What Does Galatians 3:5 Mean in the King James?
He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The same Greek work-root holds God’s working and your works together, revealing that power is supplied through hearing trust rather than manufactured by instruction-keeping.
THE MEANING
The breath is being supplied to you, and power is at work among you. The verse asks whether this comes from your performance of instruction or from hearing with trust; it locates the source in receptive trust.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
God’s power only reaches me after I have done enough to earn it.
THE ROOT
ἐνεργῶν
energōn
GROWS FROM
ἐργ-
erg-
Work, deed, or labor.
“worketh / works” in this verse is energōn. English renders the same Greek work-family as “worketh” and “works,” while the original keeps the words audibly connected. The verse places God’s active work beside human deeds, then asks whether power comes from those deeds or from hearing trust.
ALSO GROWS
ergon: Work, deed, or action.
ἔργον
This is the word behind “works,” the human deeds named in the question.
energeō: To be at work, operate, or be active.
ἐνεργέω
This is the verb behind “worketh,” describing power already active among you.
ergazomai: To work or do a deed.
ἐργάζομαι
This related form shows the wider word-family of doing and labor that the verse sets beside God’s activity.
πνεῦμα
pneuma
GROWS FROM
πνέω
pneō
To breathe or blow.
Pneuma carries the sense of breath and wind as well as spirit. What is supplied to you is not merely an idea: the verse speaks of breath present with power at work.
ALSO GROWS
pneō: To breathe or blow.
πνέω
This verb is the root behind pneuma and holds the breath and wind senses together.
pnoē: Breath or blowing.
πνοή
This related noun makes the breath connection explicit.
πίστις
pistis
GROWS FROM
πείθω
peithō
To persuade or be persuaded, giving rise to trust.
Faith here carries the sense of trust, not merely agreement with an idea. Joined to hearing, it describes receiving what is heard with reliance rather than producing a record of deeds.
ALSO GROWS
peithomai: To be persuaded or trust.
πείθομαι
This form shows the receptive side of the root: trust takes shape as being persuaded.
pisteuō: To trust or believe.
πιστεύω
This verb from the same word-family expresses trust as an active stance.
THE PATTERN
Life from God is received through trust rather than secured by human performance.
Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.THE THREAD
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.The same Greek words return: ἀκοή (akoē, hearing) and πίστις (pistis, trust). Romans makes explicit what Galatians asks: hearing joined to trust is the source named in the verse.
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