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Galatians 4
New International Version

4 What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. 2 The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3 So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery(A) under the elemental spiritual forces[a] of the world.(B) 4 But when the set time had fully come,(C) God sent his Son,(D) born of a woman,(E) born under the law,(F) 5 to redeem(G) those under the law, that we might receive adoption(H) to sonship.[b](I) 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son(J) into our hearts,(K) the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,[c] Father.”(L) 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.(M)

Paul’s Concern for the Galatians

8 Formerly, when you did not know God,(N) you were slaves(O) to those who by nature are not gods.(P) 9 But now that you know God—or rather are known by God(Q)—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces[d]? Do you wish to be enslaved(R) by them all over again?(S) 10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!(T) 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.(U)

12 I plead with you, brothers and sisters,(V) become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong. 13 As you know, it was because of an illness(W) that I first preached the gospel to you, 14 and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself.(X) 15 Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?(Y)

17 Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them.(Z) 18 It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you.(AA) 19 My dear children,(AB) for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,(AC) 20 how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!

Hagar and Sarah

21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law,(AD) are you not aware of what the law says? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman(AE) and the other by the free woman.(AF) 23 His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh,(AG) but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise.(AH)

24 These things are being taken figuratively: The women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem that is above(AI) is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written:

“Be glad, barren woman,
    you who never bore a child;
shout for joy and cry aloud,
    you who were never in labor;
because more are the children of the desolate woman
    than of her who has a husband.”[e](AJ)

28 Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise.(AK) 29 At that time the son born according to the flesh(AL) persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit.(AM) It is the same now. 30 But what does Scripture say? “Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.”[f](AN) 31 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman,(AO) but of the free woman.(AP)

Footnotes

  1. Galatians 4:3 Or under the basic principles
  2. Galatians 4:5 The Greek word for adoption to sonship is a legal term referring to the full legal standing of an adopted male heir in Roman culture.
  3. Galatians 4:6 Aramaic for Father
  4. Galatians 4:9 Or principles
  5. Galatians 4:27 Isaiah 54:1
  6. Galatians 4:30 Gen. 21:10
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Galatians 4
Legacy Standard Bible

Sonship in Christ

4 Now I say, as long as the heir is a [a]child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is [b]owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and stewards until the date set by the father. 3 So also we, while we were children, were (A)enslaved under the [c](B)elemental things of the world. 4 But when (C)the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, (D)born of a woman, born (E)under [d]the Law, 5 so that He might redeem those who were under [e]the Law, that we might receive the adoption as (F)sons. 6 And because you are sons, (G)God sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “(H)Abba! Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and (I)if a son, then an heir [f]through God.

8 However at that time, (J)when you did not know God, you were (K)slaves to (L)those which by nature are no gods. 9 But now, having known God, or rather having been (M)known by God, (N)how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless [g](O)elemental things, to which you want to be enslaved all over again? 10 You (P)observe days and months and seasons and years. 11 I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored [h]over you for nothing.

12 I beg of you, (Q)brothers, (R)become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong. 13 But you know that it was because of a [i]bodily illness that I proclaimed the gospel to you the [j]first time; 14 and that which was a [k]trial to you in my [l]bodily condition you did not despise or [m]loathe, but (S)you received me as an angel of God, as (T)Christ Jesus Himself. 15 Where then is [n]that sense of blessing you had? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. 16 So have I become your enemy (U)by [o]telling you the truth? 17 They zealously seek you, not commendably, but they wish to shut you out so that you will zealously seek them. 18 But it is good always to be zealously sought in a commendable [p]manner, and (V)not only when I am present with you. 19 (W)My children, with whom (X)I am again in labor until (Y)Christ is formed in you— 20 but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, because (Z)I am perplexed about you.

An Allegory of Two Covenants

21 Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not (AA)listen to the Law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, (AB)one by the servant-woman and (AC)one by the free woman. 23 But (AD)the son by the servant-woman had been born according to the flesh, while (AE)the son by the free woman through the promise. 24 [q](AF)This is [r]spoken with allegory, for these women are two covenants: one from (AG)Mount Sinai bearing children into (AH)slavery; [s]she is Hagar. 25 Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But (AI)the Jerusalem above is free; [t]she is our mother. 27 For it is written,

“(AJ)Rejoice, barren woman who does not give birth;
Break forth and shout, you who are not in labor;
For more numerous are the children of the desolate one
Than of the one who has a husband.”

28 And you brothers, (AK)in accordance with Isaac, are (AL)children of promise. 29 But as at that time (AM)he who was born according to the flesh (AN)was persecuting him who was born according to the Spirit, (AO)so it is now also. 30 But what does the Scripture say?

“(AP)Cast out the servant-woman and her son,
For (AQ)the son of the servant-woman shall not be an heir with the son of the free woman.”

31 So then, brothers, we are not children of a servant-woman, [u]but of the free woman.

Footnotes

  1. Galatians 4:1 Or minor
  2. Galatians 4:1 Lit lord
  3. Galatians 4:3 Or rudimentary teachings, principles
  4. Galatians 4:4 Or law
  5. Galatians 4:5 Or law
  6. Galatians 4:7 Through the gracious act of
  7. Galatians 4:9 Or rudimentary teachings, principles
  8. Galatians 4:11 Or for
  9. Galatians 4:13 Lit weakness of the flesh
  10. Galatians 4:13 Or former
  11. Galatians 4:14 Or temptation
  12. Galatians 4:14 Lit flesh
  13. Galatians 4:14 Lit spit out at
  14. Galatians 4:15 Lit the congratulation of yourselves
  15. Galatians 4:16 Or dealing truthfully with you
  16. Galatians 4:18 Or thing
  17. Galatians 4:24 Lit Which
  18. Galatians 4:24 Or written
  19. Galatians 4:24 Lit which
  20. Galatians 4:26 Lit which
  21. Galatians 4:31 Ch 5:1, note 1
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Galatians 4
New King James Version

Sons and Heirs Through Christ

4 Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, 2 but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. 3 Even so we, when we were children, (A)were in bondage under the elements of the world. 4 But (B)when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, (C)born[a] (D)of a woman, (E)born under the law, 5 (F)to redeem those who were under the law, (G)that we might receive the adoption as sons.

6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth (H)the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, [b]“Abba, Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, (I)and if a son, then an heir [c]of God [d]through Christ.

Fears for the Church

8 But then, indeed, (J)when you did not know God, (K)you served those which by nature are not gods. 9 But now (L)after you have known God, or rather are known by God, (M)how is it that you turn again to (N)the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? 10 (O)You observe days and months and seasons and years. 11 I am afraid for you, (P)lest I have labored for you in vain.

12 Brethren, I urge you to become like me, for I became like you. (Q)You have not injured me at all. 13 You know that (R)because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first. 14 And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me (S)as an [e]angel of God, (T)even as Christ Jesus. 15 [f]What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?

17 They (U)zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them. 18 But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always, and not only when I am present with you. 19 (V)My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you, 20 I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about you.

Two Covenants(W)

21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: (X)the one by a bondwoman, (Y)the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman (Z)was born according to the flesh, (AA)and he of the freewoman through promise, 24 which things are symbolic. For these are [g]the two covenants: the one from Mount (AB)Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— 25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children— 26 but the (AC)Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written:

(AD)“Rejoice, O barren,
You who do not bear!
Break forth and shout,
You who are not in labor!
For the desolate has many more children
Than she who has a husband.”

28 Now (AE)we, brethren, as Isaac was, are (AF)children of promise. 29 But, as (AG)he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, (AH)even so it is now. 30 Nevertheless what does (AI)the Scripture say? (AJ)“Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for (AK)the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.” 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.

Footnotes

  1. Galatians 4:4 Or made
  2. Galatians 4:6 Lit., in Aram., Father
  3. Galatians 4:7 NU through God
  4. Galatians 4:7 NU omits through Christ
  5. Galatians 4:14 Or messenger
  6. Galatians 4:15 NU Where
  7. Galatians 4:24 NU, M omit the
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Galaterbrevet 4
Svenska Folkbibeln 2015

4 Jag menar: så länge arvingen är omyndig är det ingen skillnad mellan honom och en slav, trots att han är ägare till allt. 2 Han står under förmyndare och förvaltare fram till den dag som hans far har bestämt.

3 (A) På samma sätt var det med oss. Så länge vi var omyndiga var vi slavar under världens makter[a]. 4 (B) Men när tiden var inne sände Gud sin Son, född av kvinna och ställd under lagen, 5 (C) för att friköpa dem som stod under lagen så att vi skulle få söners rätt. 6 (D) Och eftersom ni är söner har Gud sänt i våra hjärtan sin Sons Ande, som ropar: "Abba[b]! Far!" 7 (E) Alltså är du inte längre slav utan son. Och är du son är du också arvinge, insatt av Gud.

Vänd inte tillbaka till lagen

8 Förr, när ni inte kände Gud, var ni slavar under gudar som egentligen inte är några gudar. 9 (F) Men nu när ni känner Gud, eller än mer är kända av Gud, hur kan ni då vilja vända tillbaka till dessa svaga och fattiga makter och bli slavar under dem igen? 10 (G) Ni håller noga reda på dagar[c] och månader och särskilda tider och år. 11 Jag är rädd att jag kanske har ansträngt mig förgäves bland er.

12 (H) Bröder, jag ber er: bli som jag, för jag blev som ni. Ni har inte gjort mig något ont. 13 (I) Ni vet att det var på grund av kroppslig svaghet[d] som jag första gången kom att predika evangeliet för er. 14 (J) Trots att min svaga kropp var en prövning för er visade ni varken förakt eller avsky för mig, utan ni tog emot mig som en Guds ängel, som Kristus Jesus. 15 Var är nu er lovprisning[e]? Jag kan intyga att ni då hade rivit ut era ögon och gett dem till mig om ni kunnat. 16 (K) Har jag nu blivit er fiende genom att säga er sanningen?

17 (L) Dessa människor brinner för er men inte på ett gott sätt, utan de vill skilja er från oss för att ni ska brinna för dem. 18 Det är bra att brinna för det som är gott, det gäller alltid och inte bara när jag är hos er.

19 (M) Mina barn, som jag än en gång måste föda med smärta tills Kristus har formats i er, 20 jag skulle önska att jag nu var hos er och kunde ändra mitt tonfall, för jag vet mig ingen råd med er.

Lagens förbund och löftets

21 Säg mig, ni som vill stå under lagen: lyssnar ni inte till lagen? 22 (N) Där står skrivet[f] att Abraham hade två söner, en med slavinnan och en med den fria hustrun. 23 (O) Slavinnans son var född på mänsklig väg[g], den fria hustruns son däremot i kraft av ett löfte.

24 (P) Detta har en djupare mening: de två kvinnorna är två förbund. Det ena kommer från berget Sinai och föder sina barn till slaveri, det är Hagar. 25 Ordet Hagar står för Sinai berg i Arabien[h] och motsvarar det nuvarande Jerusalem, eftersom det lever i slaveri med sina barn. 26 (Q) Men det himmelska Jerusalem är fritt, och det är vår moder. 27 Det står ju skrivet:[i]

Jubla, du ofruktsamma
    som inte föder barn,
brist ut i jubel och ropa av fröjd,
    du som inte känner födslovärkar,
för den ensamma har många barn,
    fler än den som har en man.

28 Ni, bröder, är löftets barn liksom Isak. 29 (R) Och som det var då, att han som var född på mänsklig väg förföljde den som var född på Andens sätt, så är det också nu. 30 Men vad säger Skriften? Driv ut slavinnan och hennes son, för slavinnans son ska inte ärva tillsammans med den fria hustruns son.[j] 31 (S) Alltså, bröder, är vi inte barn till slavinnan utan till den fria hustrun.

Footnotes

  1. 4:3 makter   Annan översättning: "stadgar" (även i vers 9, jfr Kol 2:20).
  2. 4:6 Abba   Arameiska för "far", ett förtroligt ord som Jesus använde i sin bön (Mark 14:36).
  3. 4:10 håller noga reda på dagar   Det judiska högtidsåret (se 3 Mos 23, jfr Rom 14:5).
  4. 4:13 svaghet   Annan översättning: "sjukdom".
  5. 4:15 lovprisning   Annan översättning: "lycksalighet".
  6. 4:22 Där står skrivet   Se 1 Mos 16:1f, 21:1f.
  7. 4:23 på mänsklig väg   Ordagrant: "efter köttet" (även i vers 29).
  8. 4:25 Sinai berg i Arabien   Den romerska provinsen Arabien omfattade även det som idag kallas Sinaihalvön. En annan tolkning föreslår att det Sinai berg där lagen gavs i stället låg i nordvästra nuvarande Saudiarabien.
  9. 4:27 Jes 54:1.
  10. 4:30 1 Mos 21:10.
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