GAL 4:2 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=minor/spelling Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT But he is under guardians and stewards until the date appointed by his father.

UST Until the day that his father has previously determined, other persons supervise the child and manage his property.

BLB Instead, he is under guardians and trustees until the time appointed by his father.

AICNT but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father.

OEB He is subject to the control of guardians and stewards, during the period for which his father has power to appoint them.

WEBBE but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed by the father.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET But he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father.

LSV but is under tutors and stewards until the time appointed of the father,

FBV An heir is subject to guardians and managers until the time set by the father.

TCNT But he is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by his father.

T4T Until the day that his father previously determined, other persons supervise him and manage his father’s property.

LEB but he is under guardians and managers until the time set by his father.

BBE But is under keepers and managers till the time fixed by the father.

Moff he is under guardians and trustees till the time fixed by his father.

Wymth but he is under the control of guardians and trustees until the time his father has appointed.

ASV but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed of the father.

DRA But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed by the father:

YLT but is under tutors and stewards till the time appointed of the father,

Drby but he is under guardians and stewards until the period fixed by the father.

RV but is under guardians and stewards until the term appointed of the father.

SLT But is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father.

Wbstr But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed by the father.

KJB-1769 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.

KJB-1611 But is vnder tutors and gouernours vntill the time appointed of the father.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above)

Bshps But is vnder tuters and gouernours, vntyll the tyme appoynted of the father.
(But is under tuters and governors, until the time appointed of the father.)

Gnva But is vnder tutours and gouernours, vntil the time appointed of the Father.
(But is under tutours and governors, until the time appointed of the Father. )

Cvdl but he is vnder tuters and gouerners, vntyll the tyme appoynted of the father.
(but he is under tuters and governers, until the time appointed of the father.)

TNT but is vnder tuters and governers vntill the tyme appoynted of the father.
(but is under tuters and governers until the time appointed of the father. )

Wycl but he is vndur keperis and tutoris, in to the tyme determyned of the fadir.
(but he is under keepers/watchmen and tutoris, in to the time determined of the father.)

Luth sondern er ist unter den Vormündern und Pflegern bis auf die bestimmte Zeit vom Vater.
(rather he is under the Vormündern and guardian/nursen until on/in/to the particular time/period from_the father.)

ClVg sed sub tutoribus et actoribus est usque ad præfinitum tempus a patre:
(but under tutoribus and actoribus it_is until to beforefinitum time/season from to_his_father: )

UGNT ἀλλὰ ὑπὸ ἐπιτρόπους ἐστὶ καὶ οἰκονόμους, ἄχρι τῆς προθεσμίας τοῦ πατρός.
(alla hupo epitropous esti kai oikonomous, aⱪri taʸs prothesmias tou patros.)

SBL-GNT ἀλλὰ ὑπὸ ἐπιτρόπους ἐστὶ καὶ οἰκονόμους ἄχρι τῆς προθεσμίας τοῦ πατρός.
(alla hupo epitropous esti kai oikonomous aⱪri taʸs prothesmias tou patros.)

RP-GNT ἀλλὰ ὑπὸ ἐπιτρόπους ἐστὶν καὶ οἰκονόμους, ἄχρι τῆς προθεσμίας τοῦ πατρός.
(alla hupo epitropous estin kai oikonomous, aⱪri taʸs prothesmias tou patros.)

TC-GNT [fn]ἀλλὰ ὑπὸ ἐπιτρόπους ἐστὶ καὶ οἰκονόμους, ἄχρι τῆς προθεσμίας τοῦ πατρός.
(alla hupo epitropous esti kai oikonomous, aⱪri taʸs prothesmias tou patros. )

4:2 αλλα ¦ αλλ NA²⁸ PCK

Key for above GNTs: red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 3:26–4:7: A child of God is not a slave of the law

In the previous section, Paul talked about people from a Jewish background. In this section, he returned to focus on the non-Jews whom he had talked about earlier.

This section has two parts. In the first one (3:26 to 3:29), Paul reminded the non-Jewish Christians in Galatia that they had become children of God through faith. When people become children of God, there is no longer a difference between Jew or non-Jew, male or female, slave or free. He further pointed out that once people have become children of God, they are entitled to all the blessings of the new life in Christ.

In the second part (4:1 to 4:7), Paul compared the time under the law to a time of slavery. But when Christ came, he freed people from slavery. The time under the law ended. So believers in Jesus Christ are God’s sons. They are not slaves to the law. It is no longer necessary to follow the law.

Some other examples for a heading for this section are:

By faith we are sons of God and are rescued from the law

You are not slaves but children of God

No longer prisoners to the law but sons

Paragraph 4:1–7

In this paragraph, Paul further explained that the period of the law was temporary. He compared the period under the law to a period of slavery. When Christ came, he redeemed the people who were in slavery. They are no longer slaves. Instead, they are now adopted as God’s sons and are his heirs. The time of the law is over.

4:2a

He is subject to guardians and trustees

He is under the authority of people taking care of him and people in charge of the property
He must obey those who care for him and the possessions/wealth

There is a contrast between 4:1 and 4:2. The contrast is between the future promise and the present reality. Paul introduced this contrast with a Greek conjunction that most English versions translate as “but.” Some other ways to translate this conjunction are:

Instead

Rather

The BSB has not translated this conjunction, and some other versions, such as the NIV and NLT, also do not translate it. In some languages, it will not be necessary to translate this conjunction either. Connect 4:2a to 4:1d in a way that is natural in your language.

He is subject to guardians and trustees: In this clause, Paul clarified how the heir is no different from a slave when he is a child. He is no different because he too is under the authority of other people. (The words guardians and trustees are explained below.)

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

He is placed under the control of guardians and trustees (GW)

He must obey guardians and managers

It is possible to translate the two terms guardians and trustees as one term. For example:

He must obey the people who take care of him

guardians: The Greek word that the BSB translates as guardians refers to people whom the father has appointed to look after his son when he is young. These people have authority to give the son orders.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

men who take care of him (GNT)

people who are in charge of him

protectors

This word is similar to the word translated as “guardian” in 3:24a. But it is a different Greek word.

trustees: The word that the BSB translates as trustees refers to those who are responsible for looking after what the son will inherit.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

men who manage the property

men who are in charge of his possessions/wealth

stewards/administrators

4:2b

until the date set by his father.

until he reaches the time/day decided by his father.
until the time comes when he will become the owner. His father decides when that will be.

until the date set by his father: This clause refers to the time when the heir would no longer be under the authority of guardians and managers. His father had decided when that would be. It was at that time that the heir would control the property that belonged to his father.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

until he reaches the age set by his father

until the day that his father has decided for him to receive his possessions

until the time which his father has chosen for him to receive his inheritance (JBP)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

ἀλλὰ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἀλλά ὑπό ἐπιτρόπους ἐστίν καί οἰκονόμους ἄχρι τῆς προθεσμίας τοῦ πατρός)

Here, the word But is introducing a contrast and indicating that what follows is in contrast to what came before it. Use a natural way in your language for introducing a contrast. Alternate translation: [Rather,]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἐστὶ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἀλλά ὑπό ἐπιτρόπους ἐστίν καί οἰκονόμους ἄχρι τῆς προθεσμίας τοῦ πατρός)

Here, the word he refers to the heir mentioned in the previous verse. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: [the heir is]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ὑπὸ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἀλλά ὑπό ἐπιτρόπους ἐστίν καί οἰκονόμους ἄχρι τῆς προθεσμίας τοῦ πατρός)

Here, the word under means “under the authority of.” If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: [under the authority of]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἐπιτρόπους & καὶ οἰκονόμους

guardians & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἀλλά ὑπό ἐπιτρόπους ἐστίν καί οἰκονόμους ἄχρι τῆς προθεσμίας τοῦ πατρός)

The terms guardians and stewards refer to two different roles, but these terms do not necessarily refer to two different groups of people since one person could have responsibility for filling both roles. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: [someone who is his guardian and steward]

Note 5 topic: translate-unknown

ἐπιτρόπους

guardians

A guardian was a person who had the role of being responsible for a child. This person’s job was to supervise and care for the child of whom they were in charge to make sure that the child was instructed in what they should do. Use a natural phrase or term in your language for describing this role. If you do not have this role in your culture you could describe it for your readers. Alternate translation: [people who are in charge of a child] or [people who are responsible for a minor]

Note 6 topic: translate-unknown

οἰκονόμους

managers

Here, the word stewards refers to people who are entrusted with the role of managing property until the heir is old enough to inherit it. Use a natural phrase or term in your language for describing this role. If you do not have this role in your culture, you could describe it for your readers. Alternate translation: [people who manage a child’s possessions]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

προθεσμίας τοῦ πατρός

appointed_time ˱by˲_his father

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you could state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [date which his father appointed] or [time which his father appointed]

Parallel GAL 4:2

Section 3:26–4:7: A child of God is not a slave of the law

Paragraph 4:1–7

4:2a

4:2b