Darby Bible
Galatians 4:23
23But he [that was] of the maid servant was born according to flesh, and he [that was] of the free woman through the promise.
Galatians 4:23 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
- New International Version (NIV)His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise.
- English Standard Version (ESV)But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise.
- New King James Version (NKJV)But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise,
Context of Galatians 4:23
21Tell me, ye who are desirous of being under law, do ye not listen to the law? 22For it is written that Abraham had two sons; one of the maid servant, and one of the free woman. But he [that was] of the maid servant was born according to flesh, and he [that was] of the free woman through the promise. 24Which things have an allegorical sense; for these are two covenants: one from mount Sinai, gendering to bondage, which is Hagar. 25For Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which [is] now, for she is in bondage with her children;
Read all of Galatians 4Galatians 4:23 word by word
ἀλλ᾽ ὁ μὲν ἐκ τῆς παιδίσκης κατὰ σάρκα γεγέννηται, ὁ δὲ ἐκ τῆς ἐλευθέρας δι᾽ ἐπαγγελίας.Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Galatians 4:23
- Romans 9:7nor because they are seed of Abraham [are] all children: but, In Isaac shall a seed be called to thee.
- Genesis 17:15And God said to Abraham, [As to] Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name.
- Genesis 18:10And he said, I will certainly return to thee at [this] time of the year, and behold, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah was listening at the tent-door, which was behind him.
- Genesis 21:1And Jehovah visited Sarah as he had said, and Jehovah did to Sarah as he had spoken.
- Romans 4:18who against hope believed in hope to his becoming father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be:
- Romans 10:8But what says it? The word is near thee, in thy mouth and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach:
- Hebrews 11:11By faith also Sarah herself received strength for [the] conception of seed, and [that] beyond a seasonable age; since she counted him faithful who promised.
Commentaries on Galatians 4:23
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23Was born after the flesh - Ishmael was born according to the course of nature, his parents being both of a proper age, so that there was nothing uncommon or supernatural in his birth: this is the proper meaning of the apostle's , after or according to the flesh, and answers to the Hebrew phrase, בשר דרך על al derec basar, according to the manner of the flesh, i.e. naturally, according to the common process of nature. By promise - Both Abraham and Sarah…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh - In the ordinary course of nature, without any special promise, or any unusual divine interposition, as in the case of Isaac. But he of the free woman - The birth of Isaac was in accordance with a special promise, and by a remarkable divine interposition; see Genesis 18:10; Genesis 21:1-2; Hebrews 11:11-12; compare the notes at Romans 4:19-21. The idea here of Paul is, that the son of the slave…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. 22-23Ishmael was the son of the slave woman, Hagar. She was Sarah's servant (see Genesis 16:15). Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham, trying to get the heir God promised through human efforts (see Genesis 16:1–4). Isaac, Sarah's son, was born to the free woman (see Genesis 21:2–3). God did something miraculous to help Sarah have this baby. This fulfilled God's promise (see Genesis 17:15–21).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2323. after the flesh--born according to the usual course of nature: in contrast to Isaac, who was born "by virtue of the promise" (so the Greek), as the efficient cause of Sarah's becoming pregnant out of the course of nature (Ro 4:19). Abraham was to lay aside all confidence in the flesh (after which Ishmael was born), and to live by faith alone in the promise (according to which Isaac was miraculously born, contrary to all calculations of flesh and…Read the comment
Topics related to Galatians 4:23
In the dictionaries
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
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Commentaries