Galatians 4:1 Parallel Translations

Let me explain further. As long as an heir is a child, he is no better off than a slave, even though he owns everything.(GOD'S WORD®)

KJV:

Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;

ASV:

But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a bondservant though he is lord of all;

BBE:

But I say that as long as the son is a child, he is in no way different from a servant, though he is lord of all;

DBY:

Now I say, As long as the heir is a child, he differs nothing from a bondman, though he be lord of all;

ERV:

But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a bondservant, though he is lord of all;

WEY:

Now I say that so long as an heir is a child, he in no respect differs from a slave, although he is the owner of everything,

WBS:

Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he is lord of all;

WEB:

But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a bondservant, though he is lord of all;

YLT:

And I say, so long time as the heir is a babe, he differeth nothing from a servant -- being lord of all,

Galatians 4:1 Cross References

XREF:

Galatians 3:29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise.

Galatians 4:2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father. (NASB ©1995)

Commentaries and Concordances

GSB:

4:1 Now {1} I say, [That] the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
(1) He declares by another twofold similitude, that which he said before concerning the keeper and schoolmaster. For, he says, the Law (that is, the whole government of God's house according to the Law) was as it were a tutor or overseer appointed for a time. And when that protection and overseeing which was but for a time is ended, we would at length come to be at our own liberty, and would live as children, and not as servants. Moreover, he shows along the way, that the governance of the Law was as it were the basics, and as certain principles, in comparison with the doctrine of the Gospel.

PNT:

4:1 The Two Covenants
SUMMARY OF GALATIANS 4:
Children, While Minors, Not Free. So the Israelites Under the Bondage of the Law Until Christ Came. Christ Frees from This Bondage. The Folly of Gentiles Seeking This Bondage. How the Galatians Had Once Welcomed the Gospel. The Two Covenants, Hagar, and Sarah, and Their Significance.
[That] the heir, as long as he is a child. Paul speaks of heirs in Ga 3:29. He now shows why the bondage of the Jewish law preceded the gospel. Even an heir is not free when a child.
Differeth nothing from a servant. It is needful that he be controlled, even as though he were a servant.

WES:

4:1 Now - To illustrate by a plain similitude the preeminence of the Christian, over the legal, dispensation. The heir, as long as he is a child - As he is under age. Differeth nothing from a servant - Not being at liberty either to use or enjoy his estate. Though he be lord - Proprietor of it all.

MHC:

4:1-7 The apostle deals plainly with those who urged the law of Moses together with the gospel of Christ, and endeavoured to bring believers under its bondage. They could not fully understand the meaning of the law as given by Moses. And as that was a dispensation of darkness, so of bondage; they were tied to many burdensome rites and observances, by which they were taught and kept subject like a child under tutors and governors. We learn the happier state of Christians under the gospel dispensation. From these verses see the wonders of Divine love and mercy; particularly of God the Father, in sending his Son into the world to redeem and save us; of the Son of God, in submitting so low, and suffering so much for us; and of the Holy Spirit, in condescending to dwell in the hearts of believers, for such gracious purposes. Also, the advantages Christians enjoy under the gospel. Although by nature children of wrath and disobedience, they become by grace children of love, and partake of the nature of the children of God; for he will have all his children resemble him. Among men the eldest son is heir; but all God's children shall have the inheritance of eldest sons. May the temper and conduct of sons ever show our adoption; and may the Holy Spirit witness with our spirits that we are children and heirs of God.

CONC:

Although Babe Better Bondman Bondservant Child Differ Different Differeth Differs Estate Heir Mean Nothing Owner Owns Respect Servant Slave Though

Although Babe Better Bondman Bondservant Child Differ Different Differeth Differs Estate Heir Mean Owner Owns Respect Servant Slave Time Way

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