Galatians 4 4

Galatians 4:4 kjv

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

Galatians 4:4 nkjv

But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

Galatians 4:4 niv

But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

Galatians 4:4 esv

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,

Galatians 4:4 nlt

But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.

Galatians 4 verses

Galatians 4 4 Meaning

When the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law. This verse marks the pivotal moment of salvation history, when God’s eternal plan for humanity was put into action through the incarnation of Jesus Christ. It highlights the divinely appointed timing, the identity of Jesus as both divine and human, and His connection to the Old Testament covenant.

Galatians 4 4 Context

Galatians 4:4 is part of Paul's argument for the superiority of the New Covenant in Christ over the Mosaic Law. Paul uses the analogy of a son who is heir, but remains under a guardian until the appointed time. He then reveals that this "appointed time" has arrived with the coming of Jesus Christ. The chapter contrasts the bondage of being under the Law with the freedom and sonship received through faith in Christ. This verse is crucial as it identifies the singular, divinely ordained event that initiated this new era. The letter to the Galatians was written to address those who were being swayed by "Judaizers" who insisted on Gentile believers adhering to Mosaic Law, including circumcision.

Galatians 4 4 Word Analysis

• Ότε (Ote): "When." Temporal conjunction indicating a specific point in time.
• ἐπληρώθη (eplērōthē): "was fulfilled." Verb in the passive aorist indicative. The active form, "to fulfill," implies completion or to bring to its destined end. This emphasizes the perfect timing and completion of God's redemptive plan up to that point. It signifies that all preceding prophecies and preparations found their culmination here.
• ὁ χρόνος (ho chronos): "the time." Article and noun. Refers to time in general or a specific period.
• ἔσχατος (eschatos): "fullness" or "last." Adjective modifying "time." It signifies the end point of a designated period, the absolute completion or the consummation. This is not just any time, but the precisely appointed, divinely determined "end time" of God's preparatory stages. This concept echoes throughout scripture, pointing to God's sovereignty over history.
• ἀπέστειλεν (apestillein): "sent forth." Verb in the active aorist indicative of apostellō, meaning "to send out" or "to dispatch." It implies a deliberate sending by divine authority. This is not a casual sending, but a commission and mission from God the Father.
• ὁ Θεός (ho Theos): "God." Subject of the verb. Clearly identifies God as the active agent in sending His Son.
• τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ (ton hyion autou): "His Son." Article, noun, and possessive pronoun. This is a pivotal phrase identifying Jesus as uniquely God's Son, indicating a divine relationship and nature.
• γεννόμενον (gennomenon): "being born." Participle in the passive present. This highlights the continuous process and the reality of the incarnation—God's Son becoming human.
• ἐκ γυναικός (ek gynaikos): "of a woman." Preposition and noun. Emphasizes the complete humanity of Jesus, being born into the human race through a mother. This is a powerful affirmation of the incarnation.
• ὑπὸ νόμον (ypo nomon): "under the law." Preposition and noun. Signifies Christ's submission to the Mosaic Law, indicating His identification with sinful humanity and His role as the fulfillment and representative under the Old Covenant.

Galatians 4 4 Bonus Section

The concept of the "fullness of time" (pleroma chronou) is significant not only in this verse but also in passages like Ephesians 1:10, where it refers to God's plan to unite all things in Christ. It underscores the biblical idea that God is sovereign over history and operates according to a perfect timeline. The phrase "born of a woman", while affirming humanity, also subtly echoes Old Testament prophecies about the Seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15) who would crush the serpent's head, hinting at Christ's unique redemptive role from the very beginning. His being "under the law" is not a contradiction to His divinity, but a necessary part of His atoning work; He fulfilled the Law's demands on behalf of sinners, liberating them from its penalty.

Galatians 4 4 Commentary

The arrival of Jesus Christ was not an accident but the direct intervention of God at the precise moment He had planned. This "fullness of time" signifies the culmination of God's covenant promises and prophecies throughout the Old Testament. God sent forth His eternal Son, not merely as a spirit or angel, but as a true human being, "born of a woman," entering humanity fully. His birth "under the law" further demonstrates His identification with humanity and His mission to fulfill all righteousness required by the Mosaic Law. This act demonstrates God’s faithfulness and sovereignty, inaugurating a new era where believers are no longer under the Law's condemnation but adopted as sons through Christ. The significance lies in this perfectly timed, fully human yet divinely begotten Son initiating redemption and the new covenant.