Galaten 4:9

Staten Vertaling

En nu, als gij God kent, ja, veelmeer van God gekend zijt, hoe keert gij u wederom tot de zwakke en arme beginselen, welke gij wederom van voren aan wilt dienen?

Parallel Translations

Gereviseerde Leidse Vertaling
maar hoe kunt gij, nu gij God hebt leren kennen--ja, wat meer zegt, nu gij door God erkend zijt--hoe kunt gij terugkeren tot die zwakke, armzalige natuurmachten en ze van voren af aan willen dienen?

Gereviseerde Lutherse Vertaling
maar nu gij God hebt leren kennen, ja veelmeer door God gekend zijt, hoe wendt gij u dan wederom tot de zwakke en arme eerste beginselen, welke gij op nieuw wilt dienen?

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

ye have: 1 Kings 8:43, 1 Chronicles 28:9, Psalms 9:10, Proverbs 2:5, Jeremiah 31:34, Habakkuk 2:14, Matthew 11:27, John 17:3, 1 Corinthians 15:34, 2 Corinthians 4:6, Ephesians 1:17, 2 Peter 2:20, 1 John 2:3, 1 John 2:4, 1 John 5:20

are known: Exodus 33:17, Psalms 1:6, John 10:14, John 10:27, Romans 8:29, 1 Corinthians 8:3, 1 Corinthians 13:12, 2 Timothy 2:19

how: Galatians 3:3, Romans 8:3, Colossians 2:20-23, Hebrews 7:18

again: or, back, Hebrews 10:38, Hebrews 10:39

elements: or, rudiments, Galatians 4:3

Reciprocal: Judges 2:10 - knew not Psalms 31:7 - known Psalms 85:8 - but Psalms 91:14 - known Psalms 100:3 - Know Psalms 101:3 - them Psalms 119:176 - seek Isaiah 19:21 - Lord shall Isaiah 45:4 - though Jeremiah 24:5 - I acknowledge Hosea 8:4 - set Hosea 13:5 - know Nahum 1:7 - and he Matthew 25:12 - I know Luke 5:38 - General Luke 13:27 - I tell John 8:19 - Ye neither John 17:25 - the world Acts 15:10 - which Acts 17:23 - To Romans 5:11 - but we Romans 14:5 - esteemeth 2 Corinthians 11:20 - if a man bring Galatians 1:6 - so Galatians 2:4 - bring Galatians 2:18 - General Galatians 3:1 - who Galatians 4:21 - ye that Galatians 5:1 - entangled Ephesians 2:11 - remember Colossians 2:8 - the rudiments 1 Thessalonians 1:9 - ye Titus 1:14 - turn Hebrews 7:11 - perfection Hebrews 7:16 - the law Hebrews 9:10 - carnal 1 John 4:7 - and knoweth

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But now, after that ye have known God, c,] God in Christ, as their covenant God and Father, through the preaching of the Gospel, and in the light of divine grace God having caused light to shine in their dark hearts; and having given them the light of the knowledge of himself in the face of Christ, and having sent down into their hearts the Spirit of his Son, crying "Abba", Father.

Or rather are known of God; for it is but little that the best of these, that have the greatest share of knowledge, know of him; and what knowledge they have, they have it first, originally, and wholly from him: that knowledge which he has of them is particular, distinct, and complete; and is to be understood, not of his omniscience in general, so all men are known by him; but of his special knowledge, joined with affection, approbation, and care: and the meaning is, that they were loved by him with an everlasting love, which had been manifested in their conversion, in the drawing of them to himself, and to his Son; that he approved of them, delighted in them, had an exact knowledge, and took special care of them: but, oh, folly and ingratitude!

how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto you desire again to be in bondage? meaning the ordinances of the ceremonial law, he before calls "the elements of the world", and here "weak", because they could not give life, righteousness, peace, joy, comfort, and salvation; and, since the coming of Christ, were become impotent to all the uses they before served; and beggarly, because they lay in the observation of mean things, as meats, drinks, c. and which were only shadows of those good things, the riches of grace and glory, which come by Christ. The Galatians are said to turn again to these not that they were before in the observation of them, except the Jews, but because there was some likeness between these, and the ceremonies with which they carried on the service of their idols; and by showing an inclination to them, they discovered a good will to come into a like state of bondage they were in before; than which nothing could be more stupid and ungrateful in a people that had been blessed with so much grace, and with such clear Gospel light and knowledge.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But now ... - The sense is, that since they had been made free from their ignoble servitude in the worship of false gods, and had been admitted to the freedom found in the worship of the true God, it was absurd that they should return again to that which was truly slavery or bondage, the observance of the rites of the Jewish law.

That ye have known God - The true God, and the ease and freedom of his service in the gospel.

Or rather are known of God - The sense is, “Or, to speak more accurately or precisely, are known by God.” The object of this correction is to avoid the impression which might be derived from the former phrase that their acquaintance with God was owing to themselves. He therefore states, that it was rather that they were known of God; that it was all owing to him that they had been brought to an acquaintance with himself. Perhaps, also, he means to bring into view the idea that it was a favor and privilege to be known by God, and that therefore it was the more absurd to turn back to the weak and beggarly elements.

How turn ye again - Margin, “Back.” “How is it that you are returning to such a bondage?” The question implies surprise and indignation that they should do it.

To the weak and beggarly elements - To the rites and ceremonies of the Jewish law, imposing a servitude really not less severe than the customs of paganism. On the word elements, see the note at Galatians 4:3. They are called “weak” because they had no power to save the soul; no power to justify the sinner before God. They are called “beggarly” (Greek πτωχὰ ptōcha, poor), because they could not impart spiritual riches. They really could confer few benefits on man. Or it may be, as Locke supposes, because the Law kept people in the poor estate of pupils from the full enjoyment of the inheritance; Galatians 4:1-3.

Whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage - As if you had a wish to be under servitude. The absurdity is as great as it would be for a man who had been freed from slavery to desire his chains again. They had been freed by the gospel from the galling servitude of paganism, and they now again had sunk into the Jewish observances, as if they preferred slavery to freedom, and were willing to go from one form of it to another. The main idea is, that it is absurd for people who have been made free by the gospel to go back again into any kind of servitude or bondage. We may apply it to Christians now. Many sink into a kind of servitude not less galling than was that to sin before their conversion. Some become the slaves of mere ceremonies and forms in religion. Some are slaves to fashion, and the world still rules them with the hand of a tyrant. They have escaped, it may be, from the galling chains of ambition, and degrading vice, and low sensuality; but they became slaves to the love of money, or of dress, or of the fashions of the world, as if they loved slavery and chains; and they seem no more able to break loose than the slave is to break the bonds which bind him. And some are slaves to some expensive and foolish habit. Professed Christians, and Christian ministers too, become slaves to the disgusting and loathsome habit of using tobacco, bound by a servitude as galling and as firm as that which ever shackled the limbs of an African. I grieve to add also that many professed Christians are slaves to the habit of “sitting long at the wine” and indulging in it freely. O that such knew the liberty of Christian freedom, and would break away from all such shackles, and show how the gospel frees people from all foolish and absurd customs!

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 9. Now, after that ye have known God — After having been brought to the knowledge of God as your Saviour.

Or rather are known of God — Are approved of him, having received the adoption of sons.

To the weak and beggarly elements — After receiving all this, will ye turn again to the ineffectual rites and ceremonies of the Mosaic law-rites too weak to counteract your sinful habits, and too poor to purchase pardon and eternal life for you? If the Galatians were turning again to them, it is evident that they had been once addicted to them. And this they might have been, allowing that they had become converts from heathenism to Judaism, and from Judaism to Christianity. This makes the sense consistent between the 8th and 9th verses. Galatians 4:8-9.