Galatians 4:31

New Testament Epistle (Pauline) ASV (1901)

What does Galatians 4:31 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Wherefore, brethren, we are not children of a handmaid, but of the freewoman.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Wherefore, brethren, we are not children of a handmaid, but of the freewoman.
Galatians 4:31 — American Standard Version

Context — Galatians 4

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
31Wherefore, brethren, we are not children of a handmaid, but of the freewoman.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“So then, brethren, etc..] This is the conclusion of the whole allegory, or the mystical interpretation of Agar and Sarah, and their sons: we are not children of the bondwoman; the figure of the first covenant, which gendered to bondage, and typified the Jews in a state, and under a spirit of bondage to the law; New Testament saints are not under it, are delivered from it, and are dead unto it: but of the free; of Sarah, that was a type of the new and second covenant; and answered to the Gospel church, which is free from the yoke of the law; and whose children believers in Christ are, by whom they are made free from all thraldom and slavery; so the children of the mistress and of the…”
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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
“So then--The oldest manuscripts read, "Wherefore." This is the conclusion inferred from what precedes. In Gal 3:29 and Gal 4:7, it was established that we, New Testament believers, are "heirs." If, then, we are heirs, "we are not children of the bond woman (whose son, according to Scripture, was 'not to be heir,' Gal 4:30), but of the free woman (whose son was, according to Scripture, to be heir). For we are not "cast out" as Ishmael, but accepted as sons and heirs. Next: Galatians Chapter 5”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“So then, brethren - It follows from all this. Not from the allegory regarded as an argument - for Paul does not use it thus - but from the considerations suggested on the whole subject. Since the Christian religion is so superior to the Jewish; since we are by it freed from degrading servitude, and are not in bondage to rites and ceremonies; since it was designed to make us truly free, and since by that religion we are admitted to the privileges of sons, and are no longer under laws, and tutors, and governors, as if we were minors; from all this it follows, that we should feel and act, not as if we were children of a bondwoman, and born in slavery, but as if we were children of a freewoman,…”
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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
“So then - To sum up all. We - Who believe. Are not children of the bondwoman - Have nothing to do with the servile Mosaic dispensation. But of the free - Being free from the curse and the bond of that law, and from the power of sin and Satan. Next: Galatians Chapter 5”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“we: Gal 5:1, Gal 5:13; Joh 1:12, Joh 1:13, Joh 8:36; Heb 2:14, Heb 2:15; Jo1 3:1, Jo1 3:2 Next: Galatians Chapter 5”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification