Galatians 4
Authorized (King James) Version
4 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; 2 but is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. 3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: 4 but when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. 9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? 10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. 11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
12 Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all. 13 Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first. 14 And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. 15 Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me. 16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth? 17 They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. 18 But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you. 19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, 20 I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.
21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? 22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. 24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. 28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. 30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for 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.
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
- Galatians 4:4 Or made
- Galatians 4:6 Lit., in Aram., Father
- Galatians 4:7 NU through God
- Galatians 4:7 NU omits through Christ
- Galatians 4:14 Or messenger
- Galatians 4:15 NU Where
- Galatians 4:24 NU, M omit the
Galatians 4
Modern English Version
4 Now I say that as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ from a servant though he is lord of all. 2 But he is under tutors and governors until the time appointed by the father. 3 So when we were children, we were in bondage to the elements of the world. 4 But when the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son, born from a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth into our hearts the Spirit of His Son, crying, “Abba, Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a servant, but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Paul’s Concern for the Galatians
8 Previously, when you did not know God, you served those who by nature are not gods. 9 But now, after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how do you turn again to the weak and beggarly elemental forces to which you desire again to be in bondage? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years. 11 I am afraid for you, lest I have worked for you in vain.
12 Brothers, I ask you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong. 13 You know that it was because of an infirmity of the flesh that I first preached the gospel to you. 14 Though my infirmity was a trial to you, you neither despised nor rejected me, but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. 15 So where is your blessing? For I bear witness of you that, if it had been 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 would zealously influence you, but not favorably. Yes, they would exclusively control you, so that you might consult them. 18 But it is good to be zealous in a good manner always and not only when I am present with you. 19 My little children, of whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you, 20 I desire to be present with you now and to change my tone, for I am displeased with you.
The Allegory of Hagar and Sarah
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, the one by a slave woman, the other by a free woman. 23 But he who was of the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but he of the free woman through the promise.
24 These things are an allegory, for these are the two covenants. The one is from Mount Sinai, which gives birth to bondage; she is Hagar. 25 Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and represents the present Jerusalem, and is in bondage with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem which is above is free, which is our mother. 27 For it is written:
“Rejoice, barren woman
who does not bear;
break forth and shout,
you who have no labor pains!
For the desolate has many more children
than she who has a husband.”[a]
28 Now we, brothers, like Isaac, are the children of promise. 29 But as it was then, he who was born after the flesh persecuted him who was born after the Spirit, so it is now also. 30 Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman.”[b] 31 So then, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
Footnotes
Gálatas 4
Reina-Valera Antigua
4 TAMBIÉN digo: Entre tanto que el heredero es niño, en nada difiere del siervo, aunque es señor de todo;
2 Mas está debajo de tutores y curadores hasta el tiempo señalado por el padre.
3 Así también nosotros, cuando éramos niños, éramos siervos bajo los rudimentos del mundo.
4 Mas venido el cumplimiento del tiempo, Dios envió su Hijo, hecho de mujer, hecho súbdito á la ley,
5 Para que redimiese á los que estaban debajo de la ley, á fin de que recibiésemos la adopción de hijos.
6 Y por cuanto sois hijos, Dios envió el Espíritu de su Hijo en vuestros corazones, el cual clama: Abba, Padre.
7 Así que ya no eres más siervo, sino hijo, y si hijo, también heredero de Dios por Cristo.
8 Antes, en otro tiempo, no conociendo á Dios, servíais á los que por naturaleza no son dioses:
9 Mas ahora, habiendo conocido á Dios, ó más bien, siendo conocidos de Dios, ¿cómo os volvéis de nuevo á los flacos y pobres rudimentos, en los cuales queréis volver á servir?
10 Guardáis los días, y los meses, y los tiempos, y los años.
11 Temo de vosotros, que no haya trabajado en vano en vosotros.
12 Hermanos, os ruego, sed como yo, porque yo soy como vosotros: ningún agravio me habéis hecho.
13 Que vosotros sabéis que por flaqueza de carne os anuncié el evangelio al principio:
14 Y no desechasteis ni menospreciasteis mi tentación que estaba en mi carne: antes me recibisteis como á un ángel de Dios, como á Cristo Jesús.
15 ¿Dónde está pues vuestra bienaventuranza? porque yo os doy testimonio que si se pudiera hacer, os hubierais sacado vuestros ojos para dármelos.
16 ¿Heme pues hecho vuestro enemigo, diciéndoos la verdad?
17 Tienen celos de vosotros, pero no bien: antes os quieren echar fuera para que vosotros los celéis á ellos.
18 Bueno es ser celosos en bien siempre; y no solamente cuando estoy presente con vosotros.
19 Hijitos míos, que vuelvo otra vez á estar de parto de vosotros, hasta que Cristo sea formado en vosotros;
20 Querría cierto estar ahora con vosotros, y mudar mi voz; porque estoy perplejo en cuanto á vosotros.
21 Decidme, los que queréis estar debajo de la ley, ¿no habéis oído la ley?
22 Porque escrito está que Abraham tuvo dos hijos; uno de la sierva, el otro de la libre.
23 Mas el de la sierva nació según la carne; pero el de la libre nació por la promesa.
24 Las cuales cosas son dichas por alegoría: porque estas mujeres son los dos pactos; el uno ciertamente del monte Sinaí, el cual engendró para servidumbre, que es Agar.
25 Porque Agar ó Sinaí es un monte de Arabia, el cual es conjunto á la que ahora es Jerusalem, la cual sirve con sus hijos.
26 Mas la Jerusalem de arriba libre es; la cual es la madre de todos nosotros.
27 Porque está escrito: Alégrate, estéril, que no pares: Prorrumpe y clama, la que no estás de parto; Porque más son los hijos de la dejada, que de la que tiene marido.
28 Así que, hermanos, nosotros como Isaac somos hijos de la promesa.
29 Empero como entonces el que era engendrado según la carne, perseguía al que había nacido según el Espíritu, así también ahora.
30 Mas ¿qué dice la Escritura? Echa fuera á la sierva y á su hijo; porque no será heredero el hijo de la sierva con el hijo de la libre.
31 De manera, hermanos, que no somos hijos de la sierva, mas de la libre.
KJV reproduced by permission of Cambridge University Press, the Crown’s patentee in the UK.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.