Galatians 4
Complete Jewish Bible
4 What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a minor he is no different from a slave, even though he is the legal owner of the estate; 2 rather, he is subject to guardians and caretakers until the time previously set by his father. 3 So it is with us — when we were “children” we were slaves to the elemental spirits of the universe; 4 but when the appointed time arrived, God sent forth his Son. He was born from a woman, born into a culture in which legalistic perversion of the Torah was the norm, 5 so that he might redeem those in subjection to this legalism and thus enable us to be made God’s sons. 6 Now because you are sons, God has sent forth into our hearts the Spirit of his Son, the Spirit who cries out, “Abba!” (that is, “Dear Father!”). 7 So through God you are no longer a slave but a son, and if you are a son you are also an heir.
8 In the past, when you did not know God, you served as slaves beings which in reality are non-gods. 9 But now you do know God, and, more than that, you are known by God. So how is it that you turn back again to those weak and miserable elemental spirits? Do you want to enslave yourselves to them once more? 10 You observe special days, months, seasons and years! 11 I fear for you that my work among you has been wasted!
12 Brothers, I beg of you: put yourselves in my place — after all, I put myself in your place. It isn’t that you have done me any wrong — 13 you know that it was because I was ill that I proclaimed the Good News to you at first; 14 and even though my physical condition must have tempted you to treat me with scorn, you did not display any sign of disdain or disgust. No, you welcomed me as if I had been an angel of God, as if I had been the Messiah Yeshua himself! 15 So what has become of the joy you felt? For I bear you witness that had it been possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I now become your enemy because I tell you the truth? 17 True, these teachers are zealous for you, but their motives are not good. They want to separate you from us so that you will become zealous for them. 18 To be zealous is good, provided always that the cause is good. Indeed, whether I am present with you or not, 19 my dear children, I am suffering the pains of giving birth to you all over again — and this will go on until the Messiah takes shape in you. 20 I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone of voice. I don’t know what to do with you.
21 Tell me, you who want to be in subjection to the system that results from perverting the Torah into legalism, don’t you hear what the Torah itself says? 22 It says that Avraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and one by the free woman. 23 The one by the slave woman was born according to the limited capabilities of human beings, but the one by the free woman was born through the miracle-working power of God fulfilling his promise. 24 Now, to make a midrash on these things: the two women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai and bears children for slavery — this is Hagar. 25 Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Yerushalayim, for she serves as a slave along with her children. 26 But the Yerushalayim above is free, and she is our mother; 27 for the Tanakh says,
“Rejoice, you barren woman who does not bear children!
Break forth and shout, you who are not in labor!
For the deserted wife will have more children
than the one whose husband is with her!”[a]
28 You, brothers, like Yitz’chak, are children referred to in a promise of God. 29 But just as then the one born according to limited human capability persecuted the one born through the Spirit’s supernatural power, so it is now. 30 Nevertheless, what does the Tanakh say? “Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for by no means will the son of the slave woman inherit along with the son of the free woman!”[b] 31 So, brothers, we are children not of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
Footnotes
- Galatians 4:27 Isaiah 54:1
- Galatians 4:30 Genesis 2l:10
Galatians 4
American Standard Version
4 But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a bondservant though he is lord of all; 2 but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed of the father. 3 So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the [a]rudiments of the world: 4 but when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 that he might redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6 And because ye are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 So that thou art no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.
8 Howbeit at that time, not knowing God, ye were in bondage to them that by nature are no gods: 9 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 [b]rudiments, whereunto ye desire to be in bondage over again? 10 Ye observe days, and months, and seasons, and years. 11 I am afraid of you, lest by any means I have bestowed labor upon you in vain.
12 I beseech you, brethren, become as I am, for I also am become as ye are. Ye did me no wrong: 13 but ye know that because of an infirmity of the flesh I [c]preached the gospel unto you the [d]first time: 14 and that which was a temptation to you in my flesh ye despised not, nor [e]rejected; but ye received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. 15 Where then is that gratulation [f]of yourselves? for I bear you witness, that, if possible, ye would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. 16 So then am I become your enemy, [g]by telling you the truth? 17 They zealously seek you in no good way; nay, they desire to shut you out, that ye may seek them. 18 But it is good to be zealously sought in a good matter at all times, and not only when I am present with you. 19 My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ be 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, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? 22 For it is written, [h]that Abraham had two sons, one by the handmaid, and one by the freewoman. 23 [i]Howbeit the son by the handmaid is born after the flesh; but the son by the freewoman is born through promise. 24 Which things contain an allegory: for these women are two covenants; one from mount Sinai, bearing children unto bondage, which is Hagar. 25 [j]Now this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia and answereth to the Jerusalem that now is: for she is in bondage with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is our mother. 27 For it is written,
[k]Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not;
Break forth and cry, thou that travailest not:
For more are the children of the desolate than of her that hath the husband.
28 Now [l]we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. 29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, so also it is now. 30 Howbeit what saith the scripture? [m]Cast out the handmaid and her son: for the son of the handmaid shall not inherit with the son of the freewoman. 31 Wherefore, brethren, we are not children of a handmaid, but of the freewoman.
Footnotes
- Galatians 4:3 Or, elements. 2 Pet. 3:10, 12
- Galatians 4:9 Or, elements. See verse 3.
- Galatians 4:13 See marginal note on 1:8.
- Galatians 4:13 Greek former.
- Galatians 4:14 Greek spat out.
- Galatians 4:15 Or, of yours
- Galatians 4:16 Or, by dealing truly with you
- Galatians 4:22 Gen. 16:15.
- Galatians 4:23 Gen. 21:2.
- Galatians 4:25 Many ancient authorities read For Sinai is a mountain in Arabia.
- Galatians 4:27 Isa. 54:1.
- Galatians 4:28 Many ancient authorities read ye.
- Galatians 4:30 Gen. 21:10, 12.
Kehillah in Galatia 4
Orthodox Jewish Bible
4 Now I say this: for however much time as the yoresh (heir) has not attained his majority (the state or time of being of full legal age, or his religious majority, his Bar Mitzvah), he differs nothing from an eved, though being Ba’al Bayit of all the nachalah (inheritance).
2 And he is under shomrim (guardians) and omnot (governesses) until the time previously appointed by the Ba’al Bayit.
3 So also we, when we were immature, had been enslaved under the yesodot (rudiments) of the Olam Hazeh.
4 But when the fullness of time had come, Hashem sent forth his Ben HaElohim [Moshiach, 2Sm 7:14; Ps 2:7; 89:27], born of an isha (Gn 3:15; Isa 7:14; Mic 5:2), born under the Torah,
5 That Moshiach might bring the Geulah (Redemption) to the ones under the Torah, that we might receive the Ma’amad HaBanim (the standing as sons), the bechirah adoption.
6 And because you are banim, Hashem sent forth the Ruach of His Ben HaElohim into your levavot, crying "Abba, Avinu!"
7 So you are no longer an eved but a ben; and if a ben, also a yoresh through Hashem.
8 But, formerly, when you did not have da’as (knowledge) of Hashem, you were avadim serving that which is by nature not HaEl Ha’Amiti (the true G-d).
9 But, now, having known Hashem, or rather having been known by Hashem, how is it that you are returning to the weak and beggarly yesodot (rudiments) of the Olam Hazeh to which again you want to renew your service as avadim?
10 You [Galatian Goyim] observe yamim (days) and chodashim (months, new moons) and mo’adim (fixed times, festivals) and shanim.
11 I fear for you, lest somehow efsher (perhaps) I have labored for you lashav (in vain).
12 Become as I am, because I also became as you are, Achim B’Moshiach. I implore you. You did me no wrong.
13 And you know that it was due to chulshat habasar (weakness of the flesh, sickness) that I first preached the Besuras HaGeulah to you,
14 and your nisayon (trial) in my basar you did not despise nor did you loathe, but as a malach Hashem you received me, as Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua himself.
15 Where then is your birkat Shomayim? For I testify to you that if possible, having torn out your eynayeem (eyes), you would have made a mattanah (gift) of them to me.
16 So, then, have I become your oyev (enemy) by telling you HaEmes?
17 They (the mohalim haGoyim) are zealously courting you, but not in a good way; rather, they desire to cut you off and shut you out, in order that you may be zealous for them.
18 Now it is tov ma’od to be zealous in a good thing all the time, and not only during my presence with you.
19 My yeladim, for whom again I suffer chevlei leydah (birth pains) until Moshiach is formed in you,
20 Would that I were present with you just now and could change my tone, because I am baffled by you.
21 Tell me, you Goyim who wish to be under the Torah, do you not possess "shema" hearing of the Torah?
22 For the Torah says that Avraham Avinu had shnei banim (two sons), one of shifchah (the slave woman) and one of the gevirah.
23 But the one of the slave woman has been born according to the basar, and the one of the free woman has been born through the havtachah (promise).
24 Now these things can be taken derech mashal (figuratively); for these are two beritot (covenants, see 3:17), one from Mount Sinai bearing banim for avdut (slavery, bondage): this is Hagar.
25 Now, Hagar is the Mount Sinai in Arabia; and corresponds to the Yerushalayim of the present, for she is in avdut with her banim.
26 But the Yerushalayim above is a Bat Chorin (daughter of freedom), the Imma lechulanu (the Mother of us all TEHILLIM 87:5-6; SHEMOT 25:40; YESHAYEH 49:20f; 54:1-13).
27 For it has been written, RANNI AKARAH LO YALADAH PITZCHI RINNAH V’TZAHALI LO CHALAH KI RABBIM BENEI SHOMEMAH MIB’NEI VE’ULAH ("Sing, rejoice, O barren, the one not giving birth, break forth into song and shout for joy, the one not suffering birth pains; because more are the children of the desolate woman than the one having the husband" YESHAYEH 54:1).
28 But you, Achim b’Moshiach, are Bnei HaHavtacha (Sons of the Promise), like Yitzchak. [BERESHIS 18:10]
29 But just as at that time the one born according to the basar was bringing redifah (persecution) on the one born according to the Ruach HaKodesh, so it is now also.
30 But what does the Kitvei HaKodesh say? "Cast out the slave woman and her son, for never will the son of the slave woman inherit with my son, the son of the free woman" BERESHIS 21:10)
31 Therefore, Achim B’Moshiach, we are not Bnei “HAAMAH” (Sons of the Slave Woman) but Bnei HaKhofshi’yah (Sons of Lady Freedom, the Freedwoman).
Copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. All rights reserved.
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