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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 have more children than her who has a husband.” Isaiah 54:1

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.”Genesis 21:10 31 So then, brothers, we are not children of a servant, but of the free woman.

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21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? 22 For it is written, [a]that Abraham had two sons, one by the handmaid, and one by the freewoman. 23 [b]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 [c]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,

[d]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 [e]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? [f]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.

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Footnotes

  1. Galatians 4:22 Gen. 16:15.
  2. Galatians 4:23 Gen. 21:2.
  3. Galatians 4:25 Many ancient authorities read For Sinai is a mountain in Arabia.
  4. Galatians 4:27 Isa. 54:1.
  5. Galatians 4:28 Many ancient authorities read ye.
  6. Galatians 4:30 Gen. 21:10, 12.