Galatians 4:2

Galatians 4:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
• New International Version (NIV)The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father.
• English Standard Version (ESV)but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father.
• New King James Version (NKJV)but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father.

Context of Galatians 4:2

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. They 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. 4But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.

Galatians 4:2 word by word

ἀλλ᾽ ὑπὸ ἐπιτρόπους ἐστὶν καὶ οἰκονόμους ἄχρι τῆς προθεσμίας τοῦ πατρός.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butἀλλάalla · butG235
• isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• underὑπόhupo · by/under: underG5259
• tutorsἐπίτροποςepitropos · managerG2012
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• governorsοἰκονόμοςoikonomos · managerG3623
• untilἄχριachri achris · untilG891
• the time appointedὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the time appointedπροθεσμίαprothesmios · set timeG4287
• of the fatherπατήρpatēr · fatherG3962

Commentaries on Galatians 4:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2But is under tutors - · Guardians and governors; · those who have the charge of the family. These words are nearly similar; but we may consider the first as executor, the last as the person who superintends the concerns of the family and estate till the heir become of age; such as we call trustee. Until the time appointed of the father - The time mentioned in the father's will or testament.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2But is under - Is subject to their control and direction. Tutors - The word tutor with us properly means instructor. But this is not quite the sense of the original. The word ( ́ epitropos); properly means a steward, manager, agent; Matthew 20:8; Luke 8:3. As used here, it refers to one - usually a slave or a freedman - to whose care the boys of a family were committed, who trained them up, accompanied them to school, or sometimes instructed them at home…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 4:2

• Children
• Heir
• Instruction
• Minors
• Tutor

In the dictionaries

• Doubt
• Flesh
• Governor
• Observe
• Zealously
• Adoption
• Galatians, Epistle to the
• Law in the New Testament
• Patrimony
• Paul, the Apostle

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