Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed.
English Standard Version (ESV)
All verses
Galatians 3:23
What does Galatians 3:23 mean?
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Galatians 3:23
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The verse emphasizes that the law didn't just exist alongside faith; it actively "shut up" people, acting like a prison warden whose purpose was to guard them towards the coming revelation of faith. This wasn't about trapping people indefinitely but about a temporary, protective custody that preserved them until faith could be fully unveiled.
Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Before this point, Paul has established that justification comes through faith, not the Law, using Abraham as his prime example. Now, he explains the role of the Law not as a path to righteousness, but as a temporary guardian. It held everyone captive, both Jews under Moses and Gentiles under their own moral compass, under the weight of sin until Christ's coming would fully reveal the way of salvation through faith.
Ever felt trapped or confined by rules, even good ones? The Bible uses a powerful image to describe humanity's relationship with the Law before faith.
Before faith in Jesus arrived, the Law wasn't just a set of rules; it was like a prison guard.
A Strict Custodian
The Greek words used here, 'kept' (ephrouroumetha) and 'shut up' (synkleiomenoi), paint a vivid picture. It wasn't a gentle suggestion, but a secure containment. Think of a soldier guarding a fortress or a prisoner confined to a cell.
Purposeful Imprisonment
This wasn't about arbitrary punishment. The Law 'shut us up' unto the faith that was to come. It served as a necessary confinement, ensuring people couldn't escape the reality of their sin and their need for a Savior. It guarded them, not for protection in the usual sense, but to prevent any escape from facing their sin and the eventual revelation of God's plan.
Was faith completely absent before Jesus, or was something different revealed?
The verse speaks of 'faith came' and 'faith would be revealed.' This isn't to say people before Jesus had no faith, but that the object and clarity of faith were different.
The Object of Faith
Before Jesus, faith was often directed towards promises that were veiled or shadowed by the Law's rituals. While Old Testament saints like Abraham had faith and were saved by it, they looked forward to a Messiah and a covenant that were not yet fully manifest. As Calvin notes, they had the 'mirror' of Christ, while we have the 'substance'.
Ask a follow-up
A Clearer Light
The 'coming faith' refers to the New Testament era, where Jesus Christ, the ultimate object of our faith, was fully revealed. The Law, with its ceremonies and sacrifices, pointed towards Him, but in the 'coming faith,' Christ is no longer distant but present. The revelation of grace, forgiveness, and righteousness through Jesus provides a much brighter and clearer light than the 'dawn' of the Old Covenant.
This verse highlights that before Christ's arrival, the Law served as a divinely appointed custodian, guarding God's people and their understanding of righteousness until the full revelation of salvation through faith in Jesus.
c. 2000 BC
Abrahamic Covenant Established
God establishes a foundational covenant with Abraham, promising him descendants and blessing through whom all nations would be blessed. This promise, received by faith, sets the stage for God's redemptive plan.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus and Law Given at Sinai
Following their liberation from slavery in Egypt, the Israelites receive the Mosaic Law at Mount Sinai. This Law, encompassing moral, ceremonial, and civil statutes, becomes the framework for Israelite life and worship.
c. 931 BC
Kingdom Divides
The united kingdom of Israel splits into two: the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah. This division weakens the nation and contributes to future disunity and vulnerability.
722 BC
Assyrian Conquest of Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, deporting many of its inhabitants. This marks the beginning of the 'lost tribes' and a severe blow to national identity.
586 BC
Babylonian Exile of Judah
The Babylonian Empire destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling the remaining population of Judah. This exile profoundly shapes Jewish identity and understanding of God's law and promises.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus
Jesus Christ is crucified and resurrected. This pivotal event fulfills Old Testament prophecies and inaugurates the new covenant, making the 'faith which should afterwards be revealed' fully accessible.
c. AD 48-55
Paul's Missionary Journeys and Letters
The Apostle Paul undertakes missionary journeys, establishing churches among Gentiles and Jews. He writes letters, like Galatians, to address theological issues, including the relationship between the Law and faith in Christ.
This passage uses a similar idea of being released from the law, moving from a state of bondage to a new spiritual life, mirroring Galatians 3:23's concept of being held captive by the law.
Colossians 2:17Both verses highlight that the Mosaic Law, with its rituals and regulations, was a temporary 'shadow' pointing towards the 'body' of Christ, implying it wasn't the ultimate reality or a permanent way of salvation.
Hebrews 9:10This passage speaks of the Old Testament regulations as 'imposed until the time of reformation,' directly supporting the idea in Galatians 3:23 that the law was a temporary measure before a new covenant.
Luke 24:44-45Jesus himself explains how the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms all bore witness to him, suggesting the Old Testament era, described as being 'under the law,' was preparatory for understanding Christ and the faith he revealed.
bengelGalatians 3:23: "But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed."
Galatians 3:23 . Τὴν πίστιν , the faith of Jesus Christ ) So the following verses.— ἐφρουρούμεθα συγκεκλεισμένοι , we were kept shut up ) These two words elegantly disjoin the law and faith. The being ‘kept’ in custody is the consequence of the shutting up. Wis 17:16 : ἐφρουρεῖτο εἰς τὴν ἀσίδηρον εἱρκτὴν κατακλεισθείς , he was kept shut up in a prison without iron bar…
calvinGalatians 3:23-29: "But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed."
- Before faith came. The question proposed is now more fully defined. He explains at great length the use of the law, and the reason why it was temporal; for otherwise it would have appeared to be always unreasonable that a law should be delivered to the Jews, from which the Gentiles were excluded. If there be but one church consisting of Jews and Gentiles, why i…
The verse emphasizes that the law didn't just exist alongside faith; it actively "shut up" people, acting like a prison warden whose purpose was to guard them towards the coming revelation of faith. This wasn't about trapping people indefinitely but about a temporary, protective custody that preserved them until faith could be fully unveiled.
Before this point, Paul has established that justification comes through faith, not the Law, using Abraham as his prime example. Now, he explains the role of the Law not as a path to righteousness, but as a temporary guardian. It held everyone captive, both Jews under Moses and Gentiles under their own moral compass, under the weight of sin until Christ's coming would fully reveal the way of salvation through faith.
Before this point, Paul has established that justification comes through faith, not the Law, using Abraham as his prime example. Now, he explains the role of the Law not as a path to righteousness, but as a temporary guardian. It held everyone captive, both Jews under Moses and Gentiles under their own moral compass, under the weight of sin until Christ's coming would fully reveal the way of salvation through faith.
"Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed." — The verse emphasizes that the law didn't just exist alongside faith; it actively "shut up" people, acting like a prison warden whose purpose was to guard them towards the coming revelation of faith…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026