Galatians 4 – read and compare multiple versions of the Bible
World English Bible
Galatians 4 (WEBP)
[1] But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a bondservant, though he is lord of all,
[2] but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed by the father.
[3] So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world.
[4] But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law,
[5] that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as children.
[6] And because you are children, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, “Abba,° Father!”
[7] So you are no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
[8] However at that time, not knowing God, you were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods.
[9] But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, why do you turn back again to the weak and miserable elemental principles, to which you desire to be in bondage all over again?
[10] You observe days, months, seasons, and years.
[11] I am afraid for you, that I might have wasted my labor for you.
[12] I beg you, brothers, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong,
[13] but you know that because of weakness in the flesh I preached the Good News to you the first time.
[14] That which was a temptation to you in my flesh, you didn’t despise nor reject; but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
[15] What was the blessing you enjoyed? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.
[16] So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?
[17] They zealously seek you in no good way. No, they desire to alienate you, that you may seek them.
[18] But it is always good to be zealous in a good cause, and not only when I am present with you.
[19] My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ is formed in you—
[20] but I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
[21] Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, don’t you listen to the law?
[22] For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the servant, and one by the free woman.
[23] However, the son by the servant was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through promise.
[24] These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar.
[25] For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children.
[26] But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
[27] For it is written, “Rejoice, you barren who don’t bear. Break out and shout, you who don’t travail. For the desolate women have more children than her who has a husband.”†
[28] Now we, brothers, as Isaac was, are children of promise.
[29] But as then, he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now.
[30] However, what does the Scripture say? “Throw out the servant and her son, for the son of the servant will not inherit with the son of the free woman.”†
[31] So then, brothers, we are not children of a servant, but of the free woman.
Galatians 4:6 Abba is a Greek spelling for the Aramaic word for “Father” or “Daddy” used in a familiar, respectful, and loving way.
Galatians 4:27 Isaiah 54:1
Galatians 4:30 Genesis 21:10
Scripture quotations are taken from The World English Bible™ of eBible.org, 2020 stable text edition. It is in the public domain.
King James w/Strong’s #s
Galatians 4 (KJVS)
[1] Now G1161 I say G3004 (PresActInd), [That] the heir G2818, as long as G1909 G3745 G5550 he is G2076 (PresInd) a child G3516, differeth G1308 (PresActInd) nothing G3762 from a servant G1401, though he be G5607 (PresPtc) lord G2962 of all G3956;
[2] But G235 is G2076 (PresInd) under G5259 tutors G2012 and G2532 governors G3623 until G891 the time appointed G4287 of the father G3962.
[3] Even G2532 so G3779 we G2249, when G3753 we were G2258 (ImpfInd) children G3516, were G2258 (ImpfInd) in bondage G1402 (PerfPasPtc) under G5259 the elements G4747 of the world G2889:
[4] But G1161 when G3753 the fulness G4138 of the time G5550 was come G2064 (Aor2ActInd), God G2316 sent forth G1821 (AorActInd) his G846 Son G5207, made G1096 (Aor2MidDepPtc) of G1537 a woman G1135, made G1096 (Aor2MidDepPtc) under G5259 the law G3551,
[5] To G2443 redeem G1805 (AorActSubj) them that were under G5259 the law G3551, that G2443 we might receive G618 (Aor2ActSubj) the adoption of sons G5206.
[6] And G1161 because G3754 ye are G2075 (PresInd) sons G5207, God G2316 hath sent forth G1821 (AorActInd) the Spirit G4151 of his G846 Son G5207 into G1519 your G5216 hearts G2588, crying G2896 (PresActPtc), Abba G5, Father G3962.
[7] Wherefore G5620 thou art G1488 (PresInd) no more G3765 a servant G1401, but G235 a son G5207; and G1161 if G1487 a son G5207, then G2532 an heir G2818 of God G2316 through G1223 Christ G5547.
[8] Howbeit G235 then G5119 G3303, when ye knew G1492 (PerfActPtc) not G3756 God G2316, ye did service G1398 (AorActInd) unto them which by nature G5449 are G5607 (PresPtc) no G3361 gods G2316.
[9] But G1161 now G3568, after that ye have known G1097 (Aor2ActPtc) God G2316, or G1161 rather G3123 are known G1097 (AorPasPtc) of G5259 God G2316, how G4459 turn ye G1994 (PresActInd) again G3825 to G1909 the weak G772 and G2532 beggarly G4434 elements G4747, whereunto G3739 ye desire G2309 (PresActInd) again G3825 G509 to be in bondage G1398 (PresActInf)?
[10] Ye observe G3906 (PresMidInd) days G2250, and G2532 months G3376, and G2532 times G2540, and G2532 years G1763.
[11] I am afraid G5399 (PresMidPasDepInd) of you G5209, lest G3381 G4458 I have bestowed G2872 upon G1519 you G5209 labour G2872 (PerfActInd) in vain G1500.
[12] Brethren G80, I beseech G1189 (PresMidPasDepInd) you G5216, be G1096 (PresMidPasDepImpr) as G5613 I G1473 [am]; for G3754 I G2504 [am] as G5613 ye G5210 [are]: ye have not injured G91 (AorActInd) me G3165 at all G3762.
[13] G1161 Ye know G1492 (PerfActInd) how G3754 through G1223 infirmity G769 of the flesh G4561 I preached the gospel G2097 (AorMidInd) unto you G5213 at the first G4386.
[14] And G2532 my G3450 temptation G3986 which was in G1722 my G3450 flesh G4561 ye despised G1848 (AorActInd) not G3756, nor G3761 rejected G1609 (AorActInd); but G235 received G1209 (AorMidDepInd) me G3165 as G5613 an angel G32 of God G2316, [even] as G5613 Christ G5547 Jesus G2424.
[15] Where G5101 is G2258 (ImpfInd) then G3767 the blessedness G3108 ye G5216 spake of? for G1063 I bear G3140 you G5213 record G3140 (PresActInd), that G3754, if G1487 [it had been] possible G1415, ye would have plucked out G1846 (AorActPtc) your G5216 own eyes G3788, and have given them G302 G1325 (AorActInd) to me G3427.
[16] Am I G1096 therefore G5620 become G1096 (Perf2ActInd) your G5216 enemy G2190, because I tell G226 you G5213 the truth G226 (PresActPtc)?
[17] They zealously affect G2206 (PresActInd) you G5209, [but] not G3756 well G2573; yea G235, they would G2309 (PresActInd) exclude G1576 (AorActInf) you G5209, that G2443 ye might affect G2206 (PresActSubj) them G846.
[18] But G1161 [it is] good G2570 to be zealously affected G2206 (PresPasInf) always G3842 in G1722 [a] good G2570 [thing], and G2532 not G3361 only G3440 when G1722 I G3165 am present G3918 (PresInf) with G4314 you G5209.
[19] My G3450 little children G5040, of whom G3739 I travail in birth G5605 (PresActInd) again G3825 until G891 G3739 Christ G5547 be formed G3445 (AorPasSubj) in G1722 you G5213,
[20] G1161 I desire G2309 (ImpfActInd) to be present G3918 (PresInf) with G4314 you G5209 now G737, and G2532 to change G236 (AorActInf) my G3450 voice G5456; for G3754 I stand in doubt G639 (PresMidInd) of G1722 you G5213.
[21] Tell G3004 (PresActImpr) me G3427, ye that desire G2309 (PresActPtc) to be G1511 (PresInf) under G5259 the law G3551, do ye G191 not G3756 hear G191 (PresActInd) the law G3551?
[22] For G1063 it is written G1125 (PerfPasInd), that G3754 Abraham G11 had G2192 (Aor2ActInd) two G1417 sons G5207, the one G1520 by G1537 a bondmaid G3814, G2532 the other G1520 by G1537 a freewoman G1658.
[23] But G235 he G3303 [who was] of G1537 the bondwoman G3814 was born G1080 (PerfPasInd) after G2596 the flesh G4561; but G1161 he of G1537 the freewoman G1658 [was] by G1223 promise G1860.
[24] Which things G3748 are G2076 (PresInd) an allegory G238 (PresPasPtc): for G1063 these G3778 are G1526 (PresInd) the two G1417 covenants G1242; the one G3391 G3303 from G575 the mount G3735 Sinai G4614, which gendereth G1080 (PresActPtc) to G1519 bondage G1397, which G3748 is G2076 (PresInd) Agar G28.
[25] For G1063 this Agar G28 is G2076 (PresInd) mount G3735 Sinai G4614 in G1722 Arabia G688, and G1161 answereth G4960 (PresActInd) to Jerusalem G2419 which G3588 now is G3568, and G1161 is in bondage G1398 (PresActInd) with G3326 her G846 children G5043.
[26] But G1161 Jerusalem G2419 which is above G507 is G2076 (PresInd) free G1658, which G3748 is G2076 (PresInd) the mother G3384 of us G2257 all G3956.
[27] For G1063 it is written G1125 (PerfPasInd), Rejoice G2165 (AorPasImpr), [thou] barren G4723 that bearest G5088 (PresActPtc) not G3756; break forth G4486 (AorActImpr) and G2532 cry G994 (AorActImpr), thou that travailest G5605 (PresActPtc) not G3756: for G3754 the desolate G2048 hath many more G4183 children G5043 than G3123 G2228 she which hath G2192 (PresActPtc) an husband G435.
[28] Now G1161 we G2249, brethren G80, as G2596 Isaac G2464 was G2596, are G2070 (PresInd) the children G5043 of promise G1860.
[29] But G235 as G5618 then G5119 he that was born G1080 (AorPasPtc) after G2596 the flesh G4561 persecuted G1377 (ImpfActInd) him [that was born] after G2596 the Spirit G4151, even G2532 so G3779 [it is] now G3568.
[30] Nevertheless G235 what G5101 saith G3004 (PresActInd) the scripture G1124? Cast out G1544 (Aor2ActImpr) the bondwoman G3814 and G2532 her G846 son G5207: for G1063 the son G5207 of the bondwoman G3814 shall G2816 not G3364 be heir G2816 (AorActSubj) with G3326 the son G5207 of the freewoman G1658.
[31] So then G686, brethren G80, we are G2070 (PresInd) not G3756 children G5043 of the bondwoman G3814, but G235 of the free G1658.
Young’s Literal Translation
Galatians 4 (YLT)
[1] And I say, so long time as the heir is a babe, he differeth nothing from a servant-being lord of all,
[2] but is under tutors and stewards till the time appointed of the father,
[3] so also we, when we were babes, under the elements of the world were in servitude,
[4] and when the fulness of time did come, God sent forth His Son, come of a woman, come under law,
[5] that those under law he may redeem, that the adoption of sons we may receive;
[6] and because ye are sons, God did send forth the spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, ‘Abba, Father!’
[7] so that thou art no more a servant, but a son, and if a son, also an heir of God through Christ.
[8] But then, indeed, not having known God, ye were in servitude to those not by nature gods,
[9] and now, having known God-and rather being known by God-how turn ye again unto the weak and poor elements to which anew ye desire to be in servitude?
[10] days ye observe, and months, and times, and years!
[11] I am afraid of you, lest in vain I did labour toward you.
[12] Become as I am-because I also am as ye brethren, I beseech you; to me ye did no hurt,
[13] and ye have known that through infirmity of the flesh I did proclaim good news to you at the first,
[14] and my trial that is in my flesh ye did not despise nor reject, but as a messenger of God ye did receive me-as Christ Jesus;
[15] what then was your happiness? for I testify to you, that if possible, your eyes having plucked out, ye would have given to me;
[16] so that your enemy have I become, being true to you?
[17] they are zealous for you-yet not well, but they wish to shut us out, that for them ye may be zealous;
[18] and it is good to be zealously regarded, in what is good, at all times, and not only in my being present with you;
[19] my little children, of whom again I travail in birth, till Christ may be formed in you,
[20] and I was wishing to be present with you now, and to change my voice, because I am in doubt about you.
[21] Tell me, ye who are willing to be under law, the law do ye not hear?
[22] for it hath been written, that Abraham had two sons, one by the maid-servant, and one by the free-woman,
[23] but he who is of the maid-servant, according to flesh hath been, and he who is of the free-woman, through the promise;
[24] which things are allegorized, for these are the two covenants: one, indeed, from mount Sinai, to servitude bringing forth, which is Hagar;
[25] for this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and doth correspond to the Jerusalem that now is, and is in servitude with her children,
[26] and the Jerusalem above is the free-woman, which is mother of us all,
[27] for it hath been written, ‘Rejoice, O barren, who art not bearing; break forth and cry, thou who art not travailing, because many are the children of the desolate-more than of her having the husband.’
[28] And we, brethren, as Isaac, are children of promise,
[29] but as then he who was born according to the flesh did persecute him according to the spirit, so also now;
[30] but what saith the Writing? ‘Cast forth the maid-servant and her son, for the son of the maid-servant may not be heir with the son of the free-woman;’
[31] then, brethren, we are not a maid-servant’s children, but the free-woman’s.