Galatians 4:30 kjv
Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
Galatians 4:30 nkjv
Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman."
Galatians 4:30 niv
But what does Scripture say? "Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman's son."
Galatians 4:30 esv
But what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman."
Galatians 4:30 nlt
But what do the Scriptures say about that? "Get rid of the slave and her son, for the son of the slave woman will not share the inheritance with the free woman's son."
Galatians 4 30 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Galatians 4:30 | "But what does the Scripture say? “Get rid of the slave woman and her son..." | Prophecy of exclusion from inheritance |
| Genesis 21:10 | “Get rid of this slave woman and her son…” | God's command to Abraham concerning Ishmael |
| Romans 9:8 | "This means that it is not the children of the flesh that are children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring." | Distinction between flesh and promise |
| John 8:36 | "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." | Freedom in Christ |
| Galatians 4:22 | "For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman." | Context of Sarah and Hagar |
| Galatians 3:29 | "And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise." | Abraham's seed by faith |
| Romans 8:17 | "Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ..." | Heirs with Christ |
| Hebrews 1:2 | "...in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things..." | Christ as Heir |
| 1 Peter 1:4 | "...and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you." | Heavenly inheritance |
| 1 Corinthians 15:24 | "...then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father..." | Christ handing over the kingdom |
| Genesis 15:1-6 | God's promise to Abraham of an heir through whom nations would be blessed. | Promise of descendant |
| Isaiah 54:1 | "Sing, barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into a song of joy, you who never felt labor pains! For the wife deserted by the Lord will have more children than his married one." | Prophetic promise of abundant seed |
| Galatians 5:1 | "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be enslaved again by a yoke of] a yoke of] of slavery." | Christian freedom |
| John 1:12 | "Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—" | Children of God by belief |
| 1 John 3:1 | "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are." | Identity as God's children |
| Acts 13:26 | "Brothers, descendants of Abraham’s family, and descendants of those who fear God, to you has been sent the message of this salvation." | Salvation proclaimed to Abraham's descendants |
| Galatians 3:7 | "Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham." | Faith links to Abraham's children |
| Romans 4:13 | "For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith." | Inheritance by righteousness of faith |
| Galatians 4:28 | "Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise." | Believers as children of promise |
| Genesis 17:15-17 | God changing Abram's name to Abraham and reiterating the promise concerning Sarah and Isaac. | Formalizing the promise |
| Luke 1:37 | "For no word from God will ever fail." | God's word is powerful and unfailing |
Galatians 4 verses
Galatians 4 30 Meaning
The verse states that the son born of the free woman is heir and not the son born of the slave woman. This is a declaration of inheritance rights based on one's spiritual heritage, distinguishing between those who are children of promise and those who are not.
Galatians 4 30 Context
Galatians 4 discusses the contrast between two covenants: the Old Covenant represented by Hagar and Mount Sinai, which results in slavery, and the New Covenant represented by Sarah and Jerusalem above, which leads to freedom. Paul uses the allegorical story of Abraham's sons, Ishmael (born of the slave Hagar) and Isaac (born of the free Sarah), to illustrate this point. He had previously stated in verse 28 that the Galatians, as believers, are children of promise like Isaac. This verse, quoting Genesis 21:10, serves as the direct conclusion and reinforcement of the argument that the slave woman's son cannot inherit alongside the free woman's son. Therefore, the Galatians, identified as children of the free woman, are the true heirs and are not bound by the Mosaic Law in the same way those attempting to earn righteousness through it are.
Galatians 4 30 Word Analysis
- δὲ (de): But; and. A conjunction used here to introduce a contrast or to connect clauses.
- τί (ti): What. An interrogative pronoun.
- λέγει (legei): says. The third-person singular present active indicative of λέγω (lego), meaning "to say," "to speak," "to tell." It points to a scriptural declaration.
- ἡ (hē): The. The feminine singular definite article.
- Γραφὴ (Graphē): Scripture. Refers specifically to the Holy Writings, in this context, the Old Testament.
- κ Pharisees (Phariseous): Get rid of. The second-person plural imperative active of λύω (luo), meaning "to loose," "to dissolve," "to destroy." It's a command to cast out or dismiss. The text actually reads "ἔκβαλε (ekbale)", the second person singular imperative active of ἐκβάλλω (ekballo) meaning "to cast out," "to throw out." This highlights the command to expel.
- τὴν (tēn): The. The feminine singular accusative definite article.
- παιδίσκην (paidiskēn): Slave woman. The accusative singular of παιδίσκη (paidiskē), meaning "a young girl," "a bondwoman," "a female slave." It refers to Hagar.
- καὶ (kai): And. A coordinating conjunction.
- τὸν (ton): The. The masculine singular accusative definite article.
- υἱὸν (huion): Son. The accusative singular of υἱὸς (huis), meaning "son."
- αὐτῆς (autēs): Of her. The genitive singular feminine pronoun "of him/her/it."
- οὐ: Not. A negation particle.
- γὰρ: For. A conjunction, indicating a reason or explanation.
- κληρονομήσει (klēronomēsei): Will inherit. The third-person singular future active indicative of κληρονομέω (klēronomeo), meaning "to inherit," "to be an heir."
- ὁ (ho): The. The masculine singular nominative definite article.
- τῆς: Of the. The genitive singular feminine definite article.
- παιδίσκης (paidiskēs): Slave woman. Genitive singular of παιδίσκη (paidiskē).
- υἱός (huis): Son. Nominative singular of υἱὸς (huis).
- ἀλλ’ : but. Short for ἀλλὰ (alla), a strong adversative conjunction.
- τῆς : of the. Genitive singular feminine definite article.
- ἐλευθέρας : free. Genitive singular feminine of ἐλεύθερος (eleutheros), meaning "free."
- υἱός : Son. Nominative singular of υἱὸς (huis).
Group Analysis:
- "Get rid of the slave woman and her son" (ἔκβαλε τὴν παιδίσκην καὶ τὸν υἱὸν αὐτῆς - ekbale tēn paidiskēn kai ton huion autēs) directly quotes Genesis 21:10, establishing the principle of exclusion for those born of bondage from the patriarchal inheritance.
- "for the son of the slave woman will not inherit with the son of the free woman" (οὐ γὰρ κληρονομήσει ὁ τῆς παιδίσκης υἱὸς τῆς ἐλευθέρας υἱός - ou gar klēronomēsei ho tēs paidiskēs huios tēs eleutheras huios) articulates the fundamental truth being conveyed from Scripture—inheritance rights are tied to the covenant of freedom, not bondage. The repetition of "son" (υἱὸς) emphasizes the distinct lines of descent and their divergent destinies.
Galatians 4 30 Bonus Section
The reference to Scripture itself is significant. Paul consistently uses the Old Testament to validate his apostolic authority and teaching. By quoting Genesis 21:10, he grounds his assertion in God's historical actions and commands, demonstrating that the principle of spiritual birthright and exclusion predates and underpins the New Covenant reality in Christ. The repetition of the word "son" in the second clause emphasizes the distinct nature and ultimate destiny of these two lines of descent, mirroring the spiritual divide between law-bound individuals and those free in Christ.
Galatians 4 30 Commentary
This verse forcefully concludes Paul's argument by invoking Old Testament Scripture (Genesis 21:10). The "Scripture" referred to is a direct quote. The command is to expel the slave woman (Hagar) and her son (Ishmael). This expulsion was divinely ordained for Abraham. Paul applies this to the Galatians' spiritual reality: those aligned with the "law of Moses" or bondage to sin (represented by Hagar and Mount Sinai) cannot share the inheritance meant for the children of the "Jerusalem above" and the new covenant in Christ (represented by Sarah). The inheritance belongs exclusively to those born of spiritual freedom and promise, like Isaac, and by extension, the believers in Galatia who are spiritual children of Abraham through faith. It is a sharp delineation between two spiritual statuses and their resulting destinies: one of slavery and exclusion, the other of freedom and heirship.