Galatians 4:30
What does Galatians 4:30 mean?
A plain-English look at Galatians 4:30 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Galatians 4:30 means
Paul asks what Scripture says and cites the command to cast out the handmaid and her son, for the slave’s son will not inherit with the freewoman’s son. Applied to Galatia, this means that law-based claims to inheritance cannot stand alongside promise-based sonship. There must be a clear break with the system that produces bondage. The point is not personal animosity but theological necessity: inheritance belongs to the line of promise. Therefore, the church must refuse teachings that make the Law the basis of acceptance. Freedom in Christ cannot coexist with legalism as co-heirs; only grace secures the family right.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Howbeit what saith the scripture? Cast out the handmaid and her son: for the son of the handmaid shall not inherit with the son of the freewoman.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Howbeit what saith the scripture? Cast out the handmaid and her son: for the son of the handmaid shall not inherit with the son of the freewoman.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949What then do the Writings say? Send away the servant-woman and her son; for the son of the servant-woman will not have a part in the heritage with the son of the free woman.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862but what saith the Writing? `Cast forth the maid-servant and her son, for the son of the maid-servant may not be heir with the son of the free-woman;'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But what says the scripture? Cast out the maid servant and her son; for the son of the maid servant shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.
Context
Coming after the note about persecution (v. 29), verse 30 provides the decisive scriptural ruling. It instructs separation from the enslaving principle, reinforcing that legalism and gospel freedom cannot jointly claim the inheritance. This sets up the final summary in verse 31, which affirms the believers’ identity as children of the freewoman. The flow concludes the allegory with a practical implication: reject bondage, embrace freedom.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Romans 4:3
For what saith the scripture? And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness.
- Romans 8:15
For ye received not the spirit of bondage again unto fear; but ye received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
- Romans 11:2
God did not cast off his people which he foreknew. Or know ye not what the scripture saith of Elijah? how he pleadeth with God against Israel:
- Galatians 3:8
And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all the nations be blessed.
- John 8:35
And the bondservant abideth not in the house for ever: the son abideth for ever.
- James 4:5
Or think ye that the scripture speaketh in vain? Doth the spirit which he made to dwell in us long unto envying?
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