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class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/galatians/4.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/galatians/4.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/galatians/4.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />And you, dear brothers and sisters, are children of the promise, just like Isaac.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/galatians/4.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/galatians/4.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/galatians/4.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/galatians/4.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/galatians/4.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Now we, brethren, as Isaac <i>was,</i> are children of promise.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/galatians/4.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />And you, brothers <i>and sisters,</i> like Isaac, are children of promise.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/galatians/4.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/galatians/4.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/galatians/4.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And you brothers, in accordance with Isaac, are children of promise.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/galatians/4.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />And we, [believing] brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children [not merely of physical descent, like Ishmael, but are children born] of promise [born miraculously].<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/galatians/4.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now you too, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/galatians/4.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/galatians/4.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/galatians/4.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />My friends, you were born because of this promise, just as Isaac was. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/galatians/4.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/galatians/4.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Now you, brothers and sisters, are children of the promise like Isaac.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/galatians/4.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Now, you, my friends, are God's children as a result of his promise, just as Isaac was. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/galatians/4.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />So you, brothers, are children of the promise, like Isaac. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/galatians/4.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now we, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/galatians/4.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />But you, brothers and sisters, are children of the promise like Isaac.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/galatians/4.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Now you, brothers, as Isaac was, are children of promise.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/galatians/4.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/galatians/4.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />But you, brethren, like Isaac, are children born in fulfilment of a promise.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/galatians/4.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Now we, brothers, as Isaac was, are children of promise. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/galatians/4.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And we, brothers, as Isaac, are children of promise,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/galatians/4.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/galatians/4.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And we, brethren, as Isaac, are children of promise,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/galatians/4.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And we, brethren, as Isaac, are children of promise.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/galatians/4.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/galatians/4.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Now we, brothers, like Isaac, are sons of the promise.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/galatians/4.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of the promise.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/galatians/4.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Now you, my friends, are children of the promise, like Isaac.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/galatians/4.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Now we, my brethren, are the children of promise, as was Isaac.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/aramaic-plain-english/galatians/4.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a></span><br />But we, my brethren, are children of The Promise like Isaac.<div class="vheading2"><b>NT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/anderson/galatians/4.htm">Anderson New Testament</a></span><br />We, indeed, brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/godbey/galatians/4.htm">Godbey New Testament</a></span><br />But you, brethren, are the children of Isaac, according to the promise.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/haweis/galatians/4.htm">Haweis New Testament</a></span><br />So we, brethren, as Isaac, are the children of the promise.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/mace/galatians/4.htm">Mace New Testament</a></span><br />Now we, my brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of the promise.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/galatians/4.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />But you, brethren, like Isaac, are children born in fulfilment of a promise.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worrell/galatians/4.htm">Worrell New Testament</a></span><br />But ye, brethren, after the manner of Isaac, are children of promise.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worsley/galatians/4.htm">Worsley New Testament</a></span><br />Now we, brethren, like Isaac, are children of <i>the</i> promise.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/galatians/4-28.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Jv8Ri4CeT34?start=940" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/galatians/4.htm">Hagar and Sarah</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">27</span>For it is written: “Rejoice, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have never travailed; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.” <span class="reftext">28</span><span class="highl"><a href="/greek/1161.htm" title="1161: de (Conj) -- A primary particle; but, and, etc.">Now</a> <a href="/greek/4771.htm" title="4771: Hymeis (PPro-N2P) -- You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.">you,</a> <a href="/greek/80.htm" title="80: adelphoi (N-VMP) -- A brother, member of the same religious community, especially a fellow-Christian. A brother near or remote.">brothers,</a> <a href="/greek/2596.htm" title="2596: kata (Prep) -- A primary particle; down, in varied relations (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined).">like</a> <a href="/greek/2464.htm" title="2464: Isaak (N-AMS) -- (Hebrew), Isaac, the patriarch. Of Hebrew origin; Isaac, the son of Abraham.">Isaac,</a> <a href="/greek/1510.htm" title="1510: este (V-PIA-2P) -- I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.">are</a> <a href="/greek/5043.htm" title="5043: tekna (N-NNP) -- A child, descendent, inhabitant. From the base of timoria; a child.">children</a> <a href="/greek/1860.htm" title="1860: epangelias (N-GFS) -- A promise. From epaggello; an announcement.">of promise.</a> </span> <span class="reftext">29</span>At that time, however, the son born by the flesh persecuted the son born by the Spirit. It is the same now.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/21-12.htm">Genesis 21:12</a></span><br />But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed about the boy and your maidservant. Listen to everything that Sarah tells you, for through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/9-7.htm">Romans 9:7-8</a></span><br />Nor because they are Abraham’s descendants are they all his children. On the contrary, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.” / So it is not the children of the flesh who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as offspring.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/11-18.htm">Hebrews 11:18</a></span><br />even though God had said to him, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/17-19.htm">Genesis 17:19</a></span><br />But God replied, “Your wife Sarah will indeed bear you a son, and you are to name him Isaac. I will establish My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/18-10.htm">Genesis 18:10</a></span><br />Then the LORD said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year, and your wife Sarah will have a son!” Now Sarah was behind him, listening at the entrance to the tent.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/18-14.htm">Genesis 18:14</a></span><br />Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you—in about a year—and Sarah will have a son.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/21-1.htm">Genesis 21:1-2</a></span><br />Now the LORD attended to Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what He had promised. / So Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/4-16.htm">Romans 4:16-18</a></span><br />Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may rest on grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. / As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the presence of God, in whom he believed, the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not yet exist. / Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/8-14.htm">Romans 8:14-17</a></span><br />For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. / For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption to sonship, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” / The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/1-12.htm">John 1:12-13</a></span><br />But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God— / children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/1-23.htm">1 Peter 1:23</a></span><br />For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/15-4.htm">Genesis 15:4-5</a></span><br />Then the word of the LORD came to Abram, saying, “This one will not be your heir, but one who comes from your own body will be your heir.” / And the LORD took him outside and said, “Now look to the heavens and count the stars, if you are able.” Then He told him, “So shall your offspring be.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/22-17.htm">Genesis 22:17-18</a></span><br />I will surely bless you, and I will multiply your descendants like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies. / And through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/54-1.htm">Isaiah 54:1</a></span><br />“Shout for joy, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth in song and cry aloud, you who have never travailed; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,” says the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/6-13.htm">Hebrews 6:13-14</a></span><br />When God made His promise to Abraham, since He had no one greater to swear by, He swore by Himself, / saying, “I will surely bless you and multiply your descendants.”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Now we, brothers, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/galatians/4-23.htm">Galatians 4:23</a></b></br> But he <i>who was</i> of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman <i>was</i> by promise.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/galatians/3-29.htm">Galatians 3:29</a></b></br> And if ye <i>be</i> Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/acts/3-25.htm">Acts 3:25</a></b></br> Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/galatians/4-23.htm">Born</a> <a href="/galatians/4-27.htm">Children</a> <a href="/galatians/4-23.htm">Fulfilment</a> <a href="/romans/9-10.htm">Isaac</a> <a href="/acts/7-44.htm">Pattern</a> <a href="/galatians/4-23.htm">Promise</a> <a href="/galatians/4-23.htm">Undertaking</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/galatians/4-29.htm">Born</a> <a href="/galatians/4-31.htm">Children</a> <a href="/philippians/1-20.htm">Fulfilment</a> <a href="/hebrews/11-9.htm">Isaac</a> <a href="/philippians/3-17.htm">Pattern</a> <a href="/ephesians/1-13.htm">Promise</a> <a href="/numbers/30-2.htm">Undertaking</a><div class="vheading2">Galatians 4</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/galatians/4-1.htm">We were under the law till Christ came, as the heir is under the guardian till he be of age.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">5. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/galatians/4-5.htm">But Christ freed us from the law;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/galatians/4-7.htm">therefore we are servants no longer to it.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">14. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/galatians/4-14.htm">Paul remembers the Galatians' good will to him, and his to them;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">22. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/galatians/4-22.htm">and shows that we are the sons of Abraham by the freewoman.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/galatians/4.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/galatians/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/galatians/4.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Now you, brothers</b><br>This phrase addresses the recipients of the letter, the Galatian believers, as "brothers," indicating a familial relationship within the body of Christ. The use of "brothers" emphasizes the unity and equality among believers, transcending ethnic and social boundaries. This reflects the early Christian understanding of the church as a family, a concept rooted in Jesus' teachings (<a href="/matthew/12-50.htm">Matthew 12:50</a>) and further developed by Paul in his epistles (<a href="/romans/8-29.htm">Romans 8:29</a>).<p><b>like Isaac</b><br>Isaac, the son of Abraham and Sarah, was the child of promise, born as a result of God's covenant with Abraham (<a href="/genesis/17-19.htm">Genesis 17:19</a>). His birth was miraculous, as Sarah was beyond childbearing age, symbolizing God's power and faithfulness. By comparing the Galatian believers to Isaac, Paul highlights their identity as recipients of God's promise, not through human effort or adherence to the law, but through faith. This connection to Isaac underscores the theme of divine grace and the fulfillment of God's promises, as seen in the broader narrative of salvation history.<p><b>are children of promise</b><br>The phrase "children of promise" refers to those who inherit the blessings of God's covenant through faith, not by works or lineage. This concept is central to Paul's argument against the Judaizers, who insisted on adherence to the Mosaic Law for salvation. By identifying the Galatians as "children of promise," Paul aligns them with the spiritual lineage of Abraham, who was justified by faith (<a href="/genesis/15-6.htm">Genesis 15:6</a>; <a href="/galatians/3-7.htm">Galatians 3:7</a>). This promise is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the true seed of Abraham (<a href="/galatians/3-16.htm">Galatians 3:16</a>), and extends to all who believe in Him, highlighting the inclusivity of the gospel message.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/p/paul_the_apostle.htm">Paul the Apostle</a></b><br>The author of the letter to the Galatians, Paul was a key figure in the early Christian church, known for his missionary journeys and theological teachings. In Galatians, he addresses the churches in the region of Galatia, emphasizing the doctrine of justification by faith.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/i/isaac.htm">Isaac</a></b><br>The son of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac is a central figure in this passage. He represents the child of promise, born through God's intervention, and is used by Paul as an allegory for those who are born of the Spirit.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/i/ishmael.htm">Ishmael</a></b><br>Although not directly mentioned in <a href="/galatians/4-28.htm">Galatians 4:28</a>, Ishmael is the son of Abraham and Hagar, representing the child born according to the flesh. Paul contrasts Ishmael with Isaac to illustrate the difference between living under the law and living by faith.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/g/galatians.htm">Galatians</a></b><br>The recipients of Paul's letter, the Galatians were a group of early Christians in the region of Galatia. They were struggling with the influence of Judaizers who insisted on adherence to the Jewish law for salvation.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/s/sarah_and_hagar.htm">Sarah and Hagar</a></b><br>While not directly mentioned in this verse, Sarah and Hagar are pivotal to the allegory Paul uses. Sarah, the free woman, is the mother of Isaac, while Hagar, the slave woman, is the mother of Ishmael.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/c/children_of_promise.htm">Children of Promise</a></b><br>As believers, we are like Isaac, children of promise. This means our identity and inheritance are based on God's promise and grace, not on human effort or adherence to the law.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/living_by_faith.htm">Living by Faith</a></b><br>Just as Isaac's birth was a result of God's promise, our spiritual birth is through faith in Christ. We are called to live by faith, trusting in God's promises rather than relying on our own works.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/freedom_in_christ.htm">Freedom in Christ</a></b><br>The allegory of Sarah and Hagar illustrates the freedom we have in Christ. We are not bound by the law but are free to live as children of God, empowered by the Holy Spirit.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/spiritual_heritage.htm">Spiritual Heritage</a></b><br>Understanding our spiritual heritage as children of promise encourages us to embrace our identity in Christ and reject any form of legalism that seeks to undermine our freedom.<a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/galatians/4.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(28) <span class= "bld">We.</span>--The better reading appears to be <span class= "ital">Ye.</span> Children of promise.--Children born in accomplishment of the promise. (See <a href="/romans/9-8.htm" title="That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.">Romans 9:8</a>, and Note.)<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/galatians/4.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 28.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise</span> (<span class="greek">ἡμεῖς δέ</span>, <span class="greek">ἀδελφοί κατὰ Ἰσαακ ἐπαγγελίας τέκνα ἐσμέν</span> [or, <span class="greek">ὑμεῖς δέ</span>... <span class="greek">ἐστέ</span>]); <span class="accented">now we</span> (or, now <span class="accented">ye</span>), <span class="accented">brethren</span>, <span class="accented">after the mariner of Isaac</span>, <span class="accented">are children of promise.</span> In the Greek text it is uncertain whether we should read <span class="greek">ἡμεῖς</span>... <span class="greek">ἐσμέν</span> or <span class="greek">ὑμεῖς</span>.., <span class="greek">ἐστέ</span>, "we are" or "ye are." The only difference is that "ye are" would more directly thrust upon the attention of the Galatians the conclusion, which "we are" would express in a more general form. "After the manner of Isaac;" <span class="greek">κατὰ</span> as in <a href="/ephesians/4-24.htm">Ephesians 4:24</a>, <span class="greek">τὸν κατὰ Θεὸν κτισθέντα</span>: <a href="/1_peter/1-15.htm">1 Peter 1:15</a>, <span class="greek">Κατὰ τὸν καλέσαντα</span>: <a href="/lamentations/1-12.htm">Lamentations 1:12</a>, Septuagint, <span class="greek">Ἄλγος κατὰ τὸ ἄλγος μοῦ</span>. The apostle is viewing Isaac as in the manner of his being brought into being, the type, to which the children of the mystic freewoman were in after ages to be assimilated. In both cases the children are born or begotten through a promise which God of his own free grace hath given, and which, by an accepting faith, is appropriated and made effectual. Thus Isaac was born (see ver. 23 and <a href="/romans/9-8.htm">Romans 9:8, 9</a>). The children of the supernal Jerusalem are begotten through the gospel, which in effect is a promise of adoption through Christ to be children of God held out to all who will accept it. Obviously the cases differ in this - that in one it was the faith of the parents which made the promise effectual; in the other, the faith of those who in consequence of believing become children. But none the less is it true that the result is due to an announcement proceeding out of God's own free grace - "Not of works but of him that calleth" (<a href="/romans/9-7.htm">Romans 9:7-13</a>; comp. <a href="/john/1-12.htm">John 1:12, 13</a>; <a href="/1_corinthians/4-15.htm">1 Corinthians 4:15</a>; <a href="/james/1-18.htm">James 1:18</a>; <a href="/1_peter/1-23.htm">1 Peter 1:23</a>). The "promise" is not the parent of the children; this, in the imagery now present to the apostle's mind, is in the antitypal case the mystic Freewoman. The genitive "of promise" is a genitive of qualification, pointing here to the means through which the children are begotten. Compare a somewhat similarly loose use of the genitive in <a href="/romans/9-8.htm">Romans 9:8</a>, "Not the children of the flesh.., but the children of the promise." The case of baptized infants is not in the apostle's view. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/galatians/4-28.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div><span class="word">Now</span><br /><span class="grk">δέ</span> <span class="translit">(de)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1161.htm">Strong's 1161: </a> </span><span class="str2">A primary particle; but, and, etc.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">you,</span><br /><span class="grk">Ὑμεῖς</span> <span class="translit">(Hymeis)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4771.htm">Strong's 4771: </a> </span><span class="str2">You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">brothers,</span><br /><span class="grk">ἀδελφοί</span> <span class="translit">(adelphoi)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Vocative Masculine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_80.htm">Strong's 80: </a> </span><span class="str2">A brother, member of the same religious community, especially a fellow-Christian. A brother near or remote.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">like</span><br /><span class="grk">κατὰ</span> <span class="translit">(kata)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2596.htm">Strong's 2596: </a> </span><span class="str2">A primary particle; down, in varied relations (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined).</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Isaac,</span><br /><span class="grk">Ἰσαὰκ</span> <span class="translit">(Isaak)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2464.htm">Strong's 2464: </a> </span><span class="str2">(Hebrew), Isaac, the patriarch. Of Hebrew origin; Isaac, the son of Abraham.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">are</span><br /><span class="grk">ἐστέ</span> <span class="translit">(este)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1510.htm">Strong's 1510: </a> </span><span class="str2">I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">children</span><br /><span class="grk">τέκνα</span> <span class="translit">(tekna)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Nominative Neuter Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_5043.htm">Strong's 5043: </a> </span><span class="str2">A child, descendent, inhabitant. From the base of timoria; a child.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of [the] promise.</span><br /><span class="grk">ἐπαγγελίας</span> <span class="translit">(epangelias)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1860.htm">Strong's 1860: </a> </span><span class="str2">A promise. From epaggello; an announcement.</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/galatians/4-28.htm">Galatians 4:28 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/galatians/4-28.htm">Galatians 4:28 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/galatians/4-28.htm">Galatians 4:28 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/galatians/4-28.htm">Galatians 4:28 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/galatians/4-28.htm">Galatians 4:28 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/galatians/4-28.htm">Galatians 4:28 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/galatians/4-28.htm">Galatians 4:28 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/galatians/4-28.htm">Galatians 4:28 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/galatians/4-28.htm">Galatians 4:28 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/galatians/4-28.htm">Galatians 4:28 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/galatians/4-28.htm">NT Letters: Galatians 4:28 Now we brothers as Isaac was (Gal. 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