The Allegory of Hagar and Sarah

21 Tell me, you who wish to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and one by the free woman. 23 But the son of the slave woman was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through the promise. 24 This can be explained allegorically, for these women are [fn]two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; this is Hagar. 25 [fn]For Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present [fn]Jerusalem; she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem that is above is the free woman; she is [fn]the mother of us all. 27 For it is written,

“Rejoice, O barren woman, who has never given birth;

break forth and shout, yoʋ who have never been in labor!

For many are the children of the desolate woman,

more than those of the woman who has a husband.”

28 Now [fn]we, brothers, like Isaac, are children of the promise. 29 But just as at that time the child who was born according to the flesh persecuted the child who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also. 30 But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.” 31 So, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.