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Hagar and Sarah
Paul uses the story of Abraham’s two sons to make a teaching point about law, promise, bondage and freedom. He asks his readers to listen carefully to Scripture and to understand where they stand.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
In this part of the letter, Paul speaks to people who want to be under the law. He points to what is written about Abraham’s two sons, then says these things contain an allegory about two covenants. From that comparison, he draws a conclusion about bondage, freedom and inheritance.
Galatians 4:21–31Main takeaway
Paul teaches that we are children of promise and belong with the freedom pictured by the free woman, not the bondage pictured by the servant.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Listen to what the law saysPaul opens with a challenge for those who desire to be under the law. He asks whether they really listen to the law.
Explanation
Paul opens with a challenge for those who desire to be under the law. He asks whether they really listen to the law. He then recalls that Abraham had two sons, one by the servant and one by the free woman. This sets up the contrast that shapes the whole passage.
02Two sons, two different beginningsPaul says the difference between the two sons was not only their mothers’ status. The son by the servant was born according to the flesh, while the son by the free woman was born through promise.
Explanation
Paul says the difference between the two sons was not only their mothers’ status. The son by the servant was born according to the flesh, while the son by the free woman was born through promise. Paul then says these things contain an allegory, speaking about two covenants, including one from Mount Sinai that bears children to bondage.
03Hagar and the Jerusalem abovePaul explains that Hagar corresponds to Mount Sinai in Arabia and to the Jerusalem that exists now, which he says is in bondage with her children.
Explanation
Paul explains that Hagar corresponds to Mount Sinai in Arabia and to the Jerusalem that exists now, which he says is in bondage with her children. In contrast, the Jerusalem above is free, and Paul calls her the mother of us all. He supports this by quoting Scripture’s call for the barren one to rejoice.
04Paul applies the comparisonPaul then speaks directly to his readers, saying, “we, brothers, as Isaac was, are children of promise.”
Explanation
Paul then speaks directly to his readers, saying, “we, brothers, as Isaac was, are children of promise.” He also says, “he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now.” The point stays focused on how Paul reads the comparison in his own time.
05The conclusion about inheritancePaul asks what the Scripture says and quotes, “Throw out the servant and her son,” because the servant’s son will not inherit with the son of the free woman.
Explanation
Paul asks what the Scripture says and quotes, “Throw out the servant and her son,” because the servant’s son will not inherit with the son of the free woman. He ends with a direct conclusion for “brothers”: “we are not children of a servant, but of the free woman.”
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What contrast does Paul make between Abraham’s two sons?
Look for the difference in their mothers and in how Paul describes their births: one according to the flesh and one through promise.
02How does Paul explain the allegory in this passage?
Notice which covenant Paul links with Hagar, what he says about the present Jerusalem, and how he contrasts that with the Jerusalem above.
03What conclusion does Paul want his readers to reach about themselves?
Read the final verses closely and note Paul’s words about inheritance and about “we” being children of the free woman.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Galatians 4:21–31
21Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, don’t you listen to the law?
22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the servant, and one by the free woman.
23However, the son by the servant was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through promise.
24These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar.
25For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children.
26But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
27For it is written, “Rejoice, you barren who don’t bear. Break out and shout, you who don’t travail. For the desolate women have more children than her who has a husband.”
28Now we, brothers, as Isaac was, are children of promise.
29But as then, he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now.
30However, what does the Scripture say? “Throw out the servant and her son, for the son of the servant will not inherit with the son of the free woman.”
31So then, brothers, we are not children of a servant, but of the free woman.