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Galatians 4:23

New Testament Epistle (Pauline) ASV (1901)

What does Galatians 4:23 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Howbeit the [son] by the handmaid is born after the flesh; but the [son] by the freewoman [is born] through promise.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Howbeit the [son] by the handmaid is born after the flesh; but the [son] by the freewoman [is born] through promise.
Galatians 4:23 — American Standard Version

Context — Galatians 4

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
20but I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone; for I am perplexed about 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, one by the handmaid, and one by the freewoman.
23Howbeit the [son] by the handmaid is born after the flesh; but the [son] by the freewoman [is born] through promise.
24Which things contain an allegory: for these [women] are two covenants; one from mount Sinai, bearing children unto bondage, which is Hagar.
25Now this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia and answereth to the Jerusalem that now is: for she is in bondage with her children.
26But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is our mother.
← Galatians 4:22Galatians 4:24 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“But he who was of the bondwoman, etc..] Ishmael, who was begotten and born of Hagar, was born after the flesh; after the common order and course of nature, through the copulation of two persons, the one able to procreate, and the other fit for the conception of children; and was typical of the Jews, the natural descendants of Abraham, who, as such, and upon that account, were not the children of God, nor heirs of the eternal inheritance: but he of the free woman was by promise; by a previous promise made by God to Abraham, that he should have a son in his old age, when his body was now dead, and when Sarah his wife, who had always been barren, was now grown old, and past the time of bearing…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“after the flesh--born according to the usual course of nature: in contrast to Isaac, who was born "by virtue of the promise" (so the Greek), as the efficient cause of Sarah's becoming pregnant out of the course of nature (Rom 4:19). Abraham was to lay aside all confidence in the flesh (after which Ishmael was born), and to live by faith alone in the promise (according to which Isaac was miraculously born, contrary to all calculations of flesh and blood).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh - In the ordinary course of nature, without any special promise, or any unusual divine interposition, as in the case of Isaac. But he of the free woman ... - The birth of Isaac was in accordance with a special promise, and by a remarkable divine interposition; see Genesis 18:10; Genesis 21:1-2; Hebrews 11:11-12; compare the notes at Romans 4:19-21. The idea here of Paul is, that the son of the slave was in a humble and inferior condition from his very birth. There was no special promise attending him. He was born into a state of inferiority and servitude which attended him through his whole life. Isaac, however, was met with promises…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Was born after the flesh - In a natural way. By promise - Through that supernatural strength which was given Abraham in consequence of the promise. Galatians 4:24”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“born: Rom 9:7, Rom 9:8 but: Gen 17:15-19, Gen 18:10-14, Gen 21:1, Gen 21:2; Rom 4:18-21, Rom 10:8; Heb 11:11 Galatians 4:24”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification