Lectionary Calendar
Tuesday, November 26th, 2024
the Week of Christ the King / Proper 29 / Ordinary 34
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THE MESSAGE

Galatians 4:25

This verse is not available in the MSG!

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Abraham;   Hagar;   Justification;   Parables;   Sinai;   Thompson Chain Reference - Backsliding;   Deterioration-Development;   Hagar;   The Topic Concordance - Jerusalem;   Newness;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Church of Israel;   Jerusalem;   Liberty, Christian;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Sarah;   Sinai;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Hagar;   Isaac;   Ishmael;   Promise;   Sinai;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Church, the;   Citizenship;   Genesis, Theology of;   Law of Christ;   New Covenant;   New Jerusalem;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Sarah;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Abraham;   Alexandria;   Galatians, the Epistle to the;   Hagar;   Hebrews, the Epistle to the;   Isaac;   Law;   Old Testament;   Patriarchs;   Paul;   Sarah;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Allegory;   Arabia;   Hagar;   Jerusalem;   Old Testament Quotations in the New Testament;   Sarai;   Slave/servant;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Adoption;   Alexandria;   Arabia, Arabs;   Liberty;   Quotations;   Sinai;   Thessalonians, Second Epistle to the;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Allegory;   Answer;   Arabia;   Covenant;   Galatians Epistle to the;   Good;   Mount Mountain ;   Roman Law in the Nt;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Abraham ;   Arabia ;   Genesis, Book of;   Hagar ;   Isaac ;   Sina, Sinai ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Bondage;   Kedar;   Sarah;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Abram;   Arabia;   Hagar;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Ha'gar;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Sinai;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Agar;   Hagarenes;   Prophecy;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Abram;   Kingdom or Church of Christ, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Abraham;   Allegory;   Bondage;   Galatians, Epistle to the;   Hagar;   Hebrews, Epistle to the;   Hill;   Isaac;   Ishmael (1);   Pauline Theology;   Sarah;   Seed;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Arabia;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Allegorical Interpretation;   Arabia;  

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
So Hagar is like Mount Sinai in Arabia. She is a picture of the earthly Jewish city of Jerusalem. This city is a slave, and all its people are slaves to the law.
Revised Standard Version
Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
For mounte Sina is called Agar in Arabia and bordreth vpo the citie which is now Ierusalem and is in bondage with her chyldren.
Hebrew Names Version
For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in `Arav, and answers to the Yerushalayim that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children.
New American Standard Bible
Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is enslaved with her children.
New Century Version
She is like Mount Sinai in Arabia and is a picture of the earthly city of Jerusalem. This city and its people are slaves to the law.
Update Bible Version
Now this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia and answers to the Jerusalem that now is: for she works as a slave along with her children.
Webster's Bible Translation
For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
English Standard Version
Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.
World English Bible
For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem that now is, and is in bondage with her children.
Weymouth's New Testament
This is Hagar; for the name Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, which is in bondage together with her children.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For Syna is an hille that is in Arabie, which hille is ioyned to it that is now Jerusalem, and seruith with hir children.
English Revised Version
Now this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to the Jerusalem that now is: for she is in bondage with her children.
Berean Standard Bible
Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present-day Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children.
Contemporary English Version
Hagar also stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and for the present city of Jerusalem. She and her children are slaves.
Amplified Bible
Now Hagar is (represents) Mount Sinai in Arabia and she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.
American Standard Version
Now this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia and answereth to the Jerusalem that now is: for she is in bondage with her children.
Bible in Basic English
Now this Hagar is the mountain Sinai in Arabia, and is the image of the Jerusalem which now is: which is a servant with her children.
Complete Jewish Bible
Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Yerushalayim, for she serves as a slave along with her children.
Darby Translation
For Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which [is] now, for she is in bondage with her children;
International Standard Version
Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to present-day Jerusalem, because she is in slavery along with her children.
Etheridge Translation
for Hagar is Mount Sinai which is in Arabia, and answers to this Urishlem, and serves in bondage, she and her children.
Murdock Translation
For Hagar is the mount Sinai in Arabia, and correspondeth with the present Jerusalem, and is serving in bondage, she and her children.
King James Version (1611)
For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Ierusalem, which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
New Living Translation
And now Jerusalem is just like Mount Sinai in Arabia, because she and her children live in slavery to the law.
New Life Bible
Hagar is known as Mount Sinai in the country of Arabia. She is as Jerusalem is today, because she and her children are not free to do what they want to do.
New Revised Standard
Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.
Geneva Bible (1587)
(For Agar or Sina is a mountaine in Arabia, and it answereth to Hierusalem which nowe is) and she is in bondage with her children.
George Lamsa Translation
For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and surrenders to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, the Hagar, is Mount Sinai, in Arabia, - she answereth, however, unto the present Jerusalem, for she is in bondage with her children;
Douay-Rheims Bible
For Sina is a mountain in Arabia, which hath affinity to that Jerusalem which now is: and is in bondage with her children.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
For Agar is the mount Sina in Arabia, and bordreth vpon the citie, which is nowe [called] Hierusalem, and is in bondage with her chyldren.
Good News Translation
Hagar, who stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia, is a figure of the present city of Jerusalem, in slavery with all its people.
Christian Standard Bible®
Now Hagar represents Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.
King James Version
For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
Lexham English Bible
Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is a slave with her children.
Literal Translation
for Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, and she slaves with her children),
Young's Literal Translation
for this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and doth correspond to the Jerusalem that now [is], and is in servitude with her children,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For Agar is called in Arabia ye mount Sina, and reacheth vnto Ierusalem which now is, and is in bondage with hir children.
Mace New Testament (1729)
this Agar answers to the Jerusalem now in being, for she is in servitude with her children:
New English Translation
Now Hagar represents Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.
New King James Version
for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children--
Simplified Cowboy Version
Jerusalem is no better off. It is a city that has been enslaved to the Code. She and her children live in slavery to a set of rules.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.
Legacy Standard Bible
Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.

Contextual Overview

21Tell me now, you who have become so enamored with the law: Have you paid close attention to that law? Abraham, remember, had two sons: one by the slave woman and one by the free woman. The son of the slave woman was born by human connivance; the son of the free woman was born by God's promise. This illustrates the very thing we are dealing with now. The two births represent two ways of being in relationship with God. One is from Mount Sinai in Arabia. It corresponds with what is now going on in Jerusalem—a slave life, producing slaves as offspring. This is the way of Hagar. In contrast to that, there is an invisible Jerusalem, a free Jerusalem, and she is our mother—this is the way of Sarah. Remember what Isaiah wrote: Rejoice, barren woman who bears no children, shout and cry out, woman who has no birth pangs, Because the children of the barren woman now surpass the children of the chosen woman. Isn't it clear, friends, that you, like Isaac, are children of promise? In the days of Hagar and Sarah, the child who came from faithless connivance (Ishmael) harassed the child who came—empowered by the Spirit—from the faithful promise (Isaac). Isn't it clear that the harassment you are now experiencing from the Jerusalem heretics follows that old pattern? There is a Scripture that tells us what to do: "Expel the slave mother with her son, for the slave son will not inherit with the free son." Isn't that conclusive? We are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

is: Galatians 4:24

Sinai: Deuteronomy 33:2, Judges 5:5, Psalms 68:8, Psalms 68:17, Hebrews 12:18

Arabia: Galatians 1:17, Acts 1:11

answereth to: or, is in the same rank with

her: Matthew 23:37, Luke 13:34, Luke 19:44

Reciprocal: Genesis 16:3 - his Genesis 40:12 - The three Leviticus 25:1 - General Leviticus 25:10 - proclaim Leviticus 27:34 - in mount 1 Kings 10:15 - all the kings 1 Kings 11:36 - the city Isaiah 21:13 - Arabia Ezekiel 27:21 - Arabia Matthew 26:26 - this Mark 14:22 - this Luke 22:19 - is my Acts 2:11 - Arabians Acts 7:30 - there 1 Corinthians 10:4 - that Rock 2 Corinthians 11:20 - if a man bring Galatians 2:4 - bring Galatians 4:3 - in Revelation 21:2 - coming

Cross-References

Genesis 4:1
Adam slept with Eve his wife. She conceived and had Cain. She said, "I've gotten a man, with God 's help!"
Genesis 4:3
Time passed. Cain brought an offering to God from the produce of his farm. Abel also brought an offering, but from the firstborn animals of his herd, choice cuts of meat. God liked Abel and his offering, but Cain and his offering didn't get his approval. Cain lost his temper and went into a sulk.
Genesis 4:8
Cain had words with his brother. They were out in the field; Cain came at Abel his brother and killed him.
Genesis 4:10
God said, "What have you done! The voice of your brother's blood is calling to me from the ground. From now on you'll get nothing but curses from this ground; you'll be driven from this ground that has opened its arms to receive the blood of your murdered brother. You'll farm this ground, but it will no longer give you its best. You'll be a homeless wanderer on Earth."
1 Chronicles 1:1
Adam Seth Enosh Kenan Mahalalel Jared Enoch Methuselah Lamech Noah Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For this Agar is Mount Sinai in Arabia,.... The Arabic version, instead of Arabia, reads "Balca". The Syriac version makes Hagar to be a mountain, reading the words thus, "for Mount Hagar is Sinai, which is in Arabia": and some have been of opinion that Sinai was called Hagar by the Arabians. It is certain, that חגר, which may be pronounced Hagar, does signify in the Arabic language a stone or rock; and that one part of Arabia is called Arabia Petraea, from the rockiness of it; the metropolis of which was חגרת, or "Agara", and the inhabitants Agarenes; and Hagar was the name of the chief city of Bahrein, a province of Arabia r: and it may be observed, that when Hagar, with her son, was cast out, they dwelt in the wilderness of Paran, Genesis 21:21 which was near to Sinai, as appears from

Numbers 10:12 so that it is possible that this mount might be so called from her, though there is no certainty of it; and near to it, as Grotius observes, was a town called Agra, mentioned by Pliny s as in Arabia. However, it is clear, that Sinai was in Arabia, out of the land of promise, where the law was given, and seems to be mentioned by the apostle with this view, that it might be observed, and teach us that the inheritance is not of the law. It is placed by Jerom t in the land of Midian; and it is certain it must be near it, if not in it, as is clear from Exodus 3:1. And according to Philo the Jew u, the Midianites, as formerly called, were a very populous nation of the Arabians: and Madian, or Midian, is by w Mahomet spoken of as in Arabia; and it may be observed, that they that are called Midianites in Genesis 37:36 are said to be Ishmaelites,

Genesis 39:1 the name by which the Arabians are commonly called by the Jews. The apostle therefore properly places this mountain in Arabia. But after all, by Agar, I rather think the woman is meant: and that the sense is, that this same Agar signifies Mount Sinai, or is a figure of the law given on that mount.

And answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children; that is, agrees with and resembles the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and of all the cities and towns in Judea; and she, being a bondwoman, represented that state of bondage the Jews were in, when the apostle wrote this, who were in a state of civil, moral, and legal bondage; in civil bondage to the Romans, being tributaries to the empire of Rome, and under the jurisdiction of Caesar; in moral bondage to sin, to Satan, to the world and the lusts of it, whose servants they in general were; and in legal bondage to the ceremonial law, which was a yoke of bondage: they were in bondage under the elements or institutions of it, such as circumcision, a yoke which neither they, nor their forefathers could bear, because it bound them over to keep the whole law; the observance of various days, months, times, and years, and the multitude of sacrifices they were obliged to offer, which yet could not take away sin, nor free their consciences from the load of guilt, but were as an handwriting of ordinances against them; every sacrifice they brought declaring their sin and guilt, and that they deserved to die as the creature did that was sacrificed for them; and besides, this law of commandments, in various instances, the breach of it was punishable with death, through fear of which they were all their life long subject to bondage: they were also in bondage to the moral law, which required perfect obedience of them, but gave them no strength to perform; showed them their sin and misery, but not their remedy; demanded a complete righteousness, but did not point out where it was to be had; it spoke not one word of peace and comfort, but all the reverse; it admitted of no repentance; it accused of sin, pronounced guilty on account of it, cursed, condemned, and threatened with death for it, all which kept them in continual bondage: and whereas the far greater part of that people at that time, the Jerusalem that then was, the Scribes, Pharisees, and generality of the nation, were seeking for justification by the works of the law, this added to their bondage; they obeyed it with mercenary views, and not from love but fear; and their comforts and peace rose and fell according to their obedience; and persons in such a way must needs be under a spiritual bondage.

r Castel. Lex. Polyglot. col. 804. s Nat. Hist. l. 6. c. 28. t De locis Hebraicis, fol. 96. H. u De Fortitudine, p. 741. w Koran, c. 7. p. 126.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For this Agar is Mount Sinai - This Hagar well represents the Law given on Mount Sinai. No one can believe that Paul meant to say that Hagar was literally Mount Sinai. A great deal of perplexity has been felt in regard to this passage, and Bentley proposed to cancel it altogether as an interpolation. But there is no good authority for this. Several manuscripts and versions read it, “For this Sinai is a mountain in Arabia;” others, “to this Hagar Jerusalem answereth,” etc. Griesbach has placed these readings in the margin, and has marked them as not to be rejected as certainly false, but as worthy of a more attentive examination; as sustained by some plausible arguments, though not in the whole satisfactory. The word Hagar in Arabic is said to signify a rock; and it has been supposed that the name was appropriately given to Mount Sinai, because it was a pile of rocks, and that Paul had allusion to this meaning of the word here. So Chandler, Rosenmuller, and others interpret it. But I cannot find in Castell or Gesenius that the word Hagar in Arabic has this signification; still less is there evidence that the name was ever given to Mount Sinai by the Arabs, or that such a signification was known to Paul. The plainest and most obvious sense of a passage is generally the true sense; and the obvious sense here is, that Hagar was a fair representation of Mount Sinai, and of the Law given there.

In Arabia - Mount Sinai is situated in Arabia Petraea, or the Rocky. Rosenmuller says that this means “in the Arabic language;” but probably in this interpretation he stands alone.

And answereth to Jerusalem - Margin, “Is in the same rank with.” The margin is the better translation. The meaning is, it is just like it, or corresponds with it. Jerusalem as it is now (that is, in the days of Paul), is like Mount Sinai. It is subject to laws, and rites, and customs; bound by a state of servitude, and fear, and trembling, such as existed when the Law was given on Mount Sinai. There is no freedom; there are no great and liberal views; there is none of the liberty which the gospel imparts to men. The word συστοιχεῖ sustoichei, “answereth to,” means properly to advance in order together; to go together with, as soldiers march along in the same rank; and then to correspond to. It means here that Mount Sinai and Jerusalem as it then was would be suited to march together in the same platoon or rank. In marshalling an army, care is taken to place soldiers of the same height, and size, and skill, and courage, if possible, together. So here it means that they were alike. Both were connected with bondage, like Hagar. On the one, a law was given that led to bondage; and the other was in fact under a miserable servitude of rites and forms.

Which now is - As it exists now; that is, a slave to rites and forms, as it was in fact in the time of Paul.

And is in bondage - To laws and customs. She was under hard and oppressive rites, like slavery. She was also in bondage to sin John 8:33-34; but this does not seem to be the idea here.

With her children - Her inhabitants. She is represented as a mother, and her inhabitants, the Jews, are in the condition of the son of Hagar. On this passage compare the notes at 1 Corinthians 10:4, for a more full illustration of the principles involved here.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 25. For this Agar is Mount Sinai in Arabia — Το γαρ Αγαρ Σινα ορος εστιν εν τη Αραβια. This is the common reading; but it is read differently in some of the most respectable MSS., versions, and fathers; thus: το γαρ Σινα ορος εστιν εν τῃ Αραβια, for this Sinai is a mountain of Arabia; the word Αγαρ, Agar, being omitted. This reading is supported by CFG, some others, the AEthiopic, 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, συστοιχει, 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.


 
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