Galatians 4:7

Galatians 4:7 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
• New International Version (NIV)So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.
• English Standard Version (ESV)So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Context of Galatians 4:7

5so that He might redeem and liberate those who were under the Law, that we [who believe] might be adopted as sons [as God’s children with all rights as fully grown members of a family]. 6And because you [really] are [His] sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba! Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave (bond-servant), but a son; and if a son, then also an heir through [the gracious act of] God [through Christ]. 8But at that time, when you did not know [the true] God and were unacquainted with Him, you [Gentiles] were slaves to those [pagan] things which by [their very] nature were not and could not be gods at all. 9Now, however, since you have come to know [the true] God [through personal experience], or rather to be known by God, how is it that you are turning back again to the weak and worthless elemental principles [of religions and philosophies], to which you want to be enslaved all over again?

Galatians 4:7 word by word

ὥστε οὐκέτι εἶ δοῦλος ἀλλ᾽ υἱός· εἰ δὲ υἱός, καὶ κληρονόμος διὰ θεοῦRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Whereforeὥστεhōste · soG5620
• thou artεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• no moreοὐκέτιouketi · not any moreG3765
• a servantδοῦλοςdoulos · slaveG1401
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• a sonυἱόςuihos · sonG5207
• andδέde · thenG1161
• ifεἰei · ifG1487
• thenκαίkai · andG2532
• an heirκληρονόμοςklēronomos · heirG2818
• of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• throughδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547

Cross-references for Galatians 4:7

• Galatians 4:1Now what I mean [when I talk about children and their guardians] is this: as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave even though he is the [future owner and] master of all [the estate];
• 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].
• Galatians 3:26For you [who are born-again have been reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified and] are all children of God [set apart for His purpose with full rights and privileges] through faith in Christ Jesus.
• Galatians 3:29And if you belong to Christ [if you are in Him], then you are Abraham’s descendants, and [spiritual] heirs according to [God’s] promise.
• Romans 8:16The Spirit Himself testifies and confirms together with our spirit [assuring us] that we [believers] are children of God.
• Genesis 15:1After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; Your reward [for obedience] shall be very great.”
• Genesis 17:7I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you.
• Psalms 16:5The Lord is the portion of my inheritance, my cup [He is all I need]; You support my lot.
• Psalms 73:26My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the rock and strength of my heart and my portion forever.
• Jeremiah 10:16The Portion of Jacob [the true God on whom Israel has a claim] is not like these; For He is the Designer and Maker of all things, And Israel is the tribe of His inheritance [and He will not fail them]— The Lord of hosts is His name.
• Jeremiah 31:33“But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” says the Lord, “I will put My law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they will be My people.
• Jeremiah 32:38They will be My people, and I will be their God;
• Lamentations 3:24“The Lord is my portion and my inheritance,” says my soul; “Therefore I have hope in Him and wait expectantly for Him.”
• 1 Corinthians 3:21So let no one boast in men [about their wisdom, or of having this or that one as a leader]. For all things are yours,
• 2 Corinthians 6:16What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said: “I will dwell among them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
• Revelation 21:7He who overcomes [the world by adhering faithfully to Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior] will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.

Commentaries on Galatians 4:7

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7Thou art no more a servant - Thou who hast believed in Christ art no longer a slave, either under the dominion of sin or under obligation to the Mosaic ritual; but a son of God, adopted into the heavenly family. And if a son, then an heir - Having a right to the inheritance, because one of the family, for none can inherit but the children; but this heirship is the most extraordinary of all: it is not an heirship of any tangible possession, either in…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7Wherefore - In consequence of this privilege of addressing God as your Father. Thou art no more - You who are Christians. A servant - In the servitude of sin; or treated as a servant by being bound under the oppressive rites and ceremonies of the Law; compare the note at Galatians 4:3 But a son - A child of God, adopted into his family, and to be treated as a son. And if a son … - Entitled to all the privileges of a son, and of course to be regarded as an…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-7Paul argues that the purpose of the law of Moses for God's children was fulfilled when Jesus came, so we are no longer bound by it.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-311-7. The fact of God's sending His Son to redeem us who were under the law (Ga 4:4), and sending the Spirit of His Son into our hearts (Ga 4:6), confirms the conclusion (Ga 3:29) that we are "heirs according to the promise." the heir--(Ga 3:29). It is not, as in earthly inheritances, the death of the father, but our Father's sovereign will simply that makes us heirs. child--Greek, "one under age." differeth nothing, &c.--that is, has no more freedom than…Read the comment

Topics related to Galatians 4:7

• Adoption
• God
• Heir
• Jesus Continued

In the dictionaries

• Christ
• God
• Christ, Messiah
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Doubt
• Flesh
• Observe
• Zealously
• Adoption
• Bondservant

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