Galatians 4:23

However, the son by the servant was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through promise.

World English Bible
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Other translations

WEBBE

However, the son by the servant was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through promise.

BSB

His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born through the promise.

KJV

But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.

ASV

Howbeit the [son] by the handmaid is born after the flesh; but the [son] by the freewoman [is born] through promise.

BBE

Now the son by the servant-woman has his birth after the flesh; but the son by the free woman has his birth through the undertaking of God.

Original Greek

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The early church

What is the meaning of "after the flesh?" Having said that Faith united us to Abraham, and it having seemed incredible to his hearers, that those who were not begotten by Abraham should be called his sons, he proves that this paradox had actually happened long ago; for that Isaac, born not according to the order of nature, nor the law of marriage, nor the power of the flesh, was yet truly his own son. He was the issue of bodies that were dead, and of a womb that was dead; his conception was not by the flesh, nor his birth by the seed, but the Word of God fashioned Him. Not so in the case of the bondman; He came by virtue of the laws of nature, and after the manner of marriage. Nevertheless, he that was not according to the flesh was more honorable than he that was born after the flesh. Therefore let it not disturb you that ye are not born after the flesh; for from the very reason that ye are not so born, are ye most of all Abraham's kindred. The being born after the flesh renders one not more honorable, but less so, for a birth not after the flesh is more marvellous and more spiritual. And this is plain from the case of those who were born of old time; Ishmael, for instance, who was born according to the flesh, was not only a bondman, but was cast out of his father's house; but Isaac, who was born according to the promise, being a true son and free, was lord of all.
John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on Galatians

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 21–27

The difference between believers who rested in Christ only, and those who trusted in the law, is explained by the histories of Isaac and Ishmael. These things are an allegory, wherein, beside the literal and historical sense of the words, the Spirit of God points out something further. Hagar and Sarah were apt emblems of the two different dispensations of the covenant. The heavenly Jerusalem, the true church from above, represented by Sarah, is in a state of freedom, and is the mother of all believers, who are born of the Holy Spirit. They were by regeneration and true faith, made a part of the true seed of Abraham, according to the promise made to him.

Read Matthew Henry on Galatians 4 →

Cross-references

8

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