Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

GALATIANS 3:6KJV
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Galatians 3:6 (KJV)

What does Galatians 3:6 mean?

Galatians 3:6 says that Abraham trusted what God said, and because of that trust, God considered Abraham to be in the right with Him. The verse points out that Abraham’s relationship with God was based on faith, not on following laws or rituals.

Paul, the writer of Galatians, is reminding the believers in Galatia about Abraham’s story to show that being accepted by God has always depended on faith. Paul is addressing people who thought they needed to follow certain religious rules to be right with God, but he uses Abraham as an example to show that trust in God’s promise is what truly matters.

The Greek behind Galatians 3:6

  • πιστεύω (pisteuō, "believed"): This word means to trust, rely on, or have faith in someone. In this verse, it highlights that Abraham’s response to God was one of deep trust, not just intellectual agreement.
  • λογίζομαι (logizomai, "accounted"): This word often means to count, reckon, or consider. Here, it shows that God treated Abraham’s faith as if it were righteousness, giving him a status he did not earn by works.
  • δικαιοσύνη (dikaiosynē, "righteousness"): This word refers to being in right standing with God. The verse connects this right standing directly to faith, not to actions or law-keeping.

Why Galatians 3:6 matters

  • Galatians 3:6 clears up the idea that being right with God comes from faith, not from following religious rules or traditions.
  • The verse connects the story of Abraham to all believers, showing that faith has always been the way to a relationship with God, even before the law of Moses.
  • This verse sets up Paul’s larger argument in Galatians that anyone—Jew or Gentile—can belong to God’s family through faith, just like Abraham did.

Where else these words appear

“accounted” Greek G3049 · used in 40 verses

  • Mark 11:31 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?
  • Romans 4:10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
  • 2 Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

“Abraham” Greek G11 · used in 69 verses

  • Matthew 1:1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
  • John 8:37 I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
  • Romans 11:1 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

“righteousness” Greek G1343 · used in 85 verses

  • Matthew 3:15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
  • Romans 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
  • Ephesians 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;