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Text critical issues=minor/spelling Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)
OET (OET-RV) That’s how it is with us—when we were infants we were enslaved by this world’s principles,![]()
OET-LV Thus we also, when we_were infants, we_were having_been_enslaved under the principles of_the world.
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SR-GNT Οὕτως καὶ ἡμεῖς, ὅτε ἦμεν νήπιοι, ὑπὸ τὰ στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου ἦμεν δεδουλωμένοι. ‡
(Houtōs kai haʸmeis, hote aʸmen naʸpioi, hupo ta stoiⱪeia tou kosmou aʸmen dedoulōmenoi.)
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 So also, when we were children, we were being enslaved under the elemental principles of the world.
UST Likewise, when we were spiritually immature because we did not yet believe in the Messiah, we submitted to the rules that everyone in this world lives by. Those rules controlled us like masters control their slaves.
BSB So also, when we were children, we were enslaved under the basic principles[fn] of the world.
4:3 Or elemental forces; similarly in verse 9
MSB So also, when we were children, we were enslaved under the basic principles[fn] of the world.
4:3 Or elemental forces; similarly in verse 9
BLB So also, we when we were children, were held in bondage under the principles of the world.
AICNT In the same way, when we were infants, we were enslaved under the basic principles of the world;
OEB It was the same way with us. When we were under age, as it were, we were slaves to the puerile teaching of this world;
WEBBE So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world.
WMBB (Same as above)
NET So also we, when we were minors, were enslaved under the basic forces of the world.
LSV so we also, when we were children, were in servitude under the elements of the world,
FBV It's just the same for us. When we were children, we were slaves subject to the basic rules[fn] of the law.
4:3 The word translated “rules” here is subject to wide interpretation. Originally the word referred to the alphabet, then took the meaning of the “ABC's” of life. Paul is comparing the ceremonial law to such letters and symbols, basic instructions useful for existence but having no power to save and heal. The same word is used in verse 9.
TCNT In the same way also, when we were children, we were enslaved to the elements of the world.
T4T Likewise, when we (inc) (OR, we (exc) Jews) were like young children [MET], we were controlled by the spiritual powers of this world. They controlled us like masters control their slaves [MET].
LEB So also we, when we were children, we were enslaved under the elemental spirits of the world.
BBE So we, when we were young, were kept under the first rules of the world;
Moff So with us. When we were under age, we lived under the thraldom of the Elemental spirits of the world;
Wymth So we also, when spiritually we were children, were subject to the world's rudimentary notions, and were enslaved.
ASV So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the rudiments of the world:
DRA So we also, when we were children, were serving under the elements of the world.
YLT so also we, when we were babes, under the elements of the world were in servitude,
Drby So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the principles of the world;
RV So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the rudiments of the world:
SLT So also we, when we were children, were subjugated under the world’s elements:
Wbstr Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
KJB-1769 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
KJB-1611 Euen so we, when wee were children, were in bondage vnder the [fn]Elements of the world:
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and footnotes)
4:3 Or, rudiments.
Bshps Euen so we, when we were chyldren, were in bondage vnder ye rudimentes of the worlde:
(Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under ye/you_all rudimentes of the world:)
Gnva Euen so, we when wee were children, were in bondage vnder the rudiments of the world.
(Even so, we when we were children, were in bondage under the rudiments of the world. )
Cvdl Euen so we also, wha we were children, were in bondage vnder the outwarde tradicions.
(Even so we also, what we were children, were in bondage under the outward traditions.)
TNT Even so we as longe as we were chyldren were in bondage vnder the ordinaunces of the worlde.
(Even so we as long as we were children were in bondage under the ordinances of the world. )
Wycl So we, whanne we weren litle children, we serueden vndur the elementis of the world.
(So we, when we were little children, we served under the elementis of the world.)
Luth Also auch wir, da wir Kinder waren, waren wir gefangen unter den äußerlichen Satzungen.
(So also we/us, there we/us children were, were we/us caught under the externaln statutes.)
ClVg ita et nos cum essemus parvuli, sub elementis mundi eramus servientes.[fn]
(so/thus and us when/with we_would_be little_ones, under elements world eramus servants. )
4.3 Sub elementis. In elementis neomenias, id est lunares dies, et sabbatum significat, non quod in elementis sperarent ut pagani, sed quod in his Deum venerarentur. Mundi. Quia lex non cœlestia sed terrena promittebat: vel transitoria, ut est mundus.
4.3 Under elements. In elements neomenias, that it_is lunares days, and sabbath means, not/no that in/into/on elements to_hopent as pagani, but that in/into/on his God venerarentur. Mundi. Because the_law not/no heaven but earthly promittebat: or passria, as it_is world.
UGNT οὕτως καὶ ἡμεῖς, ὅτε ἦμεν νήπιοι, ὑπὸ τὰ στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου ἤμεθα δεδουλωμένοι.
(houtōs kai haʸmeis, hote aʸmen naʸpioi, hupo ta stoiⱪeia tou kosmou aʸmetha dedoulōmenoi.)
SBL-GNT οὕτως καὶ ἡμεῖς, ὅτε ἦμεν νήπιοι, ὑπὸ τὰ στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου ⸀ἤμεθα δεδουλωμένοι·
(houtōs kai haʸmeis, hote aʸmen naʸpioi, hupo ta stoiⱪeia tou kosmou ⸀aʸmetha dedoulōmenoi;)
RP-GNT Οὕτως καὶ ἡμεῖς, ὅτε ἦμεν νήπιοι, ὑπὸ τὰ στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου ἦμεν δεδουλωμένοι·
(Houtōs kai haʸmeis, hote aʸmen naʸpioi, hupo ta stoiⱪeia tou kosmou aʸmen dedoulōmenoi;)
TC-GNT Οὕτω καὶ ἡμεῖς, ὅτε ἦμεν νήπιοι, ὑπὸ τὰ στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου [fn]ἦμεν δεδουλωμένοι·
(Houtō kai haʸmeis, hote aʸmen naʸpioi, hupo ta stoiⱪeia tou kosmou aʸmen dedoulōmenoi; )
4:3 ημεν ¦ ημεθα NA SBL WH
Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).
4:3 Before Christ came, God’s people were like underage heirs to a large estate (4:1-2). They would inherit a great fortune (4:5), but they were still subject to their guardian (3:23-25).
• the basic spiritual principles of this world: This probably refers to the principles of law that govern the world apart from Christ; these principles were fully expressed in the law of Moses (3:23-24; cp. 4:5).
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
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.
In 4:3–7, Paul explained the meaning of his illustration in 4:1–2. In the same way that a future heir is surrounded by guardians and is like a slave when he is a child, Jewish and Gentile believers had been slaves of sin. God the Father decided the right time to change this situation. This happened when he sent his Son. After God’s Son had redeemed us, believers became sons and received the full inheritance as sons. They were no longer slaves.
So also, when we were children,
It was the same way with us(incl) also. Previously, we(incl) were like children and
It was the same with us too before Christ came. We were like children.
So also, when we were children: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as So also, when we were children introduces Paul’s explanation of his illustration in 4:1–2. In his explanation, Paul compared Jewish and Gentile believers to the heir in 4:1–2. He referred to their lives before they believed as a time when they were like children. He compared their lives at that time to the life of an heir when he is a child.
Some other ways to translate this clause are:
That is how it was with us. We were like children (CEV)
It is the same for us. We were once like children (NCV)
And that’s the way it was with us before Christ came. We were like children (NLT)
we: There are two ways to interpret the pronoun we here:
It refers to all believers. It refers to both Jewish and non-Jewish believers and should be an inclusive we.
It refers to Jewish believers only and should be an exclusive we.
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), as the majority of commentators do. Here Paul was no longer talking about Jewish slavery under the law of Moses. He was talking about a more general slavery to the “basic principles of the world” (4:3b).
Also in support of this interpretation is the fact that in 4:9, Paul rebuked the Gentiles for returning to the basic principles of the world. Therefore, the Gentiles must have been included in we who had been slaves to those principles in 4:3b.In 4:4b and 4:5a, Paul mentioned those who are required to obey the law. This might suggest that here in 4:3a Paul was thinking of the Jews only. However, being required to obey the Jewish law is a specific example of living in slavery to religious rules.
we were enslaved under the basic principles of the world.
were in slavery to the laws and customs of this world.
We were like slaves to the customs of our ancestors.
Before Jewish and Gentile believers believed in Christ, they were like children. They were the same as slaves who are under the authority of a master.
we were enslaved under: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as we were enslaved under can also be translated as “we were slaves to/of.”
Some other ways to translate this clause are:
we were in slavery under (NIV)
we were slaves to (NLT)
We were…ruled by (CEV)
the basic principles of the world: There are two main ways to interpret the Greek phrase that the BSB translates as the basic principles of the world:
It refers to the rules, laws, customs, and principles of this world. For example:
the…rules of this world (NCV) (BSB, NIV, ESV, NJB, GW, NLT, NCV, JBP)
It refers to spiritual beings. For example:
the ruling spirits of the universe (GNT) (NIV11, RSV, GNT, REB, CEV, NLT96)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).
Some other ways to translate this phrase are:
customs and laws in this world
the customs/teachings of our ancestors
Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases
οὕτως
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Οὕτως καί ἡμεῖς ὅτε ἦμεν νήπιοι ὑπό τά στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου ἦμεν δεδουλωμένοι)
Here, the word So indicates that what follows is comparable to, and similar in some way to what has just been described in [4:1-2](../04/01.md). Use a natural form in your language for introducing something that corresponds to something that was introduced previously. Alternate translation: [In a similar way]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive
ἦμεν
˱we˲_were
The word we here refers to all Christians, including Paul’s readers, so we would be inclusive. Your language may require you to mark these forms.
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
ὅτε ἦμεν νήπιοι
when ˱we˲_were infants
Paul speaks of people who have not yet trusted in Jesus as if they were children. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly, or you could translate this phrase as a simile. Alternate translation: [when we did not yet believe in Jesus] or [when we were like children spiritually]
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive
ὑπὸ τὰ στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου ἤμεθα δεδουλωμένοι
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Οὕτως καί ἡμεῖς ὅτε ἦμεν νήπιοι ὑπό τά στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου ἦμεν δεδουλωμένοι)
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 was doing the action, Paul says that the elemental principles of the world were doing it. See the note on personification regarding the elemental principles of this world. Alternate translation: [the elemental principles of the world were enslaving us]
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
δεδουλωμένοι
˓having_been˒_enslaved
Paul speaks of being under the control of the elemental principles of the world as if it were slavery. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent metaphor from your culture. Alternatively, you could express the meaning plainly.
Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
ὑπὸ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Οὕτως καί ἡμεῖς ὅτε ἦμεν νήπιοι ὑπό τά στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου ἦμεν δεδουλωμένοι)
Here, the word under means “under the power of” or “under the authority of.” See how you translated the word under in [4:2](../04/02.md) where Paul uses it with a similar meaning. Alternate translation: [under the power of] or [under the authority of]
Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / personification
ὑπὸ τὰ στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου & δεδουλωμένοι
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Οὕτως καί ἡμεῖς ὅτε ἦμεν νήπιοι ὑπό τά στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου ἦμεν δεδουλωμένοι)
Here, Paul speaks of the elemental principles of the world as though they were a person who could enslave other people. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this meaning plainly. Paul speaks of the elemental principles of the world as though they have the power to enslave a person, but it is actually humans who do not yet believe in the Messiah, who willing submit to these elemental principles and allow themselves to be enslaved. See [5:1](../05/01.md).
Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
τὰ στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Οὕτως καί ἡμεῖς ὅτε ἦμεν νήπιοι ὑπό τά στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου ἦμεν δεδουλωμένοι)
Here, the elemental principles of the world could refer to: (1) the religious and/or moral teachings that people, whether they be a Jew or non-Jew, seek to obey in order to please God and think of themselves as praiseworthy and good. Alternate translation: [the elemental rules of this world] or [the rudimentary principles of this world] (2) the things prescribed by the Mosaic law. Alternate translation: [the things prescribed by the law of Moses]