Galatians 4
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
The heir, as long as He is a child - Though he be appointed by his father's will heir of all his possessions yet till he arrive at the legal age he is master of nothing, and does not differ from one of the common domestics.
Open source ↗THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED: ILLUSTRATION OF OUR SUBJECTION TO THE LAW ONLY TILL CHRIST CAME, FROM THE SUBJECTION OF AN HEIR TO HIS GUARDIAN TILL HE IS OF AGE. PETER'S GOOD WILL TO THE GALATIANS SHOULD LEAD THEM TO THE SAME GOOD WILL TO HIM AS THEY HAD AT FIRST SHOWN. THEIR DESIRE TO BE UNDER THE LAW SHOWN BY THE ALLEGORY OF ISAAC AND ISHMAEL TO BE INCONSISTENT WITH THEIR GOSPEL LIBERTY. (Gal. 4:1-31) The fact of God's sending His Son to redeem us who were under the law (Gal 4:4), and sending the Spirit of His Son into our hearts (Gal 4:6), confirms the conclusion (Gal 3:29) that we are "heirs according to the promise." the heir-- (Gal 3:29). It is not, as in earthly inheritances, the death of the father, but our Father's sovereign will simply that makes us heirs. child--Greek, "one under age." differeth nothing, &c.--that is, has no more freedom than a slave (so the Greek for "servant" means). He is not at his own disposal. lord of all--by title and virtual ownership (compare Co1 3:21-22).
Open source ↗Now I say,.... To illustrate what he had said of the law's being a schoolmaster to the Jews until the coming of Christ, and then ceasing as such, he proposes the case of an heir during his minority, till he come to the proper time of enjoying his estate. that the heir, as long as he is a child; anyone that is an heir to his father's estate, or another's, whilst under age, being reckoned as a child, as he is from his infancy to his manhood, differeth nothing from a servant: he is not his own man, nor at his own dispose; he cannot do as he pleases; he is under restraint; he is kept to school or to business, and is liable to correction and chastisement according as he behaves; nor can he have the free use of his father's estate, though he be Lord of all, of all the servants, according to the Arabic version; or of the whole estate his father left him, of which he is Lord in right, but not in possession; he is right heir to it, though as yet it is not in his hands, nor can he do with it as he will.
Open source ↗In this chapter the apostle deals plainly with those who hearkened to the judaizing teachers, who cried up the law of Moses in competition with the gospel of Christ, and endeavored to bring them under the bondage of it. To convince them of their folly, and to rectify their mistake herein, in these verses he prosecutes the comparison of a child under age, which he had touched upon in the foregoing chapter, and thence shows what great advantages we have now, under the gospel, above what they had under the law. And here. I. He acquaints us with the state of the Old Testament church: it was like a child under age, and it was used accordingly, being kept in a state of darkness and bondage, in comparison of the greater light and liberty which we enjoy under the gospel. That was indeed a dispensation of grace, and yet it was comparatively a dispensation of darkness; for as the heir, in his minority, is under tutors and governors till the time appointed of his father, by whom he is educated and instructed in those things which at present he knows little of the meaning of, though afterwards they are likely to be of great use to him; so it was with the Old Testament church - the Mosaic economy, which they were under, was what they could not fully understand the meaning of; for, as the apostle says (Co2 3:13), They could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished. But to the church, when grown up to maturity, in gospel days, it becomes of great use. And as that was a dispensation of darkness, so of bondage too; for they were in bondage under the elements of the world, being tied to a great number of burdensome rites and observances, by which, as by a kind of first rudiments, they were taught and instructed, and whereby they were kept in a state of subjection, like a…
Open source ↗4:1-7 Paul supports his argument that the law’s purpose for God’s children was fulfilled when Christ came, so that we are no longer bound by it. 4:1-3 A child inheriting an estate might receive a large fortune, but before coming of age, the child must obey guardians and trustees until the time set by the father. Similarly, before Christ came, God’s people were under the guardianship of the law (see 3:23-24).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
δέ (dé, G1161) — but, and, etc. λέγω (légō, G3004) — properly, to "lay" forth, i.e. (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or… κληρονόμος (klēronómos, G2818) — a sharer by lot, i.e. inheritor (literally or figuratively); by implication, a possessor ἐπί (epí, G1909) — properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of… ὅσος (hósos, G3745) — as (much, great, long, etc.) as χρόνος (chrónos, G5550) — a space of time (in general, and thus properly distinguished from G2540 (καιρός), which… ἐστί (estí, G2076) — he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are νήπιος (nḗpios, G3516) — not speaking, i.e. an infant (minor); figuratively, a simple-minded person, an immature… διαφέρω (diaphérō, G1308) — to bear through, i.e. (literally) transport; usually to bear apart, i.e. (objectively) to… οὐδείς (oudeís, G3762) — not even one (man, woman or thing), i.e. none, nobody, nothing δοῦλος (doûlos, G1401) — a slave (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary; frequently, therefore in a… ὤν (ṓn, G5607) — being κύριος (kýrios, G2962) — supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful… πᾶς (pâs, G3956) — all, any, every, the whole
Open source ↗ἀλλά (allá, G235) — properly, other things, i.e. (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations) ἐστί (estí, G2076) — he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are ὑπό (hypó, G5259) — under, i.e. (with the genitive case) of place (beneath), or with verbs (the agency or… ἐπίτροπος (epítropos, G2012) — a commissioner, i.e. domestic manager, guardian καί (kaí, G2532) — and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other… οἰκονόμος (oikonómos, G3623) — a house-distributor (i.e. manager), or overseer, i.e. an employee in that capacity; by… ἄχρι (áchri, G891) — (of time) until or (of place) up to προθέσμιος (prothésmios, G4287) — fixed beforehand, i.e. (feminine with G2250 (ἡμέρα) implied) a designated day πατήρ (patḗr, G3962) — a "father" (literally or figuratively, near or more remote)
Open source ↗καί (kaí, G2532) — and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other… οὕτω (hoútō, G3779) — in this way (referring to what precedes or follows) ἡμεῖς (hēmeîs, G2249) — we (only used when emphatic) ὅτε (hóte, G3753) — at which (thing) too, i.e. when ἦν (ēn, G2258) — I (thou, etc.) was (wast or were) νήπιος (nḗpios, G3516) — not speaking, i.e. an infant (minor); figuratively, a simple-minded person, an immature… δουλόω (doulóō, G1402) — to enslave (literally or figuratively) ὑπό (hypó, G5259) — under, i.e. (with the genitive case) of place (beneath), or with verbs (the agency or… στοιχεῖον (stoicheîon, G4747) — something orderly in arrangement, i.e. (by implication) a serial (basal, fundamental,… κόσμος (kósmos, G2889) — orderly arrangement, i.e. decoration; by implication, the world (in a wide or narrow…
Open source ↗δέ (dé, G1161) — but, and, etc. ὅτε (hóte, G3753) — at which (thing) too, i.e. when πλήρωμα (plḗrōma, G4138) — repletion or completion, i.e. (subjectively) what fills (as contents, supplement,… χρόνος (chrónos, G5550) — a space of time (in general, and thus properly distinguished from G2540 (καιρός), which… ἔρχομαι (érchomai, G2064) — to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively) θεός (theós, G2316) — figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very ἐξαποστέλλω (exapostéllō, G1821) — to send away forth, i.e. (on a mission) to despatch, or (peremptorily) to dismiss αὐτός (autós, G846) — the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438 (ἑαυτοῦ)) of the… υἱός (huiós, G5207) — a "son" (sometimes of animals), used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively,… γίνομαι (gínomai, G1096) — to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e. (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with… ἐκ (ek, G1537) — literal or figurative; direct or remote) γυνή (gynḗ, G1135) — a woman; specially, a wife ὑπό (hypó, G5259) — under, i.e. (with the genitive case) of place (beneath), or with verbs (the agency or… νόμος (nómos, G3551) — law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specially, (of…
Open source ↗ἵνα (hína, G2443) — compare G3588 (ὁ)); in order that (denoting the purpose or the result) ἐξαγοράζω (exagorázō, G1805) — to buy up, i.e. ransom; figuratively, to rescue from loss (improve opportunity) ὑπό (hypó, G5259) — under, i.e. (with the genitive case) of place (beneath), or with verbs (the agency or… νόμος (nómos, G3551) — law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specially, (of… ἀπολαμβάνω (apolambánō, G618) — to receive (specially, in full, or as a host); also to take aside υἱοθεσία (huiothesía, G5206) — the placing as a son, i.e. adoption (figuratively, Christian sonship in respect to God)
Open source ↗δέ (dé, G1161) — but, and, etc. ὅτι (hóti, G3754) — demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because ἐστέ (esté, G2075) — ye are υἱός (huiós, G5207) — a "son" (sometimes of animals), used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively,… θεός (theós, G2316) — figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very ἐξαποστέλλω (exapostéllō, G1821) — to send away forth, i.e. (on a mission) to despatch, or (peremptorily) to dismiss πνεῦμα (pneûma, G4151) — a current of air, i.e. breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively, a spirit,… αὐτός (autós, G846) — the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438 (ἑαυτοῦ)) of the… εἰς (eis, G1519) — to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively)… ὑμῶν (hymōn, G5216) — of (from or concerning) you καρδία (kardía, G2588) — the heart, i.e. (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the… κράζω (krázō, G2896) — properly, to "croak" (as a raven) or scream, i.e. (genitive case) to call aloud (shriek,… Ἀββᾶ (Abbâ, G5) — father as a vocative πατήρ (patḗr, G3962) — a "father" (literally or figuratively, near or more remote)
Open source ↗ὥστε (hṓste, G5620) — so too, i.e. thus therefore (in various relations of consecution, as follow) εἶ (eî, G1488) — thou art οὐκέτι (oukéti, G3765) — not yet, no longer δοῦλος (doûlos, G1401) — a slave (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary; frequently, therefore in a… ἀλλά (allá, G235) — properly, other things, i.e. (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations) υἱός (huiós, G5207) — a "son" (sometimes of animals), used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively,… δέ (dé, G1161) — but, and, etc. εἰ (ei, G1487) — if, whether, that, etc. καί (kaí, G2532) — and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other… κληρονόμος (klēronómos, G2818) — a sharer by lot, i.e. inheritor (literally or figuratively); by implication, a possessor θεός (theós, G2316) — figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very διά (diá, G1223) — through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional) Χριστός (Christós, G5547) — anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus
Open source ↗ἀλλά (allá, G235) — properly, other things, i.e. (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations) τότε (tóte, G5119) — the when, i.e. at the time that (of the past or future, also in consecution) μέν (mén, G3303) — properly, indicative of affirmation or concession (in fact); usually followed by a… εἴδω (eídō, G1492) — used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent G3700… οὐ (ou, G3756) — the absolute negative (compare G3361 (μή)) adverb; no or not θεός (theós, G2316) — figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very δουλεύω (douleúō, G1398) — to be a slave to (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary) φύσις (phýsis, G5449) — growth (by germination or expansion), i.e. (by implication) natural production (lineal… ὤν (ṓn, G5607) — being μή (mḗ, G3361) — (adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer…
Open source ↗δέ (dé, G1161) — but, and, etc. νῦν (nŷn, G3568) — "now" (as adverb of date, a transition or emphasis); also as noun or adjective present or… γινώσκω (ginṓskō, G1097) — to "know" (absolutely) in a great variety of applications and with many implications (as… θεός (theós, G2316) — figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very μᾶλλον (mâllon, G3123) — (adverbially) more (in a greater degree)) or rather ὑπό (hypó, G5259) — under, i.e. (with the genitive case) of place (beneath), or with verbs (the agency or… πῶς (pōs, G4459) — an interrogative particle of manner; in what way? (sometimes the question is indirect,… ἐπιστρέφω (epistréphō, G1994) — to revert (literally, figuratively or morally) πάλιν (pálin, G3825) — (adverbially) anew, i.e. (of place) back, (of time) once more, or (conjunctionally)… ἐπί (epí, G1909) — properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of… ἀσθενής (asthenḗs, G772) — strengthless (in various applications, literal, figurative and moral) καί (kaí, G2532) — and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other… πτωχός (ptōchós, G4434) — akin to G4422 (πτοέω) and the alternate of G4098 (πίπτω)); a beggar (as cringing), i.e.… στοιχεῖον (stoicheîon, G4747) — something orderly in arrangement, i.e. (by implication) a serial (basal, fundamental,…
Open source ↗παρατηρέω (paratēréō, G3906) — to inspect alongside, i.e. note insidiously or scrupulously ἡμέρα (hēméra, G2250) — day, i.e. (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours (but… καί (kaí, G2532) — and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other… μήν (mḗn, G3376) — a month καιρός (kairós, G2540) — an occasion, i.e. set or proper time ἐνιαυτός (eniautós, G1763) — a year
Open source ↗φοβέω (phobéō, G5399) — to frighten, i.e. (passively) to be alarmed; by analogy, to be in awe of, i.e. revere ὑμᾶς (hymâs, G5209) — you (as the objective of a verb or preposition) μήπως (mḗpōs, G3381) — lest somehow -πώς (-pṓs, G4458) — an enclitic particle of indefiniteness of manner; somehow or anyhow; used only in… κοπιάω (kopiáō, G2872) — to feel fatigue; by implication, to work hard εἰς (eis, G1519) — to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively)… εἰκῆ (eikē, G1500) — idly, i.e. without reason (or effect)
Open source ↗ἀδελφός (adelphós, G80) — a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like G1 (Α)) δέομαι (déomai, G1189) — to beg (as binding oneself), i.e. petition ὑμῶν (hymōn, G5216) — of (from or concerning) you γίνομαι (gínomai, G1096) — to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e. (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with… ὡς (hōs, G5613) — which how, i.e. in that manner (very variously used, as follows) ἐγώ (egṓ, G1473) ὅτι (hóti, G3754) — demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because κἀγώ (kagṓ, G2504) — so also the dative case , and accusative case and (or also, even, etc.) I, (to) me ὑμεῖς (hymeîs, G5210) — you (as subjective of verb) ἀδικέω (adikéō, G91) — to be unjust, i.e. (actively) do wrong (morally, socially or physically) μέ (mé, G3165) — me οὐδείς (oudeís, G3762) — not even one (man, woman or thing), i.e. none, nobody, nothing
Open source ↗δέ (dé, G1161) — but, and, etc. εἴδω (eídō, G1492) — used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent G3700… ὅτι (hóti, G3754) — demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because διά (diá, G1223) — through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional) ἀσθένεια (asthéneia, G769) — feebleness (of mind or body); by implication, malady; morally, frailty σάρξ (sárx, G4561) — flesh (as stripped of the skin), i.e. (strictly) the meat of an animal (as food), or (by… εὐαγγελίζω (euangelízō, G2097) — to announce good news ("evangelize") especially the gospel ὑμῖν (hymîn, G5213) — to (with or by) you πρότερον (próteron, G4386) — previously
Open source ↗καί (kaí, G2532) — and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other… μοῦ (moû, G3450) — of me πειρασμός (peirasmós, G3986) — a putting to proof (by experiment (of good), experience (of evil), solicitation,… ἐν (en, G1722) — "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc. σάρξ (sárx, G4561) — flesh (as stripped of the skin), i.e. (strictly) the meat of an animal (as food), or (by… ἐξουθενέω (exouthenéō, G1848) οὐ (ou, G3756) — the absolute negative (compare G3361 (μή)) adverb; no or not οὐδέ (oudé, G3761) — not however, i.e. neither, nor, not even ἐκπτύω (ekptýō, G1609) — to spit out, i.e. (figuratively) spurn ἀλλά (allá, G235) — properly, other things, i.e. (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations) δέχομαι (déchomai, G1209) — to receive (in various applications, literally or figuratively) μέ (mé, G3165) — me ὡς (hōs, G5613) — which how, i.e. in that manner (very variously used, as follows) ἄγγελος (ángelos, G32) — compare G34 (ἀγέλη)) (to bring tidings); a messenger; especially an "angel"; by…
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born through the promise.
At that time, however, the son born by the flesh persecuted the son born by the Spirit. It is the same now.
Then Jehoiada brought out the king’s son, put the crown on him, presented him with the Testimony, and proclaimed him king. They anointed him, and the people clapped their hands and declared, “Long live the king!”
And Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the days he was instructed by Jehoiada the priest.