Hagar and Sarah

(Genesis 21:9–21)

21 Tell me, [you] who want to be under [the] law, do you not understand [what] the law [says]? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and [the other] by the free [woman].[fn] 23 His [son] by the slave woman was born according to [the] flesh, [but] [his son] by the free [woman] [was born] through the promise.

24 These [things] serve as illustrations, for [the women] represent two[fn] covenants. One [covenant] [is] from Mount Sinai [and bears] children into slavery: This is Hagar. 25 For[fn] Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present-day Jerusalem, and[fn] she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free, [and she] is [the] mother of us all.[fn] 27 For it is written:

“Rejoice, [O] barren woman,

who bears no children;

break forth and cry aloud,

[you] who {have} never travailed;

because more [are] the children of the desolate woman

than of her who has a husband.”[fn]

28 Now we,[fn] brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 At that time, however, the [son] born by [the] flesh persecuted the [son born] by [the] Spirit. [It is] the same now.

30 But what {does} the Scripture say? “Expel the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free [woman’s] son.”[fn] 31 Therefore, brothers, we are not children of [the] slave woman, but of the free [woman].