Galatians 4:23
<< Galatians 4:23 >>
New International Version (©1984)
His son by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise.

New Living Translation (©2007)
The son of the slave wife was born in a human attempt to bring about the fulfillment of God's promise. But the son of the freeborn wife was born as God's own fulfillment of his promise.

English Standard Version (©2001)
But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise.

International Standard Version (©2008)
Now the slave woman's son was conceived through human means, while the free woman's son was conceived through divine promise.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Now, the son of the slave woman was conceived in a natural way, but the son of the free woman was conceived through a promise [made to Abraham].

King James Bible
But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.

American King James Version
But he who was of the female slave was born after the flesh; but he of the free woman was by promise.

American Standard Version
Howbeit the'son by the handmaid is born after the flesh; but the'son by the freewoman is born through promise.

Bible in Basic English
Now 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.

Douay-Rheims Bible
But he who was of the bondwoman, was born according to the flesh: but he of the free woman, was by promise.

Darby Bible Translation
But he that was of the maid servant was born according to flesh, and he that was of the free woman through the promise.

English Revised Version
Howbeit the son by the handmaid is born after the flesh; but the son by the freewoman is born through promise.

Webster's Bible Translation
But he who was of the bond-woman, was born according to the flesh; but he of the free-woman was by promise.

Weymouth New Testament
But we see that the child of the slave-girl was born in the common course of nature; but the child of the free woman in fulfilment of the promise.

World English Bible
However, the son by the handmaid was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through promise.

Young's Literal Translation
but he who is of the maid-servant, according to flesh hath been, and he who is of the free-woman, through the promise;

Geneva Study Bible

But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the {x} flesh; but he of the freewoman was by {y} promise.

(x) As all men are, and by the common course of nature.

(y) By virtue of the promise, which Abraham laid hold on for himself and his true seed, for otherwise Abraham and Sara were past the begetting and bearing of children.

People's New Testament

4:23 He who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh. The son of the bondwoman was born in the ordinary course of nature.

He of the freewoman was by promise. The son of Sarah was a child of promise, born when she was long past the age of bearing children. See Ge 18:1,14 21:1,2 Heb 11:11.

Wesley's Notes

4:23 Was born after the flesh - In a natural way. By promise - Through that supernatural strength which was given Abraham in consequence of the promise.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

23. after the flesh-born according to the usual course of nature: in contrast to Isaac, who was born "by virtue of the promise" (so the Greek), as the efficient cause of Sarah's becoming pregnant out of the course of nature (Ro 4:19). Abraham was to lay aside all confidence in the flesh (after which Ishmael was born), and to live by faith alone in the promise (according to which Isaac was miraculously born, contrary to all calculations of flesh and blood).

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

4:21-27 The difference between believers who rested in Christ only, and those who trusted in the law, is explained by the histories of Isaac and Ishmael. These things are an allegory, wherein, beside the literal and historical sense of the words, the Spirit of God points out something further. Hagar and Sarah were apt emblems of the two different dispensations of the covenant. The heavenly Jerusalem, the true church from above, represented by Sarah, is in a state of freedom, and is the mother of all believers, who are born of the Holy Spirit. They were by regeneration and true faith, made a part of the true seed of Abraham, according to the promise made to him.


Genesis 17:16 "I will bless her, and indeed I will give you a son by her. Then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her."
Genesis 18:10 He said, "I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son." And Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind him.
Genesis 21:1 Then the LORD took note of Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah as He had promised.
Romans 9:7 nor are they all children because they are Abraham's descendants, but: "THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL BE NAMED."
Galatians 4:28 And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise.
Galatians 4:29 But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also.
Hebrews 11:11 By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised. (NASB ©1995)

Bondwoman Bond-Woman Born Child Common Course Flesh Free Freewoman Free-Woman Fulfilment Handmaid Howbeit However Maid Maid-Servant Nature Ordinary Promise Result Servant Servant-Woman Slave Slave-Girl Undertaking Way


But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.

born. Ro 9:7,8

but. Ge 17:15-19 18:10-14 21:1,2 Ro 4:18-21 10:8 Heb 11:11

Bible Gateway: Galatians Chapter 4 Verse 23 NIV ESV NKJV NLT KJV Message Amplified

Alphabetical: a according and as bondwoman born but by flesh free His in of ordinary promise result slave son the through to was way woman

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright ;© 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.All Rights Reserved.

The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Quotations are used by permission. Copyright 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved.

NT Letters: Galatians 4:23 However the son by the handmaid was (Gal. Ga) Christian Bible Study Resources, Dictionary, Concordance and Search Tools

Galatians 4:23 Bible Software
Galatians 4:23 Biblia Paralela
Galatians 4:23 Chinese Bible
Galatians 4:23 French Bible
Galatians 4:23 German Bible
Galatians 4:23 Danish Bible
Galatians 4:23 Swedish Bible
Galatians 4:23 Norwegian Bible
Galatians 4:23 Multilingual Bible

Online Bible