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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0; maximum-scale=1.0; user-scalable=0;"/><title>Galatians 4 ISV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/galatians/4.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/galatians/4-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">ISV</a> > Galatians 4</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../galatians/3.htm" title="Galatians 3">◄</a> Galatians 4 <a href="../galatians/5.htm" title="Galatians 5">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">International Standard Version</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/isv/esv/galatians/4.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/galatians/4-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>Now what I am saying is this: As long as an heir is a child, he is no better off than a slave, even though he owns everything. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/galatians/4-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>Instead, he is placed under the care of<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="4:2 The Gk. lacks the care of">a</a></span> guardians and servant managers until the time set by the father. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/galatians/4-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>It was the same way with us. While we were children, we were slaves to the basic principles of the world.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="4:3 Or the elemental spirits of the universe">b</a></span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/galatians/4-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>But when the appropriate time had come, God sent his Son, born by a woman, born under the Law, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/galatians/4-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>in order to redeem those who were under the Law, and thus to adopt them as his children. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/galatians/4-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>Now because you are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="4:6 Other mss. read your">c</a></span> hearts to cry out, “Abba!<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="4:6 Abba is Aram. for Father.">d</a></span> Father!” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/galatians/4-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if you are a child, then you are also an heir because of what God did.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/galatians/4-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>However, in the past, when you did not know God, you were slaves to things that are not really gods at all.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="4:8 Lit. gods by nature">e</a></span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/galatians/4-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>But now that you know God, or rather have been known by God, how can you turn back again to those powerless and bankrupt basic principles?<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="4:9 Or elemental spirits">f</a></span> Why do you want to become their slaves all over again? <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/galatians/4-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>You are observing days, months, seasons, and years. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/galatians/4-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>I am afraid for you! I don’t want my work for you to have<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="4:11 Lit. you, lest somehow my work for you has">g</a></span> been wasted!</p> <p class="heading">Paul’s Concern for the Galatians</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/galatians/4-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>I beg you, brothers, to become like me, since I became like you. You did not do anything wrong to me. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/galatians/4-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>You know that it was because I was ill<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="4:13 Lit. because of a weakness of the flesh">h</a></span> that I brought you the gospel the first time. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/galatians/4-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>Even though my condition put you to the test, you did not despise or reject me. On the contrary, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, or as if I were the Messiah<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="4:14 Or Christ">i</a></span> Jesus. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/galatians/4-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>What, then, happened to your positive attitude?<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="4:15 Lit. your blessedness">j</a></span> For I testify that if it had been possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/galatians/4-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>So have I now become your enemy for telling you the truth?</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/galatians/4-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>These people who have been instructing you<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="4:17 Lit. They">k</a></span> are devoted to you, but not in a good way. They want you to avoid me so that you will be devoted to them. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/galatians/4-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>(Now it is always good to be devoted to a good cause, even when I am not with you.) <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/galatians/4-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>My children, I am suffering birth pains for you again until the Messiah<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="4:19 Or Christ">l</a></span> is formed in you. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/galatians/4-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>Indeed, I wish I were with you right now so that I could change the tone of my voice, because I am completely baffled by you!</p> <p class="heading">You are Children of a Free Woman</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/galatians/4-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>Tell me, those of you who want to live under the Law: Are you really listening to what the Law says? <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/galatians/4-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and the other by a free woman. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/galatians/4-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>Now the slave woman’s son was conceived through human means, while the free woman’s son was conceived through divine<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="4:23 The Gk. lacks divine">m</a></span> promise. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/galatians/4-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>This is being said as an allegory, for these women represent two covenants. The one woman, Hagar, is from Mount Sinai, and her children are born into slavery. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/galatians/4-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to present-day Jerusalem, because she is in slavery along with her children. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/galatians/4-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>But the heavenly Jerusalem is the free woman, and she is our spiritual mother.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="4:26 Other mss. read the mother of us all">n</a></span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/galatians/4-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>For it is written,</p> <p class="poetry1 margintop">“Rejoice, you childless woman,</p> <p class="poetry2">who cannot give birth to any children!</p> <p class="poetry2">Break into song and shout,</p> <p class="poetry2">you who feel no pains of childbirth!</p> <p class="poetry2">For the children of the deserted woman</p> <p class="poetry2">are more numerous than the children</p> <p class="poetry2 marginbot">of the woman who has a husband.”<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="4:27 Isa 54:1">o</a></span> </p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/galatians/4-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>So you,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="4:28 Other mss. read we">p</a></span> brothers, are children of the promise, like Isaac. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/galatians/4-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>But just as then the son who was conceived according to the flesh persecuted the son who was conceived according to the Spirit, so it is now. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/galatians/4-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>But what does the Scripture say? “Drive out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman must never share the inheritance with the son of the free woman.”<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="4:30 Gen 21:10">q</a></span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/galatians/4-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span>So then, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman but of the free woman.</p><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><A name="ftn"></a><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="fn1"><span class="fnb">a</span> 4:2 The Gk. lacks <i>the care of</i><br /><span class="fnb">b</span> 4:3 Or <i>the elemental spirits of the universe</i><br /><span class="fnb">c</span> 4:6 Other mss. read <i>your</i><br /><span class="fnb">d</span> 4:06<i>Abba</i> is Aram. for <i>Father.</i><br /><span class="fnb">e</span> 4:8 Lit. <i>gods by nature</i><br /><span class="fnb">f</span> 4:9 Or <i>elemental spirits</i><br /><span class="fnb">g</span> 4:11 Lit. <i>you, lest somehow my work for you has</i><br /><span class="fnb">h</span> 4:13 Lit. <i>because of a weakness of the flesh</i><br /><span class="fnb">i</span> 4:14 Or <i>Christ</i><br /><span class="fnb">j</span> 4:15 Lit. <i>your blessedness</i><br /><span class="fnb">k</span> 4:17 Lit. <i>They</i><br /><span class="fnb">l</span> 4:19 Or <i>Christ</i><br /><span class="fnb">m</span> 4:23 The Gk. lacks <i>divine</i><br /><span class="fnb">n</span> 4:26 Other mss. read <i>the mother of us all</i><br /><span class="fnb">o</span> 4:27 Isa 54:1<br /><span class="fnb">p</span> 4:28 Other mss. read <i>we</i><br /><span class="fnb">q</span> 4:30 Gen 21:10<br /></span><br><br><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><div align="center"><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1<br />Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation<br />ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/">Bible Hub</a></div></div></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="../galatians/3.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Galatians 3"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Galatians 3" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../galatians/5.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Galatians 5"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Galatians 5" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="rightbox"><div class="padright"><div id="pic"><iframe width="100%" height="860" scrolling="no" src="//biblescan.com/mpc/galatians/4-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="rightbox4"><div class="padright2"><div id="spons1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tr><td class="sp1"><iframe width="122" height="860" scrolling="no" src="../sidemenu.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="bot"><div align="center" style="background-color:#F2FAFF"><br /><br /><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>  <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="6710025936" data-ad-format="auto"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></td></tr></table><br /><br /><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>  <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="6710025936" data-ad-format="auto"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /> </div><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/botmenubhnm2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe><div align="center"><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span></div></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>