Galatians 4:29

Galatians 4:29 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
• New International Version (NIV)At that time the son born according to the flesh persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now.

Context of Galatians 4:29

27For it is written [in the Scriptures], “Rejoice, o barren woman who has not given birth; Break forth into a [joyful] shout, you who are not in labor; For the desolate woman has many more children Than she who has a husband.” 28And we, [believing] brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children [not merely of physical descent, like Ishmael, but are children born] of promise [born miraculously]. But as at that time the child [of ordinary birth] born according to the flesh persecuted the son who was born according to [the promise and working of] the Spirit, so it is now also. 30But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the bondwoman [Hagar] and her son [Ishmael], For never shall the son of the bondwoman be heir and share the inheritance with the son of the free woman.” 31So then, believers, we [who are born again—reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose] are not children of a slave woman [the natural], but of the free woman [the supernatural].

Galatians 4:29 word by word

ἀλλ᾽ ὥσπερ τότε ὁ κατὰ σάρκα γεννηθεὶς ἐδίωκεν τὸν κατὰ πνεῦμα οὕτως καὶ νῦν·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butἀλλάalla · butG235
• asὥσπερhōsper · just asG5618
• thenτότεtote · thenG5119
• he thatὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• was bornγεννάωgennaō · to begetG1080
• afterκατάkata · according toG2596
• the fleshσάρξsarx · fleshG4561
• persecutedδιώκωdiōkō · to pursueG1377
• the Spiritπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
• evenκαίkai · andG2532
• soοὕτωςhoutō · thus(-ly)G3779
• nowνῦνnun · nowG3568

Cross-references for Galatians 4:29

• Genesis 21:9Now [as time went on] Sarah saw [Ishmael] the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, mocking [Isaac].
• John 3:5Jesus answered, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot [ever] enter the kingdom of God.
• John 15:9I have loved you just as the Father has loved Me; remain in My love [and do not doubt My love for you].
• Romans 8:1Therefore there is now no condemnation [no guilty verdict, no punishment] for those who are in Christ Jesus [who believe in Him as personal Lord and Savior].
• Galatians 5:11But as for me, brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision [as I had done before I met Christ; and as some accuse me of doing now, as necessary for salvation], why am I still being persecuted [by Jews]? In that case the stumbling block of the cross [to unbelieving Jews] has been abolished.
• Galatians 6:12Those who want to make a good impression in public [before the Jews] try to compel you to be circumcised, just so they will escape being persecuted for [faithfulness to] the cross of Christ.
• Matthew 23:34“Therefore, take notice, I am sending you prophets and wise men [interpreters, teachers] and scribes [men educated in the Mosaic Law and the writings of the prophets]; some of them you will kill and even crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues, and pursue and persecute from city to city,
• 1 Thessalonians 2:14For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, because you too suffered the same [kind of] persecution from your own countrymen, as they did from the Jews,
• Hebrews 10:33sometimes by being made a spectacle, publicly exposed to insults and distress, and sometimes by becoming companions with those who were so treated.

Commentaries on Galatians 4:29

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 29But as then he - Ishmael, who was born after the flesh - whose birth had nothing supernatural in it, but was according to the ordinary course of nature, Persecuted him - Isaac, who was born after the Spirit - who had a supernatural birth, according to the promise, and through the efficacy, of the Holy Spirit, giving effect to that promise - Sarah shall have a son, Genesis 17:16-21; Genesis 21:1, etc. Persecuted him; the persecution here referred to is…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 29But as then he that was born after the flesh - Ishmael; see Galatians 4:23. Persecuted him that was born after the Spirit - That is, Isaac. The phrase, “after the Spirit,” here, is synonymous with “according to the promise” in the previous verse. It stands opposed to the phrase “after the flesh,” and means that his birth was by the special or miraculous agency of God; see Genesis 21:9, where it is said that “Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 28-31Verses 28-31 The history thus explained is applied. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bond-woman, but of the free. If the privileges of all believers were so great, according to the new covenant, how absurd for the Gentile converts to be under that law, which could not deliver the unbelieving Jews from bondage or condemnation! We should not have found out this allegory in the history of Sarah and Hagar, if it had not been shown to us, yet we…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 29Isaac was the promised child. During his weaning celebration, Ishmael treated Isaac badly (see Genesis 21:9). Similarly, in Galatia, people who insisted on following the law were treating badly those who trusted in God's promise, the message of God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone (compare Acts 13:50–51; 14:1–7).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2929. persecuted--Ishmael "mocked" Isaac, which contained in it the germ and spirit of persecution (Ge 21:9). His mocking was probably directed against Isaac's piety and faith in God's promises. Being the older by natural birth, he haughtily prided himself above him that was born by promise: as Cain hated Abel's piety. him ... born after the Spirit--The language, though referring primarily to Isaac, born in a spiritual way (namely, by the promise or word of…Read the comment

Topics related to Galatians 4:29

• Abraham
• Justification
• Parables
• Persecution
• Regeneration

In the dictionaries

• Doubt
• Flesh
• Observe
• Sarah
• Zealously
• Abraham
• Allegory
• Galatians, Epistle to the
• Ishmael (1)
• Pauline Theology

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