Galatians 4:24

Galatians 4:24 in other versions

• King James Version (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.
• New International Version (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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar.
• New King James Version (NKJV)which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar—

Context of Galatians 4:24

22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman [Hagar] and one by the free woman [Sarah]. 23But the child of the slave woman was born according to the flesh and had an ordinary birth, while the son of the free woman was born in fulfillment of the promise. Now these facts are about to be used [by me] as an allegory [that is, I will illustrate by using them]: for these women can represent two covenants: one [covenant originated] from Mount Sinai [where the Law was given] that bears children [destined] for slavery; she is Hagar. 25Now Hagar is (represents) Mount Sinai in Arabia and she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26But the Jerusalem above [that is, the way of faith, represented by Sarah] is free; she is our mother.

Galatians 4:24 word by word

ἅτινά ἐστιν ἀλληγορούμενα· αὗται γάρ εἰσιν δύο διαθῆκαι, μία μὲν ἀπὸ ὄρους Σινᾶ εἰς δουλείαν γεννῶσα ἥτις ἐστὶν Ἁγάρ.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Which thingsὅστιςhostis hētis ho6ti · who/whichG3748
• areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• an allegoryἀλληγορέωallēgoreo · to use an analogyG238
• forγάρgar · forG1063
• theseοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• theδιαθήκηdiathēkē · covenantG1242
• twoδύοduo · twoG1417
• the oneεἷςheis · oneG1520
• ·μένmen · on the other handG3303
• fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
• the mountὄροςoros · mountainG3735
• SinaiΣινᾶSina · (Mount) SinaiG4614
• which genderethγεννάωgennaō · to begetG1080
• toεἰςeis · towardG1519
• bondageδουλείαdouleia · slaveryG1397
• AgarἌγαρAgar · HagarG28
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588

Cross-references for Galatians 4:24

• Ezekiel 20:49Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! They are saying of me, ‘Is he not [just] speaking in parables and making allegories?’ ”
• Hosea 11:10They will walk after the Lord [in obedience and worship], Who will roar like a lion; He will roar [summoning them] And His sons will come trembling from the west.
• Matthew 13:35This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet: “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things [unknown and unattainable] that have been hidden [from mankind] since the foundation of the world.”
• 1 Corinthians 10:11Now these things happened to them as an example and warning [to us]; they were written for our instruction [to admonish and equip us], upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
• Hebrews 11:19For he considered [it reasonable to believe] that God was able to raise Isaac even from among the dead. [Indeed, in the sense that he was prepared to sacrifice Isaac in obedience to God] Abraham did receive him back [from the dead] figuratively speaking.
• Galatians 4:25Now Hagar is (represents) Mount Sinai in Arabia and she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.
• Luke 22:19And when He had taken bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
• 1 Corinthians 10:4and all [of them] drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ.
• Galatians 3:15Brothers and sisters, I speak in terms of human relations: even though a last will and testament is just a human covenant, yet when it has been signed and made legally binding, no one sets it aside or adds to it [modifying it in some way].
• Hebrews 7:22And so [because of the oath’s greater strength and force] Jesus has become the certain guarantee of a better covenant [a more excellent and more advantageous agreement; one that will never be replaced or annulled].
• Hebrews 8:6But as it is, Christ has acquired a [priestly] ministry which is more excellent [than the old Levitical priestly ministry], for He is the Mediator (Arbiter) of a better covenant [uniting God and man], which has been enacted and rests on better promises.
• Hebrews 9:15For this reason He is the Mediator and Negotiator of a new covenant [that is, an entirely new agreement uniting God and man], so that those who have been called [by God] may receive [the fulfillment of] the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has taken place [as the payment] which redeems them from the sins committed under the obsolete first covenant.
• Hebrews 10:15And the Holy Spirit also adds His testimony to us [in confirmation of this]; for after having said,
• Hebrews 12:24and to Jesus, the Mediator of a new covenant [uniting God and man], and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks [of mercy], a better and nobler and more gracious message than the blood of Abel [which cried out for vengeance].
• Hebrews 13:20Now may the God of peace [the source of serenity and spiritual well-being] who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood that sealed and ratified the eternal covenant,
• Galatians 5:1It was for this freedom that Christ set us free [completely liberating us]; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery [which you once removed].

Commentaries on Galatians 4:24

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 24Which things are an allegory - They are to be understood spiritually; more being intended in the account than meets the eye. Allegory, from , another, and , or , to speak, signifies a thing that is a representative of another, where the literal sense is the representative of a spiritual meaning; or, as the glossary expresses it, ̔ , · "where the thing is to be understood differently in the interpretation than it appears in the reading." Allegories are…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 24Which things - The different accounts of Ishmael and Isaac. Are an allegory - May be regarded allegorically, or as illustrating great principles in regard to the condition of slaves and freemen; and may therefore be used to illustrate the effect of servitude to the Law of Moses compared with the freedom of the gospel. He does not mean to say that the historical record of Moses was not true, or was merely allegorical; nor does he mean to say that Moses…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 21-27Verses 21-27 The difference between believers who rested in Christ only, and those who trusted in the law, is explained by the histories of Isaac and Ishmael. These things are an allegory, wherein, beside the literal and historical sense of the words, the Spirit of God points out something further. Hagar and Sarah were apt emblems of the two different dispensations of the covenant. The heavenly Jerusalem, the true church from above, represented by Sarah…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 24serve as illustrations (literally are being allegorized): In allegorical writing, every character and event symbolizes a deeper meaning. Allegorical interpretations often ignore the text's historical meaning and create imaginative meanings. Here, however, Paul understood the story in its historical context and saw it as history. But he interpreted the story's characters as symbols of the current situation. Paul's opponents were also using allegorical…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2424. are an allegory--rather, "are allegorical," that is, have another besides the literal meaning. these are the two covenants--"these [women] are (that is, mean; omit 'the' with all the oldest manuscripts) two covenants." As among the Jews the bondage of the mother determined that of the child, the children of the free covenant of promise, answering to Sarah, are free; the children of the legal covenant of bondage are not so. one from--that is, taking…Read the comment

Topics related to Galatians 4:24

• Abraham
• Allegory
• Hagar
• Justification
• Parables
• Sinai

In the dictionaries

• Sinai
• Sinai, or Sinai
• Sinai, Horeb
• Allegory
• Doubt
• Flesh
• Hagar
• Observe
• Sarah
• Zealously

Commentaries on Galatians 4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings