Galatians 4:1

But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a bondservant, though he is lord of all;

World English Bible
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Other translations

WEBBE

But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a bondservant, though he is lord of all,

BSB

What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he is the owner of everything.

KJV

Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;

ASV

But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a bondservant though he is lord of all;

BBE

But I say that as long as the son is a child, he is in no way different from a servant, though he is lord of all;

Original Greek

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Λέγω Legō I say G3004 δέ de now G1161 ἐφ eph᾽ for G1909 ὅσον hoson as long as G3745 χρόνον chronon time G5550 ὁ ho the G3588 κληρονόμος klēronomos heir G2818 νήπιός nēpios a child G3516 ἐστιν estin is G1510 οὐδὲν ouden [in] no[thing] G3762 διαφέρει diapherei he differs G1308 δούλου doulou from a slave G1401 κύριος kurios [though] owner G2962 πάντων pantōn of everything G3956 ὤν ōn being G1510

The early church

The word "child" in this place denotes not age but understanding; meaning that God had from the beginning designed for us these gifts, but, as we yet continued childish, He let us be under the elements of the world, that is, new moons and sabbaths, for these days are regulated by the course of sun and moon. If then also now they bring you under law they do nothing else but lead you backward now in the time of your perfect age and maturity. And see what is the consequence of observing days; the Lord, the Master of the house, the Sovereign Ruler, is thereby reduced to the rank of a servant.
John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on Galatians

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 1–7

The apostle deals plainly with those who urged the law of Moses together with the gospel of Christ, and endeavoured to bring believers under its bondage. They could not fully understand the meaning of the law as given by Moses. And as that was a dispensation of darkness, so of bondage; they were tied to many burdensome rites and observances, by which they were taught and kept subject like a child under tutors and governors. We learn the happier state of Christians under the gospel dispensation. From these verses see the wonders of Divine love and mercy; particularly of God the Father, in sending his Son into the world to redeem and save us; of the Son of God, in submitting so low, and suffering so much for us; and of the Holy Spirit, in condescending to dwell in the hearts of believers, for such gracious purposes. Also, the advantages Christians enjoy under the gospel. Although by nature children of wrath and disobedience, they become by grace children of love, and partake of the nature of the children of God; for he will have all his children resemble him. Among men the eldest son is heir; but all God's children shall have the inheritance of eldest sons. May the temper and conduct of sons ever show our adoption; and may the Holy Spirit witness with our spirits that we are children and heirs of God.

Read Matthew Henry on Galatians 4 →

Cross-references

6

Topics

ChildrenInstructionHeirTutorMinors

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.