Galatians 4:25

23 But he who was of the bondwoman ^awas born according to the flesh, ^band he of the freewoman through promise,

24 which things are symbolic. For these are¹ the two covenants: the one from Mount ^aSinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar—

25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children—

26 but the ^aJerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.

27 For it is written:
^a“Rejoice, O barren,
You who do not bear!
Break forth and shout,
You who are not in labor!
For the desolate has many more children
Than she who has a husband.”

28 Now ^awe, brethren, as Isaac was, are ^bchildren of promise.

29 But, as ^ahe who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, ^beven so it is now.

30 Nevertheless what does ^athe Scripture say? ^b“Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for ^cthe son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.”

31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.

Commentaries:

Adam Clarke

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Galatians 4:26 >>

Galatians 4:25

For this Agar is Mount Sinai in Arabia - . This is the common reading; but it is read differently in some of the most respectable MSS., versions, and fathers; thus: ͅ , for this Sinai is a mountain of Arabia; the word , Agar, being omitted. This reading is supported by CFG, some others, the Ethiopic, Armenian, Vulgate, and one copy of the Itala; by Epiphanius, Damascenus, Ambrosiaster, Jerome, Augustine, Hilary, Sedulius, and Bede; and the word is sometimes, though not always, omitted by Cyril and Origen, which proves that in their time there were doubts concerning the common reading.

Of the word Agar in this verse, which renders the passage very obscure and difficult, Professor White says, forsitan delendum , "probably it should be expunged." Griesbach has left it in the text with a note of doubtfulness.

Answereth to Jerusalem - Hagar, the bond maid, bringing forth children in a state of slavery, answereth to Jerusalem that now is, , points out, or, bears a similitude to, Jerusalem in her present state of subjection; which, with her children - her citizens, is not only in bondage to the Romans, but in a worse bondage to the law, to its oppressive ordinances, and to the heavy curse which it has pronounced against all those who do not keep them.

Other Adam Clarke entries containing Galatians 4:25:

John 8:35
Revelation 21:2

<< Galatians 4:24

Galatians 4:26 >>

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