Galatians 4:21-31

21 Tell me, ye who are desirous of being under law, do ye not listen to the law?
22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons; one of the maid servant, and one of the free woman.
23 But he [that was] of the maid servant was born according to flesh, and he [that was] of the free woman through the promise.
24 Which things have an allegorical sense; for these are two covenants: one from mount Sinai, gendering to bondage, which is Hagar.
25 For Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which [is] now, for she is in bondage with her children;
26 but the Jerusalem above is free, which is our mother.
27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break out and cry, thou that travailest not; because the children of the desolate are more numerous than [those] of her that has a husband.
28 But *ye*, brethren, after the pattern of Isaac, are children of promise.
29 But as then he that was born according to flesh persecuted him [that was born] according to Spirit, so also [it is] now.
30 But what says the scripture? Cast out the maid servant and her son; for the son of the maid servant shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.
31 So then, brethren, we are not maid servant's children, but [children] of the free woman.

Footnotes 4

  • [a]. See Isa. 54.1.
  • [b]. See Gen. 21.10.
  • [c]. 'Not at all;' 'in no wise;' a strong negative.
  • [d]. Or 'bondmaid,' paidiske (as Acts 12.13). Though in practice the word amounted to the same as a bondmaid, yet the Greek root is essentially different from that of doulos, a bondman, or slave.
The Darby Translation is in the public domain.