Galatians 4:21
19 My children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,
20 how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you.
Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not understand what the law says?
22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman.
23 His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born through the promise.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not understand what the law says?
- KJV
- Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
- WEB
- Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, don’t you listen to the law?
- ASV
- Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
- DARBY
- Tell me, ye who are desirous of being under law, do ye not listen to the law?
- BLB
- Tell me, those wanting to be under the law, do you⁺ not listen to the law?
- ÅB
- Si meg, dere som vil være under loven: Hører dere ikke loven?
- OTB
- Fortell meg, dere som vil være under loven, hører dere ikke loven?
- B1930
- Si mig, I som vil være under loven: Hører I ikke loven?
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Galatians 3:10
All who rely on works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”
Read in contextRomans 3:19
Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.
Read in contextMatthew 22:29–32
Jesus answered, “You are mistaken because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.
Read in contextGalatians 3:23–24
Before this faith came, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until faith should be revealed.
Read in contextGalatians 4:9
But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?
Read in contextJohn 15:25
But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated Me without reason.’
Read in contextRomans 6:14
For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.
Read in contextRomans 7:5–6
For when we lived according to the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, bearing fruit for death.
Read in context