Galatians 4:27

25 Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present-day Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children.

26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.

For it is written: “Rejoice, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have never travailed; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.”

28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.

29 At that time, however, the son born by the flesh persecuted the son born by the Spirit. It is the same now.

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
For it is written: “Rejoice, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have never travailed; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.”
KJV
For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
WEB
For 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.”
ASV
For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; Break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: For more are the children of the desolate than of her that hath the husband.
DARBY
For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break out and cry, thou that travailest not; because the children of the desolate are more numerous than [those] of her that has a husband.
BLB
For it has been written: “Rejoice O barren woman, the one not bearing; break forth and cry out, the one not travailing; because many more [are] the children of the desolate woman than of her having the husband.”
ÅB
for det er skrevet: Vær glad, du ufruktbare, du som ikke føder! bryt ut og rop, du som ikke har veer! for den enslige kvinnes barn er mange flere enn hennes som har mannen.
OTB
For det står skrevet:
"Gled deg, du ufruktbare, du som ikke føder;
bryt ut og rop, du som ikke har fødselsveer;
for flere er den ensliges barn
enn hennes som har en mann."
B1930
for det er skrevet: Vær glad, du ufruktbare, du som ikke føder! bryt ut og rop, du som ikke har veer! for den enslige kvinnes barn er mange flere enn hennes som har mannen.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Isaiah 54:1–5

    “Shout for joy, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth in song and cry aloud, you who have never travailed; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,” says the LORD.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 113:9

    He settles the barren woman in her home as a joyful mother to her children. Hallelujah!

    Read in context
  • Ruth 4:14–16

    Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a kinsman-redeemer. May his name become famous in Israel.

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 2:5

    The well-fed hire themselves out for food, but the starving hunger no more. The barren woman gives birth to seven, but she who has many sons pines away.

    Read in context
  • 1 Timothy 5:5

    The widow who is truly in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day in her petitions and prayers.

    Read in context
  • Ruth 1:11–13

    But Naomi replied, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb to become your husbands?

    Read in context
  • 2 Samuel 13:20

    Her brother Absalom said to her, “Has your brother Amnon been with you? Be quiet for now, my sister. He is your brother. Do not take this thing to heart.” So Tamar lived as a desolate woman in the house of her brother Absalom.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 49:21

    Then you will say in your heart, ‘Who has begotten these for me? I was bereaved and barren; I was exiled and rejected. So who has reared them? Look, I was left all alone, so where did they come from?’”

    Read in context