Galatians 4:31 kjv
So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
Galatians 4:31 nkjv
So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.
Galatians 4:31 niv
Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
Galatians 4:31 esv
So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.
Galatians 4:31 nlt
So, dear brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman; we are children of the free woman.
Galatians 4 31 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gal 4:31 | "So then, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman." | Galatians 4:31 |
| Gen 16:15 | "Hagar bore Ishmael to Abraham." | Genesis 16:15 |
| Gen 17:19 | "God said, 'Sarah your wife will bear you a son...'" | Genesis 17:19 |
| Gen 21:2 | "Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son..." | Genesis 21:2 |
| John 8:36 | "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." | John 8:36 |
| Rom 8:14 | "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God." | Romans 8:14 |
| Rom 9:7-8 | "Nor because they are his offspring are they all Abraham’s children... but ‘through Isaac shall your offspring be named.’" | Romans 9:7-8 |
| 1 Cor 10:4 | "...drank from the accompanying spiritual rock; and the rock was Christ." | 1 Corinthians 10:4 |
| Eph 1:5 | "he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ..." | Ephesians 1:5 |
| Gal 3:29 | "And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise." | Galatians 3:29 |
| Gal 5:1 | "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." | Galatians 5:1 |
| Heb 12:22-23 | "But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem..." | Hebrews 12:22-23 |
| Gal 3:26-28 | "In Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ." | Galatians 3:26-28 |
| 2 Cor 3:6 | "...for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." | 2 Corinthians 3:6 |
| Gal 4:22-23 | "For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise." | Galatians 4:22-23 |
| Phil 3:3 | "For we are the true circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh." | Philippians 3:3 |
| Rom 8:15 | "For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!'" | Romans 8:15 |
| Gal 3:10 | "For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse..." | Galatians 3:10 |
| Isa 54:1 | "Sing, O barren one, you who did not bear..." | Isaiah 54:1 |
| John 1:12 | "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God..." | John 1:12 |
Galatians 4 verses
Galatians 4 31 Meaning
The believers are not children of a slave woman, but of the free woman. This signifies their release from bondage through Christ and their adoption into God's family, a freedom that contrasts sharply with the enslavement to the law and tradition that some in Galatia were returning to.
Galatians 4 31 Context
This verse concludes Paul's extended allegory in Galatians chapter 4, comparing the current Christian situation to the story of Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar. Hagar represents the covenant from Mount Sinai, tied to the law and leading to bondage, paralleled with those under the Old Covenant or attempting to earn salvation through legalistic adherence. Sarah, the free woman, represents the covenant of grace through faith in Christ, leading to spiritual freedom and sonship. The Galatian believers were being tempted to return to Old Testament Law observances, particularly circumcision, to achieve a more authentic Judaism or assurance of salvation. Paul argues forcefully against this, emphasizing that true sonship and inheritance come not through fleshly observance of the Law, but through faith in Christ, who liberated them.
Galatians 4 31 Word Analysis
- so (ἄρα - ara): A connective particle indicating consequence or conclusion. It signals that what follows is the logical outcome of the preceding argument.
- then (οὖν - oun): Another connective particle, similar to "so" or "therefore." It reinforces the concluding nature of the statement, drawing a definitive line from the allegory to the present reality.
- brothers (ἀδελφοί - adelphoi): A term of endearment and familial address used for fellow believers in Christ. It emphasizes unity and shared spiritual kinship.
- we (ἡμεῖς - hēmeis): First-person plural pronoun, inclusive of the author (Paul) and his audience (the Galatians). It unites them under the same spiritual identity and inheritance.
- are not (οὐκ ἐσμέν - ouk esmen): Negation of existence or belonging. It explicitly denies a specific status.
- children (τέκνα - tekna): Literally "offspring," implying direct descent or relation. Here, it signifies spiritual children of promise, heirs, and true inheritors of God's blessings. This is in contrast to being merely a product of circumstances or a weaker line of descent.
- of the slave woman (τῆς παιδίσκης - tēs paidiskēs): Refers to Hagar, Abraham's maidservant. This clause directly links the allegory to those who remain bound to the Law and its demands.
- but (ἀλλ’ - all'): A strong adversative conjunction, introducing a clear contrast. It pivots the focus to the true, superior status.
- of the free (τῆς ἐλευθέρας - tēs eleutheras): Refers to Sarah, Abraham's free wife. This denotes those who are free from the bondage of the Law and live by the Spirit through faith.
- woman (γυναικός - gunaikos): Denotes woman, in this case, Sarah. It highlights the spiritual lineage derived from her, through promise.
Words/Group Analysis:
- children of the slave woman: Symbolizes being under bondage, inheriting curses, and being born "according to the flesh" (Gal 4:23). This represents those attempting to earn salvation or righteousness through adherence to the Law, external rituals, and human effort, like Ishmael born to Hagar. This lineage leads to a servile relationship with God.
- children of the free woman: Symbolizes spiritual freedom, adoption, and the promise of inheritance. This represents believers in Christ who are born "through promise" (Gal 4:23), reflecting the pattern of Isaac's birth. They are in a sonship relationship with God, experiencing liberty in Christ.
Galatians 4 31 Bonus Section
This verse provides the anchor for Paul's more explicit exhortation in the following chapter (Galatians 5:1) to "stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." The "yoke of bondage" refers precisely to the elements represented by Hagar and the Law, which some in Galatia were advocating for. The immediate implication is that rejecting the legalistic practices they were considering meant embracing their true identity as free-born children, not mere servants. This understanding undergirds the entire "fruit of the Spirit" discussion that follows, as true spiritual life flows from this liberated, adopted status.
Galatians 4 31 Commentary
Paul’s final declaration in this chapter serves as a potent conclusion to his theological argument. By unequivocally stating, "we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman," he grounds the Galatians’ identity firmly in Christ and the New Covenant. This isn't merely about historical lineage but about present spiritual reality and future inheritance. The spiritual life is a liberty obtained through faith in Christ's work, not by adding external observances that would reduce believers to a state of slavery under the Law. This truth offers assurance and strength against any external pressure to compromise their freedom in the Gospel. It encourages perseverance in the faith, understanding their secure position as sons and daughters of the heavenly Father through the promised Seed, Jesus Christ.