GAL 4:24 Parallel Verse View

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

OET (OET-RV) So if we use this as an illustration, there are two agreements: one is from Mt. Sinai which relates to Hagar and gives birth to enslaved people.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, 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 These things are being spoken as an allegory, for they are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, giving birth to slavery; this is Hagar.

UST I am telling you this as an illustration. These two women symbolize two agreements. God made the first agreement, which involved obeying the laws that God gave to Moses at Mount Sinai. Because that agreement forces those who accept it to keep obeying all its rules, it is like a slave mother who gives birth to slaves. So Hagar, the female slave, symbolizes this agreement.

BLB which things are allegorized, for these are two covenants: one indeed from Mount Sinai, begetting unto slavery, which is Hagar.

AICNT Which things are allegorized; for these are two covenants, one indeed from Mount Sinai, giving birth to slavery, which is Hagar.

OEB This story may be taken as an allegory. The women stand for two covenants. One covenant, given from Mount Sinai, produces a race of slaves and is represented by Hagar.

WEBBE These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET These things may be treated as an allegory, for these women represent two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai bearing children for slavery; this is Hagar.

LSV which things are allegorized, for these are the two covenants: one, indeed, from Mount Sinai, bringing forth to servitude, which is Hagar;

FBV This provides an analogy: these two women represent two agreements. One agreement is from Mount Sinai—Hagar—and she gives birth to slave children.

TCNT This can be explained allegorically, for these women are [fn]two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; this is Hagar.

4:24 two ¦ the two TR

T4T I am telling you this as an illustration. These two women symbolize two agreements. God made the first agreement, which involved obeying the laws that God gave to Moses at Sinai Mountain. Because that agreement forces those who accept it to keep obeying all its rules [MET], it is like a slave mother who gives birth to slaves. So Hagar, the female slave, symbolizes that agreement.

LEB which things are spoken allegorically, for these women are two covenants, one from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery, who is Hagar.

BBE Which things have a secret sense; because these women are the two agreements; one from the mountain of Sinai, giving birth to servants, which is Hagar.

Moff Now this is an allegory. The women are two covenants. One comes from mount Sinai, bearing children for servitude; that is Hagar,

Wymth All this is allegorical; for the women represent two Covenants. One has its origin on Mount Sinai, and bears children destined for slavery.

ASV Which things contain an allegory: for these women are two covenants; one from mount Sinai, bearing children unto bondage, which is Hagar.

DRA Which things are said by an allegory. For these are the two testaments. The one from mount Sina, engendering unto bondage; which is Agar:

YLT which things are allegorized, for these are the two covenants: one, indeed, from mount Sinai, to servitude bringing forth, which is Hagar;

Drby Which things have an allegorical sense; for these are two covenants: one from mount Sinai, gendering to bondage, which is Hagar.

RV Which things contain an allegory: for these women are two covenants; one from mount Sinai, bearing children unto bondage, which is Hagar.

SLT Which things are spoken figuratively: for these are the two covenants; one truly from mount Sinai, begetting to bondage, which is Agar.

Wbstr Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.

KJB-1769 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.

KJB-1611 Which things are an Allegorie; for these are the two [fn]Couenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
(Which things are an Allegorie; for these are the two Covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.)

4:24 Or, testaments.

Bshps Which thynges are spoken by an allegorie. For these are two testamentes: the one from the mount Sina, which gendreth vnto bondage, which is Agar.
(Which things are spoken by an allegorie. For these are two testaments: the one from the mount Sina, which gendreth unto bondage, which is Agar.)

Gnva By the which things another thing is meant: for these mothers are the two testaments, the one which is Agar of mount Sina, which gendreth vnto bondage.
(By the which things another thing is meant: for these mothers are the two testaments, the one which is Agar of mount Sina, which gendreth unto bondage. )

Cvdl These wordes betoken somwhat. For these wemen are the two Testamentes: The one from the mount Sina, that gendreth vnto bondage, which is Agar.
(These words betoken somewhat. For these women are the two Testaments: The one from the mount Sina, that gendreth unto bondage, which is Agar.)

TNT Which thinges betoken mystery. For these wemen are two testamentes the one from the mounte Sina which gendreth vnto bondage which is Agar.
(Which things betoken mystery. For these women are two testaments the one from the mounte Sina which gendreth unto bondage which is Agar. )

Wycl The whiche thingis ben seid bi an othir vndirstonding. For these ben two testamentis; oon in the hille of Synai, gendringe in to seruage, which is Agar.
(The which things been said by an other understonding. For these been two testamentis; one in the hill of Synai, gendringe in to servitude, which is Agar.)

Luth Die Worte bedeuten etwas. Denn das sind die zwei Testamente, eines von dem Berge Sinai, das zur Knechtschaft gebieret, welches ist die Hagar.
(The words bedeuten something. Because the are the two Testamente, one/a from to_him Mt. Sinai, the to/for servant/farmhandschaft gebieret, which is the Hagar.)

ClVg quæ sunt per allegoriam dicta. Hæc enim sunt duo testamenta. Unum quidem in monte Sina, in servitutem generans, quæ est Agar:[fn]
(which are through allegoriam said/dictated. This because are two testamenta. Unum indeed in/into/on mountain Sina, in/into/on slavery generans, which it_is Agar: )

4.24 Per allegoriam. Dicitur id per allegoriam, quando aliquid aliud videtur sonare in verbis, et aliud intellectu significare, sicut hic per Abraham, Deus Pater: ipse est enim pater multarum gentium. Abba enim, pater; am, multarum. Et subauditur, gentium. In monte Sina. Talis loci mentione Apostolus significat quod Judæi contra gentes essent superbi de mandato, vel ipsi essent superbi et tumidi contra ipsum mandatum, quod est Agar, id est, significatur per Agar. Agar enim alienatio, quia alienat ab hæreditate.

4.24 Per allegoriam. Sayitur that through allegoriam, when something something_else it_seems sonare in/into/on with_words, and something_else with_understanding to_signify, like this/here through Abraham, God Pater: exactly_that/himself it_is because father many nations. Abba because, father; am, many. And subauditur, nations. In mountain Sina. Such loci mentione Apostolus means that Jews on_the_contrary people/nations they_would_be proud from/about commandso, or themselves they_would_be proud and tumidi on_the_contrary him command(n), that it_is Agar, that it_is, is_indicated through Agar. Agar because foreigntio, because foreignt away inheritance.

UGNT ἅτινά ἐστιν ἀλληγορούμενα, αὗται γάρ εἰσιν δύο διαθῆκαι: μία μὲν ἀπὸ Ὄρους Σινά εἰς δουλείαν γεννῶσα, ἥτις ἐστὶν Ἁγάρ.
(hatina estin allaʸgoroumena, hautai gar eisin duo diathaʸkai: mia men apo Orous Sina eis douleian gennōsa, haʸtis estin Hagar.)

SBL-GNT ἅτινά ἐστιν ἀλληγορούμενα· αὗται γάρ εἰσιν δύο διαθῆκαι, μία μὲν ἀπὸ ὄρους Σινᾶ, εἰς δουλείαν γεννῶσα, ἥτις ἐστὶν Ἁγάρ,
(hatina estin allaʸgoroumena; hautai gar eisin duo diathaʸkai, mia men apo orous Sina, eis douleian gennōsa, haʸtis estin Hagar,)

RP-GNT Ἅτινά ἐστιν ἀλληγορούμενα· αὗται γάρ εἰσιν δύο διαθῆκαι· μία μὲν ἀπὸ ὄρους Σινᾶ, εἰς δουλείαν γεννῶσα, ἥτις ἐστὶν Ἅγαρ.
(Hatina estin allaʸgoroumena; hautai gar eisin duo diathaʸkai; mia men apo orous Sina, eis douleian gennōsa, haʸtis estin Hagar.)

TC-GNT Ἅτινά ἐστιν ἀλληγορούμενα· αὗται γάρ εἰσι [fn]δύο διαθῆκαι· μία μὲν ἀπὸ ὄρους [fn]Σινᾶ, εἰς δουλείαν γεννῶσα, ἥτις ἐστὶν Ἅγαρ.
(Hatina estin allaʸgoroumena; hautai gar eisi duo diathaʸkai; mia men apo orous Sina, eis douleian gennōsa, haʸtis estin Hagar. )

4:24 δυο ¦ αι δυο TR

4:24 σινα ¦ σεινα TH

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, orange:accents differ, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 4:21–31: Because the Galatians are spiritual sons of Abraham they are free from slavery

In this section, Paul explained why the Galatians should return to freedom and reject the teaching of the false teachers. He contrasted two sons of Abraham: the son of the slave woman and the son of the free woman. The son of the slave woman represented slavery to the law. The son of the free woman represented the freedom of living in the grace of Christ. Living in slavery to the law is in conflict with living in the grace of Christ. Those who live in the grace of Christ must reject slavery to the law.

Some possible headings for this section are:

Hagar and Sarah

The covenant of the promise is better than the covenant of the law

Choose grace, not the law

Paragraph 4:24–27

In this paragraph, Paul explained why he introduced the contrast between Abraham’s two sons. He wanted the Galatians to understand the contrast between two covenants. One covenant is the covenant of law. This covenant results in slavery. God gave the covenant of law at Mount Sinai. The other covenant is the covenant of grace. This covenant results in freedom. God gave the covenant of grace to Abraham and completed it in Christ. Paul had introduced the contrast between the two covenants in 3:17.

4:24a

These things serve as illustrations,

¶ All of this has another meaning as well.
¶ This story teaches something else:
¶ These two women are a parable.

A few English versions, such as the ESV, introduce this verse with the conjunction “now” in order to show that Paul is providing background information to explain how his example of Abraham applies to what he has been saying about faith and the law. The Greek does not have a conjunction, and most English versions do not have one. In some languages, a conjunction may not be needed here either.

These things serve as illustrations: This clause means that the things that Paul said in 4:21–23 can be interpreted/explained in another way. In Greek this phrase is more literally “these things are allegorized.” The word “allegorized” comes from the noun “allegory.” An allegory is a story in which the characters represent something with a deeper meaning. An allegory is like a parable.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

This story teaches something else: (NCV)

All of this has another meaning as well. (CEV)

These events have a deeper meaning

I will explain this story as a parable

4:24b

for the women represent two covenants.

The two women represent two different agreements that God made with his people.
Each of the two women can be compared to a treaty/contract that God made with his people.

for: In Greek, 4:24b begins with a conjunction that the BSB translates as for. This conjunction introduces an explanation of 4:24a. Many English translations do not translate this conjunction. In some languages, it will not be necessary to translate this conjunction either.

the women represent two covenants: In Paul’s allegory, Hagar and Sarah represent two covenants. The word covenants is the same word that Paul used in 3:17c. A covenant is a strong, binding agreement between two groups or two people. God established covenants or agreements with people. One covenant was the promise that God made to Abraham. The other covenant was the law that God gave to Moses.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

these women represent/show two treaties/contracts

Each of the two women stands for one of the agreements God made with his people. (CEV)

The word “covenant” first occurs in 3:15b. See also covenant in the Glossary for more information.

4:24c

One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery:

One agreement is the law that God gave on Mount Sinai. This agreement bears children who are slaves.
One of the treaties/contracts is the law given at the mountain called Sinai. The people who follow/obey this treaty/contract are like slaves.

One covenant is from Mount Sinai: This is the covenant of the law. God gave the law to Moses on a mountain called Mount Sinai.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

One covenant comes from Mount Sinai

One agreement is the law that God gave on Mount Sinai

One treaty/contract is the law given to Moses at Mount Sinai

Mount Sinai: The phrase Mount Sinai refers to a mountain whose name is Sinai. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

the mountain of Sinai

the mountain called Sinai

bears children into slavery: This clause is a figure of speech called personification. In this personification, the covenant of the law is spoken of as if it were a woman who bears children. The children whom this woman bears are slaves.

In this figure of speech, the word children refers to those who follow and obey the law. The covenant of the law results in slavery to the law.

Some ways to translate this clause are:

Keep the personification. For example:
and bears children who are to be slaves (NIV)
Translate the meaning without the personification. For example:
and those who follow the law are slaves to that law.
and the people who are under this agreement are like slaves (NCV)

4:24d

This is Hagar.

Hagar represents this agreement.
The slave mother named Hagar represents that treaty.
Hagar, the slave woman, corresponds to this contract.

This is Hagar: The Greek clause that the BSB translates as This is Hagar can mean:

This covenant is Hagar, or
This woman is Hagar

Both are correct. Hagar represents the covenant of the law. She is the slave woman referred to in 4:23a.

Some ways to translate this clause are:

This covenant is Hagar.

This woman is Hagar.

The slave woman named Hagar represents that covenant.

The mother named Hagar is like that agreement. (NCV)

General Comment on 4:24a–d

In some languages, it may be more natural to change the order of the clauses in 4:24. For example:

^aAll of this has another meaning as well. ^bEach of the two women stands for one of the agreements God made with his people. ^dHagar, the slave woman, ^cstands for the agreement that was made at Mount Sinai. Everyone born into her family is a slave. (CEV)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἅτινά

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἅτινα ἐστίν ἀλληγορούμενα αὗται γάρ εἰσίν δύο διαθῆκαι μία μέν ἀπό Ὄρους Σινᾶ εἰς δουλείαν γεννῶσα ἥτις ἐστίν Ἁγάρ)

These things refers to the things Paul has just described in [4:22-23](../04/22.md) regarding Abraham, his two sons, and Hagar and Sarah. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: [These events I have just described to you] or [These things I have just told to you]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἅτινά ἐστιν ἀλληγορούμενα

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. If you must state who did the action, Paul implies that he is doing it. Alternate translation: [I am speaking these things as an allegory]

Note 3 topic: translate-unknown

ἅτινά ἐστιν ἀλληγορούμενα

An allegory is a story in which things within the story are interpreted as representing something else. Here, the things in the story are meant to be interpreted as representing spiritual truths and realities. In this allegory, the two women referred to in [4:22](../04/22.md) represent two different covenants. If your language has a word or phrase for allegory, you could use that here. Alternately, if it would help your readers, you could describe what an allegory is in your translation. Alternate translation: [I am speaking of these things in order to teach you a spiritual truth] or [I am speaking of these things in order to use them as an analogy by which to teach you an important truth]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

αὗται

these

Here, the word they refers to Sarah and Hagar. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: [these women]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

μία

one

The word One here could refer to: (1) the covenant which God made at Mount Sinai, which resulted in spiritual slavery to the law. Alternate translation: [One covenant] (2) Hagar, in which case Paul means that she corresponds to Mount Sinai (See [4:25](../04/25.md)) and gave birth to children destined for slavery. Alternate translation: [One woman]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

Ὄρους Σινά

Mount (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἅτινα ἐστίν ἀλληγορούμενα αὗται γάρ εἰσίν δύο διαθῆκαι μία μέν ἀπό Ὄρους Σινᾶ εἰς δουλείαν γεννῶσα ἥτις ἐστίν Ἁγάρ)

Paul uses Mount Sinai to refer to the covenant with the laws that Moses gave to the Israelites there. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use plain language to express this. Alternate translation: [Mount Sinai, where Moses received the law and gave it to the Israelites]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

εἰς δουλείαν γεννῶσα

to slavery bearing

Paul speaks of the law of Moses producing or resulting in something as if the process of producing was like giving birth. Paul speaks of the spiritual bondage of being under the authority of the law of Moses as if it were slavery. Paul is saying that the law of Moses produces spiritual slavery. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use equivalent metaphors from your culture. Alternatively, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [and produces spiritual slavery] or [and results in spiritual slavery]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

δουλείαν

slavery

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of slavery, you could express the same idea with a concrete noun such as “slave,” or you could express the meaning in some other way that is natural in your language.

Parallel GAL 4:24

Section 4:21–31: Because the Galatians are spiritual sons of Abraham they are free from slavery

Paragraph 4:24–27

4:24a

4:24b

4:24c

4:24d

General Comment on 4:24a–d