Galatians 4 24

Galatians 4:24 kjv

Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.

Galatians 4:24 nkjv

which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar?

Galatians 4:24 niv

These things are being taken figuratively: The women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar.

Galatians 4:24 esv

Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar.

Galatians 4:24 nlt

These two women serve as an illustration of God's two covenants. The first woman, Hagar, represents Mount Sinai where people received the law that enslaved them.

Galatians 4 verses

Galatians 4 24 Meaning

The apostle Paul uses an allegory in Galatians 4:24 to illustrate the contrast between those who are under the Law and those who are under grace through faith in Christ. Sarah and Hagar represent two covenants. Hagar, the slave woman, bore children according to the flesh, symbolizing a bondage to sin and legalism. Sarah, the free woman, bore children through God's promise, representing the freedom found in Christ. The "birth according to the Spirit" refers to spiritual birth through faith in Jesus Christ, which aligns with the covenant of promise, not the covenant of Law given at Sinai.

Galatians 4 24 Context

Galatians chapter 4 continues Paul's extended argument against the Judaizers, who were insisting that Gentile believers in Christ must also be circumcised and follow the Mosaic Law to be truly saved and recognized as part of God's people. Paul argues that adhering to the Law leads to bondage, like that of Ishmael, born of Hagar the slave woman. Conversely, freedom and sonship in God are received through faith in Jesus Christ, mirroring Isaac, born of Sarah the free woman according to God's promise. This allegorical interpretation connects the Old Testament narrative of Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, Ishmael, and Isaac to the contemporary situation of the Galatian churches, highlighting the radical difference between living under law versus living under the Spirit by grace. The chapter transitions from theological argument to a practical exhortation for believers to live in freedom and unity, not returning to a legalistic bondage.

Galatians 4 24 Word analysis

• Ὡς (Hōs): This Greek adverb signifies "as" or "like." It introduces a comparison, framing the subsequent statement as an illustration.
• γάρ (gar): A coordinating conjunction meaning "for" or "because." It signals a reason or explanation for a previous statement.
• αὕτη (hauta): This demonstrative pronoun in the feminine nominative singular means "this." It refers back to Sarah in the preceding verses.
• ἐστίν (estin): The third-person singular present indicative of εἰμί (eimi), meaning "is." It states a present reality or identity.
• τὰ (ta): The neuter plural definite article, functioning here with abstract nouns or concepts.
• ἀλληγορουμένα (allegoroumena): This is the present passive participle of ἀλληγορέω (allegoreo), meaning "to speak allegorically" or "to allegorize." It signifies that these things are being presented in an allegorical manner. This is the first and only occurrence of this verb in the New Testament, making it highly significant in Paul's use of figurative language.
• ἀνθρώποις (anthrōpois): The dative plural of ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos), meaning "man" or "person." It indicates "to" or "for" men, referring to the people in the allegory.
• δύο (duo): The numeral meaning "two."
• διαθήκαι (diathēkai): The nominative plural of διαθήκη (diathēkē), meaning "covenant" or "testament." This word is crucial as it directly links Sarah and Hagar to the two covenants. The Septuagint uses this word extensively for the Hebrew term בְּרִית (berith), "covenant."
• ἡ (hē): The feminine singular nominative definite article.
• μὲν (men): A particle often used to mark a contrast or to present one part of a statement before another. Here, it distinguishes Hagar's covenant from Sarah's.
• γάρ (gar): Again, "for" or "because," connecting the slave woman's covenant to a specific origin or characteristic.
• ἐκ (ek): A preposition meaning "from," "out of."
• τοῦ (tou): The genitive singular neuter definite article.
• οὐρανοῦ (ouranou): The genitive singular of οὐρανός (ouranos), meaning "heaven" or "sky." While it translates to "heaven," in this allegorical context, it signifies the realm or source of this covenant, contrasting with earthly origins. It refers to the "Jerusalem above," as mentioned in verse 26.
• αἰχμαλωσίας (aichmalōsias): The genitive singular of αἰχμαλωσία (aichmalōsia), meaning "captivity" or "bondage." This word captures the essence of being enslaved, as Hagar and her offspring were often seen as subject to Sarah and Abraham's household.
• δέσποινας (despoinas): The genitive singular of δέσποινα (despoina), meaning "mistress" or "lady of the house." It signifies the position of authority, particularly Sarah's over Hagar.
• ἡ (hē): The feminine singular nominative definite article.
• δὲ (de): A disjunctive conjunction, meaning "but" or "and," marking a contrast with the preceding clause. It presents Sarah's covenant in opposition to Hagar's.
• ἀφ’ (aph'): A contraction of ἀπό (apo) + the feminine accusative definite article. ἀπό means "from" or "away from."
• ὑμνοῦται (hymnountai): The third-person plural present passive indicative of ὑμνέω (hymneō), meaning "to sing," "to praise," or "to hymn." It is a strong term suggesting worship or recognition of divine origin and praise. However, in some ancient manuscripts and later translations, it is rendered as εἰκονίζεται (eikonizetai) meaning "is figured" or "represented," which might be a scribal correction to align better with the allegorical nature. If "hymnountai" is retained, it could imply that the covenant associated with Sarah (the heavenly Jerusalem) is a cause for praise. But the most commonly accepted reading leans towards representing the source of freedom.
• φυσική (physikai): The feminine nominative plural adjective of φυσικός (physikos), meaning "natural" or "according to nature." This describes the manner of Hagar's sons' birth.
• τῆς (tēs): The feminine genitive singular definite article.
• ὑπακοῆς (hypakoēs): The genitive singular of ὑπακοή (hypakoē), meaning "obedience" or "subjection." In the context of Hagar, it refers to subjection to the worldly order and the terms of her servitude, in contrast to obedience stemming from the Spirit.
• πνεύματος (pneumatos): The genitive singular of πνεῦμα (pneuma), meaning "Spirit." This refers to the Holy Spirit.
• ἀναστάσεως (anastaseōs): The genitive singular of ἀνάστασις (anastasis), meaning "resurrection." While it can mean "rising up," in this context, the intended meaning is the spiritual "resurrection" or birth which is brought about by the Spirit.

Words Group Analysis:

• "this [Sarah] is allegorized": αὕτη ἀλληγορουμένα (hauta allegoroumena) emphasizes the allegorical nature of Sarah's story. She isn't just an individual; her experience is a symbolic representation.
• "two covenants": δύο διαθῆκαι (duo diathēkai) clearly identifies the two major biblical covenants that Paul contrasts: the Sinaitic (Law) and the Abrahamic promise covenant leading to grace.
• "Hagar … from the heaven bondage": Hagar… ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ αἰχμαλωσίας (Hagar… ek tou ouranou aichmalōsias). This phrasing, associating Hagar with "heaven bondage," is provocative. It implies a connection of the Law covenant to a celestial (but enslaved) realm, or more likely, an interpretation of Hagar's enslavement as corresponding to the bondage of the Law given from Sinai, contrasted with the freedom associated with the "Jerusalem above" (verse 26).
• "Sarah ... according to the promise": Sarah ... the promise implies that Sarah's significance lies in her divine promise, and by extension, the covenant of grace she represents.
• "born of slave woman ... naturally": ἐκ τῆς παιδίσκης ... φυσικῶς (ek tēs paidiskēs ... physikōs) describes Ishmael's birth as purely human and natural, subject to ordinary biological processes without divine intervention.
• "born by free woman ... according to obedience of spirit": τῆς δὲ ἐλευθέρας ... κατὰ πνεῦμα (tēs de eleutheras ... kata pneuma) describes Isaac's birth (and by extension, believers' spiritual birth) as divinely initiated and enabled by the Spirit, implying obedience to the Spirit's leading rather than the flesh's dictate. Some versions read "according to promise" (κατ’ ἐπαγγελίαν – kat’ epangelian), which is consistent with Isaac being the son of promise. The textually variant reading of "obedience of Spirit" suggests that true spiritual birth is aligned with obedience to the Holy Spirit's promptings.

Galatians 4 24 Bonus Section

The allegory Paul employs here is deeply rooted in both Old Testament interpretation and prevailing Greco-Roman allegorical methods. The Jews themselves used allegorical interpretation of their scriptures, making Paul’s method understandable to his audience, even as he repurposes it for Christian theology. The reference to Hagar originating from bondage or the "heavenly bondage" might also allude to rabbinic interpretations or even broader cultural associations where slave women could be seen as subject to lower, earthlier origins, contrasting with Sarah’s divinely sanctioned lineage. The precise textual reading of the end of the verse is debated amongst scholars: whether it reads "according to the Spirit" (κατὰ πνεῦμα - kata pneuma) or "according to promise" (κατ’ ἐπαγγελίαν - kat' epangelian). Both interpretations powerfully convey Paul's meaning that believers are not born of fleshly observance of law, but by God's promised, Spirit-initiated new birth in Christ. This verse therefore encapsulates the transition from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant, and the resultant change in the believer's status from slave to child of God, free in Christ.

Galatians 4 24 Commentary

This verse is the pivotal statement in Paul's elaborate allegory comparing two covenants through the stories of Sarah and Hagar. Paul uses Sarah, the free wife, as a symbol for the New Covenant. This covenant originates from the "heavenly Jerusalem" (Galatians 4:26) and is characterized by divine promise and the Spirit's work. Believers, like Isaac, are born not of physical descent or human effort, but spiritually through faith, a birth empowered by the Holy Spirit. This is contrasted with Hagar, the slave woman, who represents the Old Covenant or the covenant from Mount Sinai. Her offspring were born according to natural human effort and biological processes, symbolizing bondage to sin and the Law. The Galatian believers, who were tempted to rely on circumcision and Mosaic Law, are being told they are spiritually aligned with Sarah and Isaac. They are children of the promise, born of the Spirit, and thus free, not subject to the Law. This highlights that Christian identity is based on a new birth by the Spirit, not on adherence to Old Testament legal observances.

• Practical Application: We are not to live by our own strength or human efforts to please God (represented by Hagar and fleshly birth). Instead, we must rely on the Holy Spirit's power to live a transformed life (represented by Sarah and spiritual birth), understanding our identity as children of God through Christ, secured by His promise and our faith.