Galatians 4

King James Version · 31 verses · 817 cross-references linking it to 327 other chapters

1. 1Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;13 cross-references: Galatians 4:29, Galatians 4:23, Genesis 24:2–3, 2 Kings 11:12, 2 Kings 10:1–2
2. 2But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
3. 3Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:22 cross-references: Colossians 2:20, Galatians 4:9, Colossians 2:8, Galatians 2:4, Galatians 4:31 – Galatians 5:1
4. 4But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,101 cross-references: Isaiah 7:14, Romans 1:3, John 1:14, Mark 1:15, John 3:16
5. 5To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.40 cross-references: Hebrews 9:15, Ephesians 1:5, 1 Peter 1:18–20, Ephesians 1:7, Hebrews 9:12
6. 6And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.58 cross-references: Romans 8:15–17, Romans 5:5, Romans 8:9, Philippians 1:19, Ephesians 2:18
7. 7Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.23 cross-references: Galatians 3:29 – Galatians 4:2, Romans 8:16–17, Galatians 3:26, 1 Corinthians 3:21–23, Galatians 4:5–6
8. 8Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.49 cross-references: 1 Corinthians 8:4, Ephesians 2:11–12, 1 Thessalonians 1:9, 1 Thessalonians 4:5, 2 Thessalonians 1:8
9. 9But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?62 cross-references: 1 Corinthians 8:3, Galatians 3:3, Romans 8:3, 1 John 5:20, 1 Chronicles 28:9
10. 10Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.10 cross-references: Colossians 2:16–17, Romans 14:5, Leviticus 23:1–44, Leviticus 25:13, Numbers 28:1–29
11. 11I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.26 cross-references: 1 Thessalonians 3:5, Galatians 2:2, 2 John 1:8, 1 Corinthians 15:58, Isaiah 49:4
12. 12Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all.16 cross-references: 2 Corinthians 2:5, 1 Kings 22:4, 1 Corinthians 9:20–23, Genesis 34:15, 2 Corinthians 6:13
13. 13Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.20 cross-references: 1 Corinthians 2:3, 2 Corinthians 12:7–10, 2 Corinthians 11:30, Galatians 1:6, 2 Corinthians 10:10
14. 14And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.32 cross-references: Matthew 10:40, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, Malachi 2:7, Hebrews 13:2, 2 Samuel 14:17
15. 15Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.23 cross-references: Romans 5:2, Colossians 4:13, 1 John 3:16–18, Romans 9:3, 1 Thessalonians 5:13
16. 16Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?28 cross-references: Amos 5:10, Proverbs 9:8, Galatians 5:7, John 8:45, Psalms 141:5
17. 17They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.23 cross-references: Romans 16:18, 2 Corinthians 11:13–15, 2 Peter 2:3, Romans 10:2, Matthew 23:15
18. 18But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.14 cross-references: Philippians 2:12, Revelation 3:19, Psalms 119:139, 1 Corinthians 15:58, Titus 2:14
19. 19My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,46 cross-references: Romans 8:29, Ephesians 4:13, Romans 13:14, Ephesians 4:24, Colossians 4:12
20. 20I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.7 cross-references: 1 Thessalonians 2:17–18, 1 Thessalonians 3:9, 1 Corinthians 4:19–21
21. 21Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?28 cross-references: Galatians 3:10, Matthew 22:29–32, Romans 10:3–10, Romans 3:19, Galatians 3:23–24
22. 22For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.16 cross-references: Genesis 16:15, Genesis 21:10, Genesis 21:1–2, Genesis 16:2–4
23. 23But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.15 cross-references: Hebrews 11:11, Romans 9:7–8, Genesis 18:10–14, Genesis 21:1–2, Genesis 17:15–19
24. 24Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.30 cross-references: Genesis 25:12, Genesis 16:15–16, Matthew 13:35, Hosea 11:10, Hebrews 10:15–18
25. 25For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.28 cross-references: Psalms 68:17, Psalms 68:8, Acts 1:11, Matthew 23:37, Judges 5:5
26. 26But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.51 cross-references: Hebrews 12:22, Philippians 3:20, Micah 4:1–2, Revelation 3:12, Revelation 21:2
27. 27For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.17 cross-references: Isaiah 54:1–5, Psalms 113:9, Ruth 4:14–16, 1 Samuel 2:5, Ruth 1:11–13
28. 28Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.14 cross-references: Galatians 4:23, Romans 9:8–9, Romans 4:13–18, Galatians 3:29, Acts 3:25
29. 29But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.17 cross-references: Genesis 21:9, Romans 8:13, Galatians 5:11, Hebrews 10:33–34, 1 Thessalonians 2:14–15
30. 30Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.14 cross-references: Genesis 21:10–12, John 8:35, Romans 8:15–17, Galatians 3:22, Romans 11:2
31. 31So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.10 cross-references: John 8:36, Galatians 5:1, Galatians 5:13, John 1:12–13, 1 John 3:1–2

Explained connections

• Mount Sinai in Arabia Exodus 19:20 and Galatians 4:25

  God descends on Mount Sinai to give the law. In his allegory Paul links Sinai with Hagar and slavery, contrasting it with the Jerusalem above that is free.

• Cast out the bondwoman Genesis 21:10 and Galatians 4:30

  Sarah demands that Hagar and Ishmael be sent away so that Ishmael will not share Isaac's inheritance. In his allegory of two covenants Paul applies her words: the children of slavery (law) do not inherit with the children of promise.

• Rejoice, barren one Isaiah 54:1 and Galatians 4:27

  Isaiah calls barren, desolate Zion to sing because her children will outnumber those of the married woman. Paul links it to Sarah's barrenness and to the 'Jerusalem above', whose children are born by promise.

• The kinsman-redeemer Ruth 4:10 and Galatians 4:5

  Boaz, a near relative, pays the price to redeem Naomi's land and marries Ruth. Christian readers see Christ as the kinsman-redeemer who became one of us to redeem those under the law. Ruth does not make this claim; it is a typological reading.

Chapters most linked to Galatians 4

• Galatians 329 links
• Romans 821 links
• Galatians 518 links
• Genesis 2115 links
• John 814 links
• Colossians 214 links
• 2 Corinthians 1113 links
• Galatians 211 links
• Romans 99 links
• Hebrews 79 links
• Philippians 29 links
• Genesis 168 links
• Ephesians 18 links
• Luke 27 links
• John 17 links
• Hebrews 97 links

People in Galatians 4

God, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, Hagar, Abraham, Isaac

Places in Galatians 4

Mount Sinai, Jerusalem, Arabia

Hard questions about Galatians 4

• How could Isaac be Abraham’s “only son”, when Abraham had other sons?