Galatians Chapter 4
Other Translations
asv (asv) - eBible.org engASV USFM
1
What then is the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise hath been made;
2
and it was ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator.
3
Now a mediator is not
4
a mediator of one; but God is one.
5
Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could make alive, verily righteousness would have been of the law.
6
But the scripture shut up all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
7
But before faith came, we were kept in ward under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
8
So that the law is become our tutor
9
to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
10
But now that faith is come, we are no longer under a tutor.
11
For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus.
12
For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ.
13
There can be neither Jew nor Greek, there can be neither bond nor free, there can be no male and female; for ye all are one
14
man in Christ Jesus.
15
And if ye are Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, heirs according to promise.
16
But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a bondservant though he is lord of all;
17
but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed of the father.
18
So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the rudiments of the world:
19
but when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
20
that he might redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
21
And because ye are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
22
So that thou art no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.
23
Howbeit at that time, not knowing God, ye were in bondage to them that by nature are no gods:
24
but now that ye have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how turn ye back again to the weak and beggarly rudiments, whereunto ye desire to be in bondage over again?
25
Ye observe days, and months, and seasons, and years.
26
I am afraid of you, lest by any means I have bestowed labor upon you in vain.
27
I beseech you, brethren, become as I
28
am, for I also
29
am become as ye
30
are. Ye did me no wrong:
31
but ye know that because of an infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you the first time:
darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext
1
Now I say, As long as the heir is a child, he differs nothing from a bondman, though he be lord of all;
2
but he is under guardians and stewards until the period fixed by the father.
3
So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the principles of the world;
4
but when the fulness of the time was come,God sent forth his Son, come of woman, come under law,
5
that he might redeem those under law, that we might receive sonship.
6
But because ye are sons,God has sent out the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
7
So thou art no longer bondman, but son; but if son, heir also throughGod.
8
But then indeed, not knowingGod, ye were in bondage to those who by nature are notgods;
9
but now, knowingGod, but rather being known byGod, how do ye turn again to the weak and beggarly principles to which ye desire to be again anew in bondage?
10
Ye observe days and months and times and years.
11
I am afraid of you, lest indeed I have laboured in vain as to you.
12
Be as I [am], for I also [am] as ye, brethren, I beseech you: ye have not at all wronged me.
13
But ye know that in weakness of the flesh I announced the glad tidings to you at the first;
14
and my temptation, which [was] in my flesh, ye did not slight nor reject with contempt; but ye received me as an angel ofGod, as Christ Jesus.
15
What then [was] your blessedness? for I bear you witness that, if possible, plucking out your own eyes ye would have given [them] to me.
16
So I have become your enemy in speaking the truth to you?
17
They are not rightly zealous after you, but desire to shut you out [from us], that ye may be zealous after them.
18
But [it is] right to be zealous at all times in what is right, and not only when I am present with you —
19
my children, of whom I again travail in birth until Christ shall have been formed in you:
20
and I should wish to be present with you now, and change my voice, for I am perplexed as to you.
21
Tell me, ye who are desirous of being under law, do ye not listen to the law?
22
For it is written that Abraham had two sons; one of the maid servant, and one of the free woman.
23
But he [that was] of the maid servant was born according to flesh, and he [that was] of the free woman through the promise.
24
Which things have an allegorical sense; for these are two covenants: one from mount Sinai, gendering to bondage, which is Hagar.
25
For Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which [is] now, for she is in bondage with her children;
26
but the Jerusalem above is free, which is our mother.
27
For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break out and cry, thou that travailest not; because the children of the desolate are more numerous than [those] of her that has a husband.
28
But ye, brethren, after the pattern of Isaac, are children of promise.
29
But as then he that was born according to flesh persecuted him [that was born] according to Spirit, so also [it is] now.
30
But what says the scripture? Cast out the maid servant and her son; for the son of the maid servant shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.
31
So then, brethren, we are not maid servant's children, but [children] of the free woman.
vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)
1
Dico autem: Quanto tempore heres parvulus est, nihil differt a servo, cum sit dominus omnium:
2
sed sub tutoribus, et actoribus est usque ad præfinitum tempus a patre:
3
ita et nos cum essemus parvuli, sub elementis mundi eramus servientes.
4
At ubi venit plenitudo temporis, misit Deus Filium suum factum ex muliere, factum sub lege,
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ut eos, qui sub lege erant, redimeret, ut adoptionem filiorum reciperemus.
6
Quoniam autem estis filii, misit Deus Spiritum filii sui in corda vestra clamantem: Abba, Pater.
7
Itaque iam non est servus, sed filius: Quod si filius: et heres per Deum.
8
Sed tunc quidem ignorantes Deum, iis, qui natura non sunt dii, serviebatis.
9
Nunc autem cum cognoveritis Deum, immo cogniti sitis a Deo: quomodo convertimini iterum ad infirma, et egena elementa, quibus denuo servire vultis?
10
Dies observatis, et menses, et tempora, et annos.
11
Timeo vos, ne forte sine causa laboraverim in vobis.
12
Estote sicut ego, quia et ego sicut vos: fratres obsecro vos. Nihil me læsistis.
13
Scitis autem quia per infirmitatem carnis evangelizavi vobis iampridem: et tentationem vestram in carne mea
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non sprevistis, neque respuistis: sed sicut Angelum Dei excepistis me, sicut Christum Iesum.
15
Ubi est ergo beatitudo vestra? Testimonium enim perhibeo vobis, quia, si fieri posset, oculos vestros eruissetis, et dedissetis mihi.
16
Ergo inimicus vobis factus sum, verum dicens vobis?
17
Æmulantur vos non bene: sed excludere vos volunt, ut illos æmulemini.
18
Bonum autem æmulamini in bono semper: et non tantum cum præsens sum apud vos.
19
Filioli mei, quos iterum parturio, donec formetur Christus in vobis.
20
Vellem autem esse apud vos modo, et mutare vocem meam: quoniam confundor in vobis.
21
Dicite mihi qui sub lege vultis esse: legem non legistis?
22
Scriptum est enim: Quoniam Abraham duos filios habuit: unum de ancilla, et unum de libera.
23
Sed qui de ancilla, secundum carnem natus est: qui autem de libera, per repromissionem:
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quæ sunt per allegoriam dicta. Hæc enim sunt duo testamenta. Unum quidem in monte Sina, in servitutem generans: quæ est Agar:
25
Sina enim mons est in Arabia, qui coniunctus est ei, quæ nunc est Ierusalem, et servit cum filiis suis.
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Illa autem, quæ sursum est Ierusalem, libera est, quæ est mater nostra.
27
Scriptum est enim: Lætare sterilis, quæ non paris: erumpe, et clama, quæ non parturis: quia multi filii desertæ, magis quam eius, quæ habet virum.
28
Nos autem fratres secundum Isaac promissionis filii sumus.
29
Sed quomodo tunc is, qui secundum carnem natus fuerat, persequebatur eum, qui secundum spiritum: ita et nunc.
30
Sed quid dicit Scriptura? Eiice ancillam, et filium eius: non enim heres erit filius ancillæ cum filio liberæ.
31
Itaque, fratres, non sumus ancillæ filii, sed liberæ: qua libertate Christus nos liberavit.
web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV
1
But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a bondservant, though he is lord of all,
2
but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed by the father.
3
So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world.
4
But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law,
5
that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as children.
6
And because you are children, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!”
7
So you are no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
8
However at that time, not knowing God, you were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods.
9
But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, why do you turn back again to the weak and miserable elemental principles, to which you desire to be in bondage all over again?
10
You observe days, months, seasons, and years.
11
I am afraid for you, that I might have wasted my labor for you.
12
I beg you, brothers, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong,
13
but you know that because of weakness in the flesh I preached the Good News to you the first time.
14
That which was a temptation to you in my flesh, you didn’t despise nor reject; but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
15
What was the blessing you enjoyed? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.
16
So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17
They zealously seek you in no good way. No, they desire to alienate you, that you may seek them.
18
But it is always good to be zealous in a good cause, and not only when I am present with you.
19
My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ is formed in you—
20
but I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
21
Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, don’t you listen to the law?
22
For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the servant, and one by the free woman.
23
However, the son by the servant was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through promise.
24
These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar.
25
For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children.
26
But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
27
For it is written, “Rejoice, you barren who don’t bear. Break out and shout, you who don’t travail. For the desolate women have more children than her who has a husband.”
28
Now we, brothers, as Isaac was, are children of promise.
29
But as then, he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now.
30
However, what does the Scripture say? “Throw out the servant and her son, for the son of the servant will not inherit with the son of the free woman.”
31
So then, brothers, we are not children of a servant, but of the free woman.
wh1881 (wh1881) - Westcott-Hort Greek NT 1881 eBible USFM
1
λεγω δε εφ οσον χρονον ο κληρονομος νηπιος εστιν ουδεν διαφερει δουλου κυριος παντων ων
2
αλλα υπο επιτροπους εστιν και οικονομους αχρι της προθεσμιας του πατρος
3
ουτως και ημεις οτε ημεν νηπιοι υπο τα στοιχεια του κοσμου ημεθα δεδουλωμενοι
4
οτε δε ηλθεν το πληρωμα του χρονου εξαπεστειλεν ο θεος τον υιον αυτου γενομενον εκ γυναικος γενομενον υπο νομον
5
ινα τους υπο νομον εξαγοραση ινα την υιοθεσιαν απολαβωμεν
6
οτι δε εστε υιοι εξαπεστειλεν ο θεος το πνευμα του υιου αυτου εις τας καρδιας ημων κραζον αββα ο πατηρ
7
ωστε ουκετι ει δουλος αλλα υιος ει δε υιος και κληρονομος δια θεου
8
αλλα τοτε μεν ουκ ειδοτες θεον εδουλευσατε τοις φυσει μη ουσιν θεοις
9
νυν δε γνοντες θεον μαλλον δε γνωσθεντες υπο θεου πως επιστρεφετε παλιν επι τα ασθενη και πτωχα στοιχεια οις παλιν ανωθεν δουλευσαι θελετε
10
ημερας παρατηρεισθε και μηνας και καιρους και ενιαυτους
11
φοβουμαι υμας μη πως εικη κεκοπιακα εις υμας
12
γινεσθε ως εγω οτι καγω ως υμεις αδελφοι δεομαι υμων ουδεν με ηδικησατε
13
οιδατε δε οτι δι ασθενειαν της σαρκος ευηγγελισαμην υμιν το προτερον
14
και τον πειρασμον υμων εν τη σαρκι μου ουκ εξουθενησατε ουδε εξεπτυσατε αλλα ως αγγελον θεου εδεξασθε με ως χριστον ιησουν
15
που ουν ο μακαρισμος υμων μαρτυρω γαρ υμιν οτι ει δυνατον τους οφθαλμους υμων εξορυξαντες εδωκατε μοι
16
ωστε εχθρος υμων γεγονα αληθευων υμιν
17
ζηλουσιν υμας ου καλως αλλα εκκλεισαι υμας θελουσιν ινα αυτους ζηλουτε
18
καλον δε ζηλουσθαι εν καλω παντοτε και μη μονον εν τω παρειναι με προς υμας
19
τεκνια μου ους παλιν ωδινω μεχρι ου μορφωθη χριστος εν υμιν
20
ηθελον δε παρειναι προς υμας αρτι και αλλαξαι την φωνην μου οτι απορουμαι εν υμιν
21
λεγετε μοι οι υπο νομον θελοντες ειναι τον νομον ουκ ακουετε
22
γεγραπται γαρ οτι αβρααμ δυο υιους εσχεν ενα εκ της παιδισκης και ενα εκ της ελευθερας
23
αλλ ο [μεν] εκ της παιδισκης κατα σαρκα γεγεννηται ο δε εκ της ελευθερας δι επαγγελιας
24
ατινα εστιν αλληγορουμενα αυται γαρ εισιν δυο διαθηκαι μια μεν απο ορους σινα εις δουλειαν γεννωσα ητις εστιν αγαρ
25
το δε αγαρ σινα ορος εστιν εν τη αραβια συστοιχει δε τη νυν ιερουσαλημ δουλευει γαρ μετα των τεκνων αυτης
26
η δε ανω ιερουσαλημ ελευθερα εστιν ητις εστιν μητηρ ημων
27
γεγραπται γαρ ευφρανθητι στειρα η ου τικτουσα ρηξον και βοησον η ουκ ωδινουσα οτι πολλα τα τεκνα της ερημου μαλλον η της εχουσης τον ανδρα
28
ημεις δε αδελφοι κατα ισαακ επαγγελιας τεκνα εσμεν
29
αλλ ωσπερ τοτε ο κατα σαρκα γεννηθεις εδιωκεν τον κατα πνευμα ουτως και νυν
30
αλλα τι λεγει η γραφη εκβαλε την παιδισκην και τον υιον αυτης ου γαρ μη κληρονομησει ο υιος της παιδισκης μετα του υιου της ελευθερας
31
διο αδελφοι ουκ εσμεν παιδισκης τεκνα αλλα της ελευθερας
ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8
1
And I say, so long time as the heir is a babe, he differeth nothing from a servant--being lord of all,
2
but is under tutors and stewards till the time appointed of the father,
3
so also we, when we were babes, under the elements of the world were in servitude,
4
and when the fulness of time did come, God sent forth His Son, come of a woman, come under law,
5
that those under law he may redeem, that the adoption of sons we may receive;
6
and because ye are sons, God did send forth the spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, `Abba, Father!'
7
so that thou art no more a servant, but a son, and if a son, also an heir of God through Christ.
8
But then, indeed, not having known God, ye were in servitude to those not by nature gods,
9
and now, having known God--and rather being known by God--how turn ye again unto the weak and poor elements to which anew ye desire to be in servitude?
10
days ye observe, and months, and times, and years!
11
I am afraid of you, lest in vain I did labour toward you.
12
Become as I <FI>am<Fi> --because I also <FI>am<Fi> as ye brethren, I beseech you; to me ye did no hurt,
13
and ye have known that through infirmity of the flesh I did proclaim good news to you at the first,
14
and my trial that <FI>is<Fi> in my flesh ye did not despise nor reject, but as a messenger of God ye did receive me--as Christ Jesus;
15
what then was your happiness? for I testify to you, that if possible, your eyes having plucked out, ye would have given to me;
16
so that your enemy have I become, being true to you?
17
they are zealous for you--<FI> yet<Fi> not well, but they wish to shut us out, that for them ye may be zealous;
18
and <FI>it is<Fi> good to be zealously regarded, in what is good, at all times, and not only in my being present with you;
19
my little children, of whom again I travail in birth, till Christ may be formed in you,
20
and I was wishing to be present with you now, and to change my voice, because I am in doubt about you.
21
Tell me, ye who are willing to be under law, the law do ye not hear?
22
for it hath been written, that Abraham had two sons, one by the maid-servant, and one by the free-woman,
23
but he who <FI>is<Fi> of the maid-servant, according to flesh hath been, and he who <FI>is<Fi> of the free-woman, through the promise;
24
which things are allegorized, for these are the two covenants: one, indeed, from mount Sinai, to servitude bringing forth, which is Hagar;
25
for this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and doth correspond to the Jerusalem that now <FI>is<Fi> , and is in servitude with her children,
26
and the Jerusalem above is the free-woman, which is mother of us all,
27
for it hath been written, `Rejoice, O barren, who art not bearing; break forth and cry, thou who art not travailing, because many <FI>are<Fi> the children of the desolate--more than of her having the husband.'
28
And we, brethren, as Isaac, are children of promise,
29
but as then he who was born according to the flesh did persecute him according to the spirit, so also now;
30
but what saith the Writing? `Cast forth the maid-servant and her son, for the son of the maid-servant may not be heir with the son of the free-woman;'
31
then, brethren, we are not a maid-servant's children, but the free-woman's.
Explanations by Age Level
Explain Like I'm 5
A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!
Explain Like I'm 10
Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.
Explain Like I'm 15
Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).