New Living Translation
Galatians 4:1
1Think of it this way. If a father dies and leaves an inheritance for his young children, those children are not much better off than slaves until they grow up, even though they actually own everything their father had.
Galatians 4:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
- New International Version (NIV)What 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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything,
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all,
Context of Galatians 4:1
Think of it this way. If a father dies and leaves an inheritance for his young children, those children are not much better off than slaves until they grow up, even though they actually own everything their father had. 2They have to obey their guardians until they reach whatever age their father set. 3And 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.
Read all of Galatians 4Galatians 4:1 word by word
Λέγω δέ, ἐφ᾽ ὅσον χρόνον ὁ κληρονόμος νήπιός ἐστιν, οὐδὲν διαφέρει δούλου κύριος πάντων ὤν·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Nowδέde · thenG1161
- I sayλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- the heirὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the heirκληρονόμοςklēronomos · heirG2818
- ·ἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
- as long asὅσοςhosos · just as/how muchG3745
- ·χρόνοςchronos · timeG5550
- he isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- a childνήπιοςnēpios · childG3516
- differethδιαφέρωdiapherō · to spread/surpassG1308
- nothingοὐδείςoudeis · noneG3762
- a servantδοῦλοςdoulos · slaveG1401
- lordκύριοςkurios · lord: masterG2962
- of allπᾶςpas · allG3956
Cross-references for Galatians 4:1
- Galatians 4:23The son of the slave wife was born in a human attempt to bring about the fulfillment of God’s promise. But the son of the freeborn wife was born as God’s own fulfillment of his promise.
- Genesis 24:2One day Abraham said to his oldest servant, the man in charge of his household, “Take an oath by putting your hand under my thigh.
- 2 Kings 10:1Ahab had seventy sons living in the city of Samaria. So Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria, to the elders and officials of the city, and to the guardians of King Ahab’s sons. He said,
- 2 Kings 11:12Then Jehoiada brought out Joash, the king’s son, placed the crown on his head, and presented him with a copy of God’s laws. They anointed him and proclaimed him king, and everyone clapped their hands and shouted, “Long live the king!”
- 2 Kings 12:2All his life Joash did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight because Jehoiada the priest instructed him.
Commentaries on Galatians 4:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1The heir, as long as He is a child - Though he be appointed by his father's will heir of all his possessions yet till he arrive at the legal age he is master of nothing, and does not differ from one of the common domestics.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Now I say - He had before said Galatians 3:24-25 that while they were under the Law they were in a state of minority. This sentiment he proceeds further to illustrate by showing the true condition of one who was a minor. That the heir - Any heir to an estate, or one who has a prospect of an inheritance. No matter how great is the estate; no matter how wealthy his father; no matter to how elevated a rank he may be raised on the moment that he enters on his…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The folly of returning to legal observances for justification. (1-7) The happy change made in the Gentile believers. (8-11) The apostle reasons against following false teachers. (12-18) He expresses his earnest concern for them. (19-20) And then explains the difference between what is to be expected from the law, and from the gospel. (21-31) Verses 1-7 The apostle deals plainly with those who urged the law of Moses together with the gospel of Christ, and…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-3A child who inherits an estate might get a large fortune. However, before reaching adulthood, the child must follow the rules of guardians and trustees until the time the father decides. In the same way, before Jesus came, God's people were under the guidance of the law of Moses (see 3:23–24).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 4:1
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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