Galatians 4
Study sheet, King James Version, with the original-language words this chapter turns on.
The text
1Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
2But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
3Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
4But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
6And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
7Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
8Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
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?
10Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
11I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
12Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all.
13Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.
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.
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.
16Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
17They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.
18But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.
19My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
20I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.
21Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
22For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
23But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
24Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
25For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
26But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
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.
28Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
29But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
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.
31So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
Words in this chapter
Definitions are Strong's own wording from his Exhaustive Concordance (1890). Counts are how often each word appears in this chapter, from the tagged text.
- ὁhoG358859× in this chapter
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
- σύsýG477118× in this chapter
thou
- εἰμίeimíG151017× in this chapter
I exist (used only when emphatic)
- δέdéG116114× in this chapter
but, and, etc.
- καίkaíG253214× in this chapter
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
- μέméG316511× in this chapter
me
- ἀλλάalláG2359× in this chapter
properly, other things, i.e. (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations)
- οὐouG37569× in this chapter
the absolute negative (compare G3361 (μή)) adverb; no or not
- υἱόςhuiósG52079× in this chapter
a "son" (sometimes of animals), used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship
- θεόςtheósG23168× in this chapter
figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very
- ὅτιhótiG37547× in this chapter
demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because
- γάρgárG10636× in this chapter
properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles)
- ἐνenG17226× in this chapter
"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.
- ὑπόhypóG52596× in this chapter
under, i.e. (with the genitive case) of place (beneath), or with verbs (the agency or means, through); (with the accusative case) of place (whither (underneath) or where (below) or time (when (at))
- ἐκekG15375× in this chapter
literal or figurative; direct or remote)
- ἐλεύθεροςeleútherosG16585× in this chapter
unrestrained (to go at pleasure), i.e. (as a citizen) not a slave (whether freeborn or manumitted), or (genitive case) exempt (from obligation or liability)
- παιδίσκηpaidískēG38145× in this chapter
a girl, i.e. (specially), a female slave or servant
- τέκνονtéknonG50435× in this chapter
a child (as produced)
- αὐτόςautósG8465× in this chapter
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438 (ἑαυτοῦ)) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
- γίνομαιgínomaiG10964× in this chapter
to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e. (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.)
- θέλωthélōG23094× in this chapter
to determine (as an active option from subjective impulse; whereas G1014 (βούλομαι) properly denotes rather a passive acquiescence in objective considerations), i.e. choose or prefer (literally or figuratively); by implication, to wish, i.e. be inclined to (sometimes adverbially, gladly); impersonally for the future tense, to be about to; by Hebraism, to delight in
- κατάkatáG25964× in this chapter
(prepositionally) down (in place or time), in varied relations (according to the case (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined)
- μήmḗG33614× in this chapter
(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas G3756 (οὐ) expects an affirmative one)) whether
- νόμοςnómosG35514× in this chapter
law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specially, (of Moses (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively (a principle)
- σάρξsárxG45614× in this chapter
flesh (as stripped of the skin), i.e. (strictly) the meat of an animal (as food), or (by extension) the body (as opposed to the soul (or spirit), or as the symbol of what is external, or as the means of kindred), or (by implication) human nature (with its frailties (physically or morally) and passions), or (specially), a human being (as such)
- ὡςhōsG56134× in this chapter
which how, i.e. in that manner (very variously used, as follows)
- γεννάωgennáōG10803× in this chapter
to procreate (properly, of the father, but by extension of the mother); figuratively, to regenerate
- διάdiáG12233× in this chapter
through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional)
- δουλεύωdouleúōG13983× in this chapter
to be a slave to (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary)
- εἰςeisG15193× in this chapter
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
- εἷςheîsG15203× in this chapter
one
- ζηλόωzēlóōG22063× in this chapter
to have warmth of feeling for or against
- ἵναhínaG24433× in this chapter
compare G3588 (ὁ)); in order that (denoting the purpose or the result)
- λέγωlégōG30043× in this chapter
properly, to "lay" forth, i.e. (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas G2036 (ἔπω) and G5346 (φημί) generally refer to an individual expression or speech respectively; while G4483 (ῥέω) is properly to break silence merely, and G2980 (λαλέω) means an extended or random harangue)); by implication, to mean
- μένménG33033× in this chapter
properly, indicative of affirmation or concession (in fact); usually followed by a contrasted clause with G1161 (δέ) (this one, the former, etc.)
- νῦνnŷnG35683× in this chapter
"now" (as adverb of date, a transition or emphasis); also as noun or adjective present or immediate
- ὅςhósG37393× in this chapter
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
- ὅστιςhóstisG37483× in this chapter
which some, i.e. any that; also (definite) which same
- πάλινpálinG38253× in this chapter
(adverbially) anew, i.e. (of place) back, (of time) once more, or (conjunctionally) furthermore or on the other hand
- ΧριστόςChristósG55473× in this chapter
anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus