Charles Ellicott Commentary Galatians 3:22

"But the scriptures shut up all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe." — Galatians 3:22 (ASV)

The scripture.—Slightly personified.

Has concluded.—The same peculiar word occurs in Romans 11:32, with a similar sense. It means to “shut up,” “hem in,” “prevent from straying either to the right hand or to the left,” as a shepherd shuts up his flock in the fold.

All.—This is put in the neuter gender, but only to give a more complete universality to the statement. What is meant is “all mankind.”

The promise by faith of Jesus Christ.—The promise which originates in faith in Christ, which derives its fulfilment from faith, is due to faith.