Galatians 4:13-31
New American Standard Bible 1995
13 but you know that it was because of a [a]bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the [b]first time; 14 and that which was a [c]trial to you in my [d]bodily condition you did not despise or [e]loathe, but (A)you received me as an angel of God, as (B)Christ Jesus Himself. 15 Where then is [f]that sense of blessing you had? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. 16 So have I become your enemy (C)by [g]telling you the truth? 17 They eagerly seek you, not commendably, but they wish to shut you out so that you will seek them. 18 But it is good always to be eagerly sought in a commendable [h]manner, and (D)not only when I am present with you. 19 (E)My children, with whom (F)I am again in labor until (G)Christ is formed in you— 20 but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, for (H)I am perplexed about you.
Bond and Free
21 Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not (I)listen to the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, (J)one by the bondwoman and (K)one by the free woman. 23 But (L)the son by the bondwoman [i]was born according to the flesh, and (M)the son by the free woman through the promise. 24 [j](N)This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from (O)Mount Sinai bearing children [k]who are to be (P)slaves; [l]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 (Q)the Jerusalem above is free; [m]she is our mother. 27 For it is written,
“(R)Rejoice, barren woman who does not bear;
Break forth and shout, you who are not in labor;
For more numerous are the children of the desolate
Than of the one who has a husband.”
28 And you brethren, (S)like Isaac, are (T)children of promise. 29 But as at that time (U)he who was born according to the flesh (V)persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, (W)so it is now also. 30 But what does the Scripture say?
“(X)Cast out the bondwoman and her son,
For (Y)the son of the bondwoman shall not be an heir with the son of the free woman.”
31 So then, brethren, we are not children of a bondwoman, [n]but of the free woman.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Galatians 4:13 Lit weakness of the flesh
- Galatians 4:13 Or former
- Galatians 4:14 Or temptation
- Galatians 4:14 Lit flesh
- Galatians 4:14 Lit spit out at
- Galatians 4:15 Lit the congratulation of yourselves
- Galatians 4:16 Or dealing truthfully with you
- Galatians 4:18 Or thing
- Galatians 4:23 Lit has been born
- Galatians 4:24 Lit Which
- Galatians 4:24 Lit into slavery
- Galatians 4:24 Lit which
- Galatians 4:26 Lit which
- Galatians 4:31 V 5:1, note 1
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
