Galatians 4:23
What does Galatians 4:23 mean?
A plain-English look at Galatians 4:23 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Galatians 4:23 means
The son of the handmaid was born “after the flesh,” meaning through ordinary human planning and effort, while the son of the freewoman was born “through promise,” by God’s pledged intervention. The contrast is between human self-reliance and divine fulfillment. Paul implies that inheritance aligns with God’s promise, not with what the flesh can produce. Thus, those who seek standing with God by human means mirror the slave-born line, while those who trust God’s promise reflect the free-born. This sets the stage for identifying which covenant corresponds to each mother and underscores that grace, not human scheming, brings about the true heirs of Abraham.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Howbeit the son by the handmaid is born after the flesh; but the son by the freewoman is born through promise.
KJV
King James Version · 1611But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Howbeit the son by the handmaid is born after the flesh; but the son by the freewoman is born through promise.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Now the son by the servant-woman has his birth after the flesh; but the son by the free woman has his birth through the undertaking of God.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862but he who <FI>is<Fi> of the maid-servant, according to flesh hath been, and he who <FI>is<Fi> of the free-woman, through the promise;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh: but he of the free woman was by promise.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But he [that was] of the maid servant was born according to flesh, and he [that was] of the free woman through the promise.
Context
Verse 23 interprets the births in theological terms, contrasting flesh and promise. It prepares for verse 24’s explicit allegory mapping the mothers to covenants. The reader should see that Paul is not denying history but drawing out its divinely intended significance. The next steps will connect Hagar with Sinai and present Jerusalem, and Sarah with the Jerusalem above, moving the argument toward freedom in Christ.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Genesis 18:10
And he said, I will certainly return unto thee when the season cometh round; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard in the tent door, which was behind him.
- Hebrews 11:11
By faith even Sarah herself received power to conceive seed when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised:
- Romans 4:18
Who in hope believed against hope, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, So shall thy seed be.
- Genesis 17:15
And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.
- Genesis 21:1
And Jehovah visited Sarah as he had said, and Jehovah did unto Sarah as he had spoken.
- Romans 9:7
neither, because they are Abraham’s seed, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
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