Galatians 4:3

Galatians 4:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
• English Standard Version (ESV)In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world.
• New Living Translation (NLT)And that’s the way it was with us before Christ came. We were like children; we were slaves to the basic spiritual principles of this world.

Context of Galatians 4:3

1What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. 2The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world. 4But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.

Galatians 4:3 word by word

οὕτως καὶ ἡμεῖς ὅτε ἦμεν νήπιοι, ὑπὸ τὰ στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου ἤμεθα δεδουλωμένοι·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Evenκαίkai · andG2532
• soοὕτωςhoutō · thus(-ly)G3779
• weἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• whenὅτεhote ho te hē te tō te · whenG3753
• we wereεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• childrenνήπιοςnēpios · childG3516
• in bondageδουλόωdouloō · to enslaveG1402
• underὑπόhupo · by/under: underG5259
• the elementsὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the elementsστοιχεῖονstoicheion · principleG4747
• of the worldκόσμοςkosmos · worldG2889

Cross-references for Galatians 4:3

• Galatians 3:19Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels and entrusted to a mediator.
• Galatians 4:9But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?
• Galatians 2:4This matter arose because some false believers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves.
• Galatians 3:23Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed.
• Galatians 5:1It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
• Matthew 11:28“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
• John 8:31To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.
• Acts 15:10Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear?
• Romans 8:15The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
• Colossians 2:8See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.
• Hebrews 7:16one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life.

Commentaries on Galatians 4:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Even so we - The whole Jewish people were in a state of nonage while under the law. The elements of the world - A mere Jewish phrase, הזה עולם יסודי yesodey olam hazzeh, "the principles of this world;" that is, the rudiments or principles of the Jewish religion. The apostle intimates that the law was not the science of salvation, it was only the elements or alphabet of it; and in the Gospel this alphabet is composed into a most glorious system of Divine…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3Even so we - We who were Jews - for so I think the word here is to be limited, and not extended to the pagan, as Bloomfield supposes. The reasons for limiting it are: (1)That the pagans in no sense sustained such a relation to the Law and promises of Gad as is here supposed; (2)Such an interpretation would not be pertinent to the design of Paul. He is stating reasons why there should not be subjection to the laws of Moses, and his argument is, that that…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3Before Christ came, God's people were like young heirs to a large estate (4:1–2). They would inherit a great fortune (see 4:5), but they were still under their guardian's care (3:23–25). The basic spiritual principles of this world likely refer to the laws that govern the world without Jesus. These principles were fully expressed in the law of Moses (3:23–24; compare 4:5).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

In the dictionaries

• Doubt
• Elements
• Flesh
• Observe
• Zealously
• Adoption
• Babe
• Bondage
• Element; Elements
• Galatians, Epistle to the

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