GALATIANS 4:21-24 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, 24 which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar—
NSB* - Once again Paul speaks of the law and the experience of Abraham, addressing the false teacher's foundational respect for Abraham (3:6-9) and the Galatian's infatuation with living under the law. To clinch his lengthy argument about the bondage of the law and the freedom found in Christ, Paul uses as examples the two sons of Abraham. These are Ishmael, who was born of the bondwoman Hagar (v. 24); and Isaac, who was born of Sarah, the rightful wife of Abraham and a freewoman. Appropriately, Paul counters the Jewish false teacher's zeal for the law with an argument based on the Law, the Pentateuch (Genesis, 16:15,21:2). He uses allegory to prove his point because it was a rhetorical technique that demonstrated he could argue from the Law just as well as they could, but to prove that the Law Of Moses pointed to the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
Desire; or ἐθέλω, in certain tenses θελέω, and ἐθελέω, which are otherwise obsolete to determine (as an active option from subjective impulse; whereas G1014 properly denotes rather a passive acquiescence in objective considerations), i.e. choose or prefer (literally or figuratively); by implication, to wish, i.e. be inclined to (sometimes adverbially, gladly); impersonally for the future tense, to be about to; by Hebraism, to delight in. Dodson denotes - I will, wish, desire I will, wish, desire, am willing, intend, design. The Greek word used here is θέλω thelō or ἐθέλω ethelō. Both words can be used and will be accurate. Strong's G2309.
Under; under, i.e. (with the genitive case) of place (beneath), or with verbs (the agency or means, through); (with the accusative case) of place (whither (underneath) or where (below) or time (when (at)) Derivation: a primary preposition; Dodson denotes - by, under, about. The Greek word used here is ὑπό hupo. Strong's G5259.
Hear; to hear (in various senses) Derivation: a primary verb; Thayer expands - 1) to be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf 2) to hear 2b) to attend to, consider what is or has been said 2c) to understand, perceive the sense of what is said 3) to hear something 3a) to perceive by the ear what is announced in one's presence 3b) to get by hearing learn 3c) a thing comes to one's ears, to find out, learn 3d) to give ear to a teaching or a teacher 3e) to comprehend, to understand. Strong's G191.
Moving to verse 22.
Galatians 4:22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman.
Bondwoman; a girl, i.e. (specially), a female slave or servant. Thayer denotes 1) a young girl, damsel 2) a maid-servant, a young female slave 2a) a maid servant who has charge of the doorThe Greek word used here is παιδίσκη paidiskē. Strong's G3814.
Freewoman; unrestrained (to go at pleasure), i.e. (as a citizen) not a slave (whether freeborn or manumitted), or (genitive case) exempt (from obligation or liability). Thayer expands - 1) freeborn 1a) in a civil sense, one who is not a slave 1b) of one who ceases to be a slave, freed, manumitted 2) free, exempt, unrestrained, not bound by an obligation 3) in an ethical sense: free from the yoke of the Mosaic Law The Greek word is ἐλεύθερος eleutheros. The same word is translated "free" in Galatians 3:28. Strong's G1658.
Cross References: Genesis 16:15 So Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram named his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael.
Genesis 21:2 For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.
Moving to verse 23.
Galatians 4:23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise,
NSB* - In Genesis 16, Abraham and Sarah attempted to fulfill God's promise through their own strength, using Hagar, a bondwoman. In spite of the complications caused by that "fleshly" alternative Sarah a freewoman, eventually saw the miraculous outworking of God's promise in the birth of Isaac (see Genesis 12:2, 15:4.
Note References: Genesis 12:2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing.
Genesis 15:4 And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.”
Promise; an announcement (for information, assent or pledge; especially a divine assurance of good). The Greek word used here is ἐπαγγελία epaggelia. Strong's G1860.
Hebrews 11:11 By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she[a] bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.
Moving to verse 24.
Galatians 4:24 which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar—
NSB* - Symbolic: Paul was using common Jewish allegorical method of the day to make his point. He used this approach to draw stark contrast between two biblical covenants at odds with each other in the churches in Galatia: the Abrahamic promise (see Genesis 12:1-3) and the Law Of Moses that God gave Israel at Mount Sinai.
Note Reference: Genesis 12:1-3 Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. 2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Symbolic; The King James version uses the word allegory. 1) to speak allegorically or in a figure. An allegory can be a symbolic representation which can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, usually a moral or political one. The Greek word used here for allegory is ἀλληγορέω allēgoreo.Strong's G238.
Covenant; Thayer denotes - 1) a disposition, arrangement, of any sort, which one wishes to be valid, the last disposition which one makes of his earthly possessions after his death, a testament or will 2) a compact, a covenant, a testament 2a) God's covenant with Noah, etc. Vine's defines it as a promise or undertaking, human or Divine. The Greek word is διαθήκη diathēkē. Vine's (def A-1a), Strong's G1242
Mount Sinai; a mountain or rather a mountainous region in the peninsula of Arabia Petraea, made famous by the giving of the Mosaic law Literal: Sinai = "thorny". The Greek word for Sinai is Σινᾱ Sina. Strong's G4614
Hagar; Hagar, the servant of Sarah, concubine of Abraham, however the KJV uses Agar not Hagar as it is translated in the New King James Version. The Greek word for the name Hagar is Ἇγαρ Agar. Strong's G28.
Takeaways - I do see some groups of Christians trying to return to the law on social media and kind of bashing those who have embraced the gospel and lean on Jesus Christ knowing only He can fulfill the law and our justification is through Him. All I can say is we are not to disregard Christ's work on the cross assuming that what we do concerning the Mosaic law gains us access to His kingdom. This is different from our walk with God under grace to the point where Paul refers to it as "bondage" in Galatians 5:1.
*NSB = Nelson Study Bible.
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