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The following are guidance provided by BibleGateway.com for the markers used in the Expanded Bible (EXB).
L LITERAL: A more literal rendering of the original language, allowing the reader to see why translations make varying choices. These are signaled by a superscript L within a bracket: [L].
C COMMENT: Briefly provides historical, cultural, theological, or other explanatory information to help readers better understand a verse or passage. These are signaled by a superscript C within a bracket: [C]. (There is no bullet in the base text for these because no replacement is required.).
This issue is not specific to the Expanded Bible (EXB), as multiple translations fail to understand the nuances expressed by the author of Galations. Which is to say that current translations are missing something understood by the author of Galations. The EXB however does make it more obvious.
The Expanded Bible appears to provide multiple easily identifiable inaccuracies based on Galatians 3:16. In the EXB version Galations 3:16 says, "God made promises both to Abraham and to his ·descendant [seed]. God did not say, “and to your ·descendants [seeds].” That would mean many people. But God said, “and to your ·descendant [seed; Gen. 12:7; 13:15; 17:7; 24:7].” That means only one person; that person is Christ.". The authors of the EXB provide 'expanded' context by including "[seed]", "[seeds]", then again, "[seed]". This shows they are aware of the differences between the singular and plural words used. The authors of the EXB then provide further reference by pointing to four other verses in the Bible, specifically, "[seed; Gen. 12:7; 13:15; 17:7; 24:7]".
So the author of Galations is clearly making a point and quoting older Biblical texts, which the EXB assists the reader in understanding. When we read the references provided by the EXB we find the old testament translations appear to only use the plural version of the word, which does not match with the author of Galations' point.
Genesis 12:7 (EXB) says, "The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your ·descendants [Lseed].” So Abram built an altar [Ca place to offer sacrifices] there to the Lord, who had appeared to him."
Genesis 13:15 (EXB) says, "All this land that you see I will give to you and your ·descendants [Lseed] forever."
Genesis 17:7 (EXB) says, "And I will make an ·agreement [covenant; treaty; 6:18] between me and you and all your ·descendants [Lseed] ·from now on [or forever]: I will be your God and the God of all your descendants."
Genesis 24:7 (EXB) says, "The Lord, the God of heaven, brought me from the home of my father and the land of my relatives. And he ·promised [swore to] me, ‘I will give this land to your ·descendants [Lseed].’ The Lord will send his ·angel [messenger] before you to help you get a wife for my son there."
All four of the old testament translations use the plural for descendants which is in contrast to what the author of Galations was quoting. The Hebrew noun זרע (zeraʿ) is being translated in predominantly three ways, "seed", "descendants", and "offspring". However, the author of Galations is clearly stating the old scriptures provided distinct differences in the words (singular versus plural usage).
GreekBible.com seems to handle this translation well by providing the following:
Galations 3:16, "τῷ δὲ Ἀβραὰμ ἐρρέθησαν αἱ ἐπαγγελίαι καὶ τῷ σπέρματι αὐτοῦ. οὐ λέγει, Καὶ τοῖς σπέρμασιν, ὡς ἐπὶ πολλῶν, ἀλλ' ὡς ἐφ' ἑνός, Καὶ τῷ σπέρματί σου, ὅς ἐστιν Χριστός.
Galations 3:16, "Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his offspring. He doesn’t say, “To descendants”, as of many, but as of one, “To your offspring”, which is Christ.
There is an advantage in translating the book of Galations, written in Koine Greek, over the book of Genesis, written in Biblical Hebrew. In Greek we read the word for "seed" or "offspring" as "σπέρματι" and "σπέρματί" which are singular and, "σπέρμασιν" which is plural. In Hebrew we are given זרע (zeraʿ) which can be translated differently. Yet, somehow the author of Galations was able to read the differences.
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