Galatians 4:24

These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar.

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Other translations

WEBBE

These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar.

BSB

These things serve as illustrations, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery: This is Hagar.

KJV

Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.

ASV

Which things contain an allegory: for these [women] are two covenants; one from mount Sinai, bearing children unto bondage, which is Hagar.

BBE

Which things have a secret sense; because these women are the two agreements; one from the mountain of Sinai, giving birth to servants, which is Hagar.

Original Greek

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ἅτινά hatina which things G3748 ἐστιν estin are G1510 ἀλληγορούμενα allēgoroumena allegorized G238 αὗται hautai these G3778 γάρ gar for G1063 εἰσιν eisin are G1510 αἱ hai (the) G3588 δύο duo two G1417 διαθῆκαι diathēkai covenants G1242 μία mia one G1520 μὲν men indeed G3303 ἀπὸ apo from G575 ὄρους orous Mount G3735 Σινᾶ Sina Sinai G4614 εἰς eis unto G1519 δουλείαν douleian slavery G1397 γεννῶσα gennōsa begetting G1080 ἥτις hētis which G3748 ἐστὶν estin is G1510 Ἁγάρ Hagar Hagar G28

The early church

Contrary to usage, he calls a type an allegory; his meaning is as follows; this history not only declares that which appears on the face of it, but announces somewhat farther, whence it is called an allegory. And what hath it announced? no less than all the things now present. For these women are two covenants; one from mount Sinai, bearing children unto bondage, which is Hagar. "These:" who? the mothers of those children, Sarah and Hagar; and what are they? Two covenants, two laws. As the names of the women were given in the history, he abides by this designation of the two races, showing how much follows from the very names. How from the names?
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

23

People & places

Hagar Mount Sinai

Topics

SinaiHagarAllegory

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