Galatians 4:19-26

English Standard Version

^19 (A)my little children, ^(B)for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ ^(C)is formed in you! ²⁰ I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.

Example of Hagar and Sarah

²¹ Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? ²² For it is written that Abraham had two sons, ^(D)one by a slave woman and ^(E)one by a free woman. ²³ But ^(F)the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while ^(G)the son of the free woman was born through promise. ²⁴ Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two ^(H)covenants. ^(I)One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. ²⁵ Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia;^[a] she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. ²⁶ But ^(J)the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.