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:
• New International Version (NIV)So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces 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.

Context of Galatians 4:3

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. 2They have to obey their guardians until they reach whatever age their father set. 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. 4But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. 5God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.

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? It was given alongside the promise to show people their sins. But the law was designed to last only until the coming of the child who was promised. God gave his law through angels to Moses, who was the mediator between God and the people.
• Galatians 4:9So now that you know God (or should I say, now that God knows you), why do you want to go back again and become slaves once more to the weak and useless spiritual principles of this world?
• Galatians 2:4Even that question came up only because of some so-called believers there—false ones, really—who were secretly brought in. They sneaked in to spy on us and take away the freedom we have in Christ Jesus. They wanted to enslave us and force us to follow their Jewish regulations.
• Galatians 3:23Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed.
• Galatians 5:1So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.
• Matthew 11:28Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
• John 8:31Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings.
• Acts 15:10So why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear?
• Romans 8:15So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”
• Colossians 2:8Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.
• Hebrews 7:16Jesus became a priest, not by meeting the physical requirement of belonging to the tribe of Levi, but by the power of a life that cannot be destroyed.

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