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THE MESSAGE

Galatians 4:7

This verse is not available in the MSG!

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Adoption;   God;   Heir;   Jesus Continued;   Thompson Chain Reference - Backsliding;   Deterioration-Development;   Heirs;   Sons;   Spiritual;   The Topic Concordance - Holy Spirit;   Inheritance;   Law;   Sending and Those Sent;   Servants;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Adoption;   Titles and Names of Saints;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Adoption;   Child;   Freedom;   Redemption;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Adam, the Second;   Christians, Names of;   Faith;   Freedom;   Inheritance;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Adoption;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Galatians, the Epistle to the;   Hebrews, the Epistle to the;   Ring;   Tribute;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Abba;   Adoption;   Galatians, Letter to the;   Humanity;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Adoption;   Brotherly Love;   Children (Sons) of God;   Prayer;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Bondage;   Brotherhood (2);   Gospel (2);   Grace;   Heir Heritage Inheritance;   Law;   Metaphor;   Peter Epistles of;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Heir;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Son of god;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Adoption;   Bondservant;   Children of God;   Galatians, Epistle to the;   Heir;   Sons of God (New Testament);  

Devotionals:

- Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life - Devotion for July 21;   Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for December 15;   Every Day Light - Devotion for November 27;  

Parallel Translations

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.
Legacy Standard Bible
Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.
Simplified Cowboy Version
You are no longer a child slave of sin, but one of God's own children—with an inheritance that will come as well.
Bible in Basic English
So that you are no longer a servant, but a son; and if a son, then the heritage of God is yours.
Darby Translation
So thou art no longer bondman, but son; but if son, heir also through God.
Christian Standard Bible®
So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
World English Bible
So you are no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Weymouth's New Testament
Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir also through God's own act.
King James Version (1611)
Wherefore thou art no more a seruant, but a sonne; and if a sonne, then an heire of God through Christ.
Literal Translation
So that you no more are a slave, but a son, and if a son, also an heir of God through Christ.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Wherfore now, thou art not a seruaunt, but a sonne. Yf thou be a sonne, then art thou the heyre of God thorow Christ.
Mace New Testament (1729)
so that thou art no longer a bond servant, but a son: and if a son, then an heir of God thro' Christ.
Amplified Bible
Therefore you are no longer a slave (bond-servant), but a son; and if a son, then also an heir through [the gracious act of] God [through Christ].
American Standard Version
So that thou art no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.
Revised Standard Version
So through God you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then an heir.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Wherfore now thou art not a servaunt but a sonne. Yf thou be ye sonne thou arte also the heyre of God thorow Christ.
Update Bible Version
So that you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.
Webster's Bible Translation
Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Young's Literal Translation
so that thou art no more a servant, but a son, and if a son, also an heir of God through Christ.
New Century Version
So now you are not a slave; you are God's child, and God will give you the blessing he promised, because you are his child.
New English Translation
So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if you are a son, then you are also an heir through God.
Berean Standard Bible
So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, you are also an heir through God.
Contemporary English Version
You are no longer slaves. You are God's children, and you will be given what he has promised.
Complete Jewish Bible
So through God you are no longer a slave but a son, and if you are a son you are also an heir.
English Standard Version
So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Wherefore, thou art no more a seruant, but a sonne: now if thou be a sone, thou art also the heire of God through Christ.
George Lamsa Translation
From now on you are not servants but sons; and if sons, then heirs of God through Jesus Christ.
Hebrew Names Version
So you are no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Messiah.
International Standard Version
So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if you are a child, then you are also an heir through God.Romans 8:16-17; Galatians 3:29;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
Therefore you are not servants, but sons; and if sons, heirs also of Aloha, through Jeshu Meshiha.
Murdock Translation
Wherefore, ye are no longer servants, but sons; and if sons, then heirs of God; through Jesus the Messiah.
New King James Version
Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of [fn] God through Christ.
New Living Translation
Now you are no longer a slave but God's own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.
New Life Bible
So now you are no longer a servant who is owned by someone. You are a son. If you are a son, then you will receive what God has promised through Christ.
English Revised Version
So that thou art no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.
New Revised Standard
So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
So that, no longer, art thou a servant, but a son; and, if a son, an heir also, through God.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Therefore, now he is not a servant, but a son. And if a son, an heir also through God.
King James Version
Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Lexham English Bible
so that you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, also an heir through God.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Wherfore thou art no more a seruaunt, but a sonne: If thou be a sonne, thou art also an heire of God, through Christ.
Easy-to-Read Version
Now you are not slaves like before. You are God's children, and you will receive everything he promised his children.
New American Standard Bible
Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.
Good News Translation
So then, you are no longer a slave but a child. And since you are his child, God will give you all that he has for his children.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And so ther is not now a seruaunt, but a sone; and if he is a sone, he is an eir bi God.

Contextual Overview

1Let me show you the implications of this. As long as the heir is a minor, he has no advantage over the slave. Though legally he owns the entire inheritance, he is subject to tutors and administrators until whatever date the father has set for emancipation. That is the way it is with us: When we were minors, we were just like slaves ordered around by simple instructions (the tutors and administrators of this world), with no say in the conduct of our own lives. 4But when the time arrived that was set by God the Father, God sent his Son, born among us of a woman, born under the conditions of the law so that he might redeem those of us who have been kidnapped by the law. Thus we have been set free to experience our rightful heritage. You can tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as his own children because God sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, "Papa! Father!" Doesn't that privilege of intimate conversation with God make it plain that you are not a slave, but a child? And if you are a child, you're also an heir, with complete access to the inheritance.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

thou: Galatians 4:1, Galatians 4:2, Galatians 4:5, Galatians 4:6, Galatians 4:31, Galatians 5:1

but: Galatians 3:26

if: Galatians 3:29, Romans 8:16, Romans 8:17

heir: Genesis 15:1, Genesis 17:7, Genesis 17:8, Psalms 16:5, Psalms 73:26, Jeremiah 10:16, Jeremiah 31:33, Jeremiah 32:38-41, Lamentations 3:24, 1 Corinthians 3:21-23, 2 Corinthians 6:16-18, Revelation 21:7

Reciprocal: Genesis 21:10 - heir Psalms 51:12 - free Ezekiel 46:16 - If the prince Hosea 1:10 - Ye are the sons John 20:17 - your Father Galatians 3:3 - having Titus 3:7 - made Hebrews 10:19 - Having

Cross-References

Genesis 3:16
He told the Woman: "I'll multiply your pains in childbirth; you'll give birth to your babies in pain. You'll want to please your husband, but he'll lord it over you."
Genesis 4:6
God spoke to Cain: "Why this tantrum? Why the sulking? If you do well, won't you be accepted? And if you don't do well, sin is lying in wait for you, ready to pounce; it's out to get you, you've got to master it."
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 4:9
God said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, "How should I know? Am I his babysitter?"
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."
Genesis 4:13
Cain said to God , "My punishment is too much. I can't take it! You've thrown me off the land and I can never again face you. I'm a homeless wanderer on Earth and whoever finds me will kill me."
Genesis 19:21
"All right, Lot. If you insist. I'll let you have your way. And I won't stamp out the town you've spotted. But hurry up. Run for it! I can't do anything until you get there." That's why the town was called Zoar, that is, Smalltown.
Numbers 32:23
"But if you don't do what you say, you will be sinning against God ; you can be sure that your sin will track you down. So, go ahead. Build towns for your families and corrals for your livestock. Do what you said you'd do."
2 Kings 8:28
He joined Joram son of Ahab king of Israel in a war against Hazael king of Aram at Ramoth Gilead. The archers wounded Joram. Joram pulled back to Jezreel to convalesce from the injuries he had received in the fight with Hazael. Ahaziah son of Jehoram king of Judah paid a visit to Joram son of Ahab on his sickbed in Jezreel.
Proverbs 18:5
It's not right to go easy on the guilty, or come down hard on the innocent.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Wherefore thou art no more a servant,.... This is a benefit resulting from adoption, and the manifestation of it to the children of God, and supposes them to have been formerly servants; as whilst in a natural state they were the servants of sin, the vassals of Satan, slaves to the world, and the lusts of it, and in bondage to the law; but now being declared to be the sons of God under the witnessings of the Spirit, they are freed from the servitude of sin, from the captivity of Satan, from the slavery of the world, and particularly from the law, and that spirit of bondage which it brought upon them, which is chiefly designed; and from which they are delivered by the spirit of adoption, enabling and encouraging them to cry "Abba", Father; so that they are now no more under the former servile spirit, the spirit of a servant,

but a son; whose spirit, state, and case, are vastly different from those of a servant: the servant has not that interest in his master's affections as the son has; nor that liberty of access to him; nor is he fed and clothed as he is, or shares in the same privileges he does; nor is his obedience performed in the same free generous manner, from a principle of love and gratitude, but in a servile and mercenary way; and though he may expect his wages, he cannot hope for the inheritance; nor does he always abide in the house as the son does. He that is once a son, is always so, and no more a servant: predestination to sonship is immutable; it is God's act to put any among the children, and none can put them out; the covenant of grace, in which this blessing is secured, is unalterable; union with Christ, the Son of God, on which it is founded, is indissoluble; the spirit of adoption, wherever he witnesses, abides as such. They that are the sons of God may be corrected and chastised, as they often are, in a fatherly way; but these corrections are proofs for, and not against their sonship; they may indeed judge themselves unworthy to be called the sons of God, and may be in such frames of soul as to conclude, at least fear, they are not; but still the relation abides, and ever will. They will never more be servants, but always sons. The very learned Mr. Selden i thinks the apostle alludes to a custom among the Jews, who allowed only freemen, and not servants and handmaids, to call any Abba, Father such an one, or "Imma", Mother such an one: but this seems to proceed upon a mistaken sense, and rendering of a passage in the Talmud k, which is as follows,

עבדים ושפחות אין קורין אותם אבא פלוני ואמא פלונית; which he thus renders, "neither servants nor handmaids use this kind of appellation, Abba", or "Father such an one", and "Imma", or "Mother such an one"; whereas it should be rendered, "servants and handmaids, they do not call them Abba, Father such an one", and "Imma, Mother such an one"; this is clear from what follows. "The Family of "R. Gamaliel" used to call them Father such an one, and Mother such an one"; which in the other Talmud l is, "the family of" R. Gamaliel "used to call their servants and their handmaids Father Tabi, and Mother Tabitha"; which were the names of the servant and handmaid of Gamaliel. Rather therefore reference is had to a tradition m of theirs, that

"a servant, who is carried captive, when others redeemed him, if under the notion of a servant, or in order to be one, he becomes a servant; but if under the notion of a freeman, לא ישתעבד, "he is no more a servant".''

Or to the general expectation of that people, that when they are redeemed by the Messiah, they shall be servants no more; for so they say n,

"your fathers, though they were redeemed, became servants again, but you, when ye are redeemed,

עוד אין אתם משתעבדין, "shall be no more servants";''

which in a spiritual sense is true of all that are redeemed by Christ, and through that redemption receive the adoption of children, and is what the apostle here means.

And if a son, then an heir of God through Christ; which is another benefit arising from adoption. Such as are the children of God, they are heirs of God himself; he is their portion and exceeding great reward; his perfections are on their side, and engaged for their good; all his purposes run the same way, and all his promises belong to them; they are heirs of all the blessings of grace and glory, of righteousness, of life, of salvation, and a kingdom and glory; and shall inherit all things, and all "through Christ": he is the grand heir of all things; they are joint heirs with him; their sonship is through him, and so is their heirship and inheritance; their inheritance is in his possession, it is reserved safe in him; and by him, and with him they shall enjoy it. The Alexandrian copy, and some others, only read, "an heir through God", and so the Vulgate Latin version; and the Ethiopic version only, "an heir of God".

i De Successionibus ad Leg. Ebr. c. 4. p. 33. k T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 16. 2. Vid. Maimon. Hilch. Nechalot, c. 4. sect. 5. l T. Hieros. Niddah, fol. 49. 2. Vid. Massech. Semachet, c. 1. sect. 13. m Misn. Gittin, c. 4. sect. 4. n T. Hieros. Sheviith, fol. 37. 2.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Wherefore - In consequence of this privilege of addressing God as your Father.

Thou art no more - You who are Christians.

A servant - In the servitude of sin; or treated as a servant by being bound under the oppressive rites and ceremonies of the Law; compare the note at Galatians 4:3

But a son - A child of God, adopted into his family, and to be treated as a son.

And if a son ... - Entitled to all the privileges of a son, and of course to be regarded as an heir through the Redeemer, and with him. See the sentiment here expressed explained in the the note at Romans 8:17.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 7. Thou art no more a servant — Thou who hast believed in Christ art no longer a slave, either under the dominion of sin or under obligation to the Mosaic ritual; but a son of God, adopted into the heavenly family.

And if a son, then an heir — Having a right to the inheritance, because one of the family, for none can inherit but the children; but this heirship is the most extraordinary of all: it is not an heirship of any tangible possession, either in heaven or earth; it is not to possess a part or even the whole of either, it is to possess Him who made all things; not God's works, but God himself: heirs of GOD through Christ.


 
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