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Galatians · Unlocked Literal Bible

Galatians 4 Unlocked Literal Bible

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About ULB
  • Protestant
  • OT: Masoretic Hebrew
  • NT: Critical text (not verified)
  • Protestant (66 books)
  • Formal (word for word)
  • 2017
  • CC BY-SA 4.0

Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings

1 I am saying that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is owner of the entire estate. 2 But he is under guardians and trustees until the date set by his father. 3 So also, when we were children, we were enslaved to the elemental principles of the world. 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent out his Son, born of a woman, born under the law. 5 He did this to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, who calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then you are also an heir through God. 8 But at that time, when you did not know God, you were made to be slaves to those who are, by their natural powers, not gods at all. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather that you are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to the weak and worthless elemental principles? Do you want to be enslaved all over again? 10 You observe days and new moons and seasons and years! 11 I am afraid for you that somehow my work with you may have been for nothing. 12 I beg you, brothers, become like me, for I also have become like you. You did me no wrong. 13 But you know that it was because of a physical illness that I proclaimed the gospel to you the first time. 14 Though my physical condition put you to the test, you did not despise or reject me. Instead you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. 15 Where, then, is your blessing now? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have torn out your own eyes and given them to me. 16 So then, have I become your enemy because I am telling you the truth? 17 They are zealous to win you over, but for no good. They want to shut you out, so you may be zealous for them. 18 It is always good to be zealous for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you. 19 My little children, again I am in the pains of childbirth for you until Christ is formed in you. 20 I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you. 21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave girl and one by the free woman. 23 One was born by the slave girl according to the flesh, but the other was born by the free woman through promise. 24 These things may be interpreted as an allegory, for these women represent two covenants. One of them is from Mount Sinai and she gives birth to children who are slaves. This is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar represents Mount Sinai in Arabia; and she represents the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written, “Rejoice, you barren one who does not give birth; cry out and shout for joy, you who are not suffering the pains of childbirth; because the children of the abandoned woman are more numerous than those of the woman who has a husband.” 28 But you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 At that time the one who was born according to the flesh persecuted the one born according to the Spirit. It is the same now. 30 But what does the scripture say? “Send away the slave girl and her son. For the son of the slave girl will not share in the inheritance with the son of the free woman.” 31 Therefore, brothers, we are not children of a slave girl, but of the free woman.

Cross references (30)

Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.

  1. 1 Galatians 4:23; Galatians 4:29; Genesis 24:2–3
  2. 3 Colossians 2:20; Colossians 2:8; Galatians 4:9; Galatians 2:4; Galatians 4:31–5:1
  3. 4 Isaiah 7:14; Mark 1:15; Romans 1:3; John 1:14; Matthew 1:23
  4. 5 Hebrews 9:15; Ephesians 1:5; 1 Peter 1:18–20; Ephesians 1:7; Galatians 3:13
  5. 6 Romans 8:15–17; Romans 5:5; Romans 8:9; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Ephesians 2:18
  6. 7 Galatians 3:29–4:2; Romans 8:16–17; Galatians 3:26; 1 Corinthians 3:21–23; Galatians 4:5–6
  7. 8 1 Corinthians 8:4; 1 Thessalonians 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:5; Ephesians 2:11–12; 1 Corinthians 10:19–20
  8. 9 1 Corinthians 8:3; Galatians 3:3; Romans 8:3; 1 John 5:20; 2 Peter 2:20
  9. 10 Colossians 2:16–17; Romans 14:5; Leviticus 23:1–44; Numbers 28:1–29; Leviticus 25:13
  10. 11 1 Thessalonians 3:5; Philippians 2:16; 2 John 8; Galatians 2:2; Galatians 4:20
  11. 12 2 Corinthians 2:5; 1 Kings 22:4; 1 Corinthians 9:20–23; Genesis 34:15; Galatians 6:14
  12. 13 1 Corinthians 2:3; 2 Corinthians 12:7–10; 2 Corinthians 11:30; 2 Corinthians 10:10; Galatians 1:6
  13. 14 Matthew 10:40; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; Hebrews 13:2; 2 Samuel 19:27; 2 Corinthians 5:20
  14. 15 Romans 5:2; Colossians 4:13; 1 John 3:16–18; Romans 9:3; 1 Thessalonians 5:13
  15. 16 Amos 5:10; Proverbs 9:8; John 8:45; Galatians 5:7; Psalm 141:5
  16. 17 2 Corinthians 11:13–15; Romans 16:18; 2 Peter 2:3; Matthew 23:15; 1 Corinthians 4:8
  17. 18 Philippians 2:12; Revelation 3:19; Philippians 1:27; Psalm 119:139; 1 Corinthians 15:58
  18. 19 Ephesians 4:13; Romans 13:14; Romans 8:29; Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 4:12
  19. 20 1 Thessalonians 2:17–18; 1 Corinthians 4:19–21; 1 Thessalonians 3:9
  20. 21 Galatians 3:10; Romans 3:19; Matthew 22:29–32; Galatians 3:23–24; Galatians 4:9
  21. 22 Genesis 16:15; Genesis 21:10; Genesis 21:1–2; Genesis 16:2–4
  22. 23 Hebrews 11:11; Romans 9:7–8; Genesis 21:1–2; Genesis 18:10–14; Galatians 4:28–29
  23. 24 Genesis 21:9–13; Hosea 11:10; 1 Corinthians 10:11; Hebrews 10:15–18; Hebrews 12:24
  24. 25 Matthew 23:37; Galatians 1:17; Psalm 68:17; Psalm 68:8; Deuteronomy 33:2
  25. 26 Hebrews 12:22; Revelation 21:2; Philippians 3:20; Micah 4:1–2; Revelation 3:12
  26. 27 Isaiah 54:1–5; Psalm 113:9; Ruth 4:14–16; 1 Samuel 2:5; 1 Timothy 5:5
  27. 28 Galatians 4:23; Romans 9:8–9; Romans 4:13–18; Galatians 3:29; Acts 3:25
  28. 29 Genesis 21:9; Romans 8:13; Galatians 5:11; 1 Thessalonians 2:14–15; Galatians 4:23
  29. 30 Genesis 21:10–12; John 8:35; Romans 8:15–17; Galatians 3:22; Romans 4:3
  30. 31 Galatians 5:13; Galatians 5:1; John 8:36; John 1:12–13; 1 John 3:1–2

Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences

What the Fathers said

Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).

How these were chosen

“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).

  1. Quotes verse 4:27 Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies (Book I, Chapters X–XI)

    … in what sense [God] says, "That is a people who was not a people; and she is beloved who was not beloved;" and in what sense He says that "more are the children of her that was desolate, than of her who possessed a husband." For in reference to these points, and others of a like nature, the apostle exclaims: …

    Read in context · Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1 (1885)

  2. Quotes verse 4:19 Augustine of Hippo, Confessions (Book IX, Chapters IX–X)

    For she had "been the wife of one man," had requited her parents, had guided her house piously, was "well-reported of for good works," had "brought up children," as often travailing in birth of them as she saw them swerving from Thee.

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)

  3. Quotes verse 4:4 John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew (Homily IV)

    For that He did come forth of the Virgin's flesh, He hath declared by speaking of "that which was conceived in her;" and Paul, by saying, "made of a woman;" whereby he stops the mouths of them that say, Christ came among us as through some conduit.

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)

  4. Quotes verse 4:4 Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures (Lecture XII)

    For God sent forth His Son, says Paul, not made of a man and a woman, but made of a woman only, that is of a virgin.

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)

  5. Quotes verse 4:7 Basil of Caesarea, On the Holy Spirit (Chapter V)

    … (di' ou) ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son," and "Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ by (dia) the will of God;" and again, "Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God." And "like as Christ was raised up from the dead by (dia) the glory of …

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 8 (1895)