly.
c. AD 48-55
Paul's Ministry and Writing Galatians
During his missionary journeys, Paul encounters those who teach that salvation requires adherence to the Law of Moses. He writes the letter to the Galatians to combat this teaching.
This is the primary Old Testament passage Paul quotes from, directly stating the curse upon anyone who does not uphold every word of the Law.
James 2:10James echoes the same principle, highlighting that failing to keep even one part of the Law makes a person guilty of breaking the whole thing, reinforcing why no one can be justified by works.
Romans 8:3This passage explains *why* the law, in its weakness through the flesh, leads to a curse rather than life, providing the theological backdrop for Paul's argument here.
Habakkuk 2:4Paul contrasts the curse of the law with the life found in faith, and Habakkuk's declaration that 'the righteous shall live by his faith' is central to this contrast.
jfbGalatians 3:10: "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."
- Confirmation of Ga 3:9. They who depend on the works of the law cannot share the blessing, for they are under the curse "written," De 27:26, Septuagint. Perfect obedience is required by the words, "in all things." Continual obedience by the word, "continueth." No man renders this obedie…
vincentGalatians 3:10: "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."
Under the curse (ὑπὸ κατάραν)Better, under curse. There is no article. The phrase is general equals accursed. Comp. ὑφ' ἁμαρτίαν under sin, Romans 3:9. The specific character of the curse is not stated. It is not merely the wrath of God as it issues in final destruction (Meyer); but…
What's easy to miss here is that the verse isn't just talking about failing to obey some parts of the law; it's highlighting the demand for perfect and continuous obedience. The original text emphasizes that anyone who does not remain in all things written in the Book of the Law is cursed, leaving no room for partial credit or occasional success.
Paul is arguing that salvation doesn't come through obeying the Law, but through faith in Christ. He's just established that Abraham was blessed because of his faith, not his actions, and that those who follow Christ share in that blessing. Now, he turns to the Law to show why it can't bring blessing, proving that anyone who tries to earn God's favor by following its commands actually falls under its curse instead.
Paul is arguing that salvation doesn't come through obeying the Law, but through faith in Christ. He's just established that Abraham was blessed because of his faith, not his actions, and that those who follow Christ share in that blessing. Now, he turns to the Law to show why it can't bring blessing, proving that anyone who tries to earn God's favor by following its commands actually falls under its curse instead.
"For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”" — What's easy to miss here is that the verse isn't just talking about failing to obey some parts of the law; it's highlighting the demand for perfect and continuous obedience. The original text empha…
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Last reviewed October 2026
