Galatians 4:1 What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate.

◄ Galatians 4:1 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate.

English Standard Version
I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything,

New American Standard Bible
Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything,

King James Bible
Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Now I say that as long as the heir is a child, he differs in no way from a slave, though he is the owner of everything.

International Standard Version
Now what I am saying is this: As long as an heir is a child, he is no better off than a slave, even though he owns everything.

American Standard Version
But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a bondservant though he is lord of all;

Douay-Rheims Bible
Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;

Darby Bible Translation
Now I say, As long as the heir is a child, he differs nothing from a bondman, though he be lord of all;

Young's Literal Translation
And I say, so long time as the heir is a babe, he differeth nothing from a servant -- being lord of all,

Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

4:1-7 The apostle deals plainly with those who urged the law of Moses together with the gospel of Christ, and endeavoured to bring believers under its bondage. They could not fully understand the meaning of the law as given by Moses. And as that was a dispensation of darkness, so of bondage; they were tied to many burdensome rites and observances, by which they were taught and kept subject like a child under tutors and governors. We learn the happier state of Christians under the gospel dispensation. From these verses see the wonders of Divine love and mercy; particularly of God the Father, in sending his Son into the world to redeem and save us; of the Son of God, in submitting so low, and suffering so much for us; and of the Holy Spirit, in condescending to dwell in the hearts of believers, for such gracious purposes. Also, the advantages Christians enjoy under the gospel. Although by nature children of wrath and disobedience, they become by grace children of love, and partake of the nature of the children of God; for he will have all his children resemble him. Among men the eldest son is heir; but all God's children shall have the inheritance of eldest sons. May the temper and conduct of sons ever show our adoption; and may the Holy Spirit witness with our spirits that we are children and heirs of God.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

CHAPTER 4

Ga 4:1-31. The Same Subject Continued: Illustration of Our Subjection to the Law Only till Christ Came, from the Subjection of an Heir to His Guardian till He Is of Age. Peter's Good Will to the Galatians Should Lead Them to the Same Good Will to Him as They Had at First Shown. Their Desire to Be under the Law Shown by the Allegory of Isaac and Ishmael to Be Inconsistent with Their Gospel Liberty.

1-7. The fact of God's sending His Son to redeem us who were under the law (Ga 4:4), and sending the Spirit of His Son into our hearts (Ga 4:6), confirms the conclusion (Ga 3:29) that we are "heirs according to the promise."

the heir—(Ga 3:29). It is not, as in earthly inheritances, the death of the father, but our Father's sovereign will simply that makes us heirs.

child—Greek, "one under age."

differeth nothing, &c.—that is, has no more freedom than a slave (so the Greek for "servant" means). He is not at his own disposal.

lord of all—by title and virtual ownership (compare 1Co 3:21, 22).