Galatians 4:27

Galatians 4:27 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
• New International Version (NIV)For it is written: “Be glad, barren woman, you who never bore a child; shout for joy and cry aloud, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)For it is written, "Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband."
• New Living Translation (NLT)As Isaiah said, “Rejoice, O childless woman, you who have never given birth! Break into a joyful shout, you who have never been in labor! For the desolate woman now has more children than the woman who lives with her husband!”

Context of Galatians 4:27

25for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children— 26but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written: “Rejoice, O barren, You who do not bear! Break forth and shout, You who are not in labor! For the desolate has many more children Than she who has a husband.” 28Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. 29But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now.

Galatians 4:27 word by word

γέγραπται γάρ· εὐφράνθητι στεῖρα ἡ οὐ τίκτουσα, ῥῆξον καὶ βόησον ἡ οὐκ ὠδίνουσα, ὅτι πολλὰ τὰ τέκνα τῆς ἐρήμου μᾶλλον ἢ τῆς ἐχούσης τὸν ἄνδρα.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• it is writtenγράφωgraphō · to writeG1125
• Rejoiceεὐφραίνωeuphrainō · to celebrateG2165
• barrenστεῖραsteiros · barrenG4723
• thatὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• bearestτίκτωtiktō · to give birth toG5088
• notοὐou · noG3756
• break forthῥήγνυμιrhēgnumi rhēssō · to throw violentlyG4486
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• cryβοάωboaō · to cry outG994
• travailestὠδίνωōdinō · be in laborG5605
• forὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• the desolate hathἔρημοςerēmos · desertedG2048
• manyπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
• moreμᾶλλονmallon · moreG3123
• childrenτέκνονteknon · childG5043
• thanἤē · orG2228
• hathἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• an husbandἀνήρanēr · man: husbandG435

Cross-references for Galatians 4:27

• Isaiah 54:1“Sing, O barren, You who have not borne! Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, You who have not labored with child! For more are the children of the desolate Than the children of the married woman,” says the Lord.
• 1 Samuel 2:5Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, And the hungry have ceased to hunger. Even the barren has borne seven, And she who has many children has become feeble.
• Psalms 113:9He grants the barren woman a home, Like a joyful mother of children. Praise the Lord!
• Ruth 1:11But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
• Ruth 4:14Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a close relative; and may his name be famous in Israel!
• 2 Samuel 13:20And Absalom her brother said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now hold your peace, my sister. He is your brother; do not take this thing to heart.” So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s house.
• Isaiah 49:21Then you will say in your heart, ‘Who has begotten these for me, Since I have lost my children and am desolate, A captive, and wandering to and fro? And who has brought these up? There I was, left alone; But these, where were they?’ ”
• 1 Timothy 5:5Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day.

Commentaries on Galatians 4:27

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 27Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not - This quotation is taken from Isaiah 54:1, and is certainly a promise which relates to the conversion of the Gentiles, as the following clause proves; for the desolate - the Gentile world, hath many more children - is a much larger and more numerous Church, than she - Jerusalem, the Jewish state, which hath a husband - has been so long in covenant with God, living under his continual protection, and in possession of…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 27For it is written - This passage is found in Isaiah 54:1. For an exposition of its meaning as it occurs there, see my notes at Isaiah. The object of the apostle in introducing it here seems to be to prove that the Gentiles as well as the Jews would partake of the privileges connected with the heavenly Jerusalem. He had in the previous verse spoken of the Jerusalem from above as the common mother of all, true Christians, whether by birth Jews or Gentiles…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. 27The quoted passage, Isaiah 54:1, promised Israel they would thrive after the exile to Babylon. Those who have faith in Jesus Christ are Sarah’s children (Galatians 4:26). This fulfills the promise that Sarah, who was childless, would have more children than Hagar, the slave woman. To the Judaizers (those who insisted on following Jewish law), people not following the law might seem desolate (spiritually barren or unfruitful), but through faith, they…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2727. (Is 54:1). thou barren--Jerusalem above: the spiritual Church of the Gospel, the fruit of "the promise," answering to Sarah, who bore not "after the flesh": as contrasted with the law, answering to Hagar, who was fruitful in the ordinary course of nature. Isaiah speaks primarily of Israel's restoration after her long-continued calamities; but his language is framed by the Holy Spirit so as to reach beyond this to the spiritual Zion: including not only…Read the comment

Topics related to Galatians 4:27

• Abraham
• Justification
• Parables
• Quotations and Allusions

In the dictionaries

• Doubt
• Flesh
• Observe
• Sarah
• Zealously
• Abraham
• Allegory
• Barren; Barrenness
• Break
• Cry, Crying

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