Passage

Galatians 4.1-7

Book: Galatians · NASB95

Immediate context (±2 verses)

ASV (ASV)

"1. But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a bondservant though he is lord of all; 2. but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed of the father. 3. So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the rudiments of the world: 4. but when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5. that he might redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6. And because ye are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7. So that thou art no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God."

"8. Howbeit at that time, not knowing God, ye were in bondage to them that by nature are no gods: 9. but now that ye have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how turn ye back again to the weak and beggarly rudiments, whereunto ye desire to be in bondage over again?" (Galatians 4:1-9, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"1. But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a bondservant, though he is lord of all; 2. but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed by the father. 3. So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world. 4. But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law, 5. that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of children. 6. And because you are children, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!” 7. So you are no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ."

"8. However at that time, not knowing God, you were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods. 9. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, why do you turn back again to the weak and miserable elemental principles, to which you desire to be in bondage all over again?" (Galatians 4:1-9, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"1. Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; 2. But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. 3. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: ^{elements: or, rudiments} 4. But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5. To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ."

"8. Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. 9. But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? ^{turn ye again: or, turn ye back} ^{elements: or, rudiments}" (Galatians 4:1-9, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"1. And I say, so long time as the heir is a babe, he differeth nothing from a servant, being lord of all, 2. but is under tutors and stewards till the time appointed of the father, 3. so also we, when we were babes, under the elements of the world were in servitude, 4. and when the fulness of time did come, God sent forth His Son, come of a woman, come under law, 5. that those under law he may redeem, that the adoption of sons we may receive; 6. and because ye are sons, God did send forth the spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, 'Abba, Father!' 7. so that thou art no more a servant, but a son, and if a son, also an heir of God through Christ."

"8. But then, indeed, not having known God, ye were in servitude to those not by nature gods, 9. and now, having known God, and rather being known by God, how turn ye again unto the weak and poor elements to which anew ye desire to be in servitude?" (Galatians 4:1-9, YLT)

Setting

Speaker: TBD
Audience: TBD
Location: TBD
Time period: TBD

Theological reading

Patristic / early-church-father exegesis, to be added.

Key words

Theologically-loaded Greek or Hebrew words in this verse may have entries in the lexicon. Curated to roughly 100 contested terms across the corpus, not every word; see Lexicon Roadmap.

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Quoted in

Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.