Galatians 4:3
1 What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he is the owner of everything.
2 He is subject to guardians and trustees until the date set by his father.
So also, when we were children, we were enslaved under the basic principles of the world.
4 But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive our adoption as sons.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- So also, when we were children, we were enslaved under the basic principles of the world.
- KJV
- Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
- WEB
- So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world.
- ASV
- So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the rudiments of the world:
- DARBY
- So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the principles of the world;
- BLB
- So also we, when we were children, were enslaved under the elements of the world.
- ÅB
- Slik var også vi, dengang vi var barn, bundet i slaveri under verdens barnelærdom;
- OTB
- På samme måte var også vi, da vi var barn, i trelldom under verdens grunnleggende prinsipper.
- B1930
- Således var også vi, dengang vi var barn, trælbundet under verdens barnelærdom;
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Colossians 2:20
If you have died with Christ to the spiritual forces of the world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its regulations:
Read in contextColossians 2:8
See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ.
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 contextGalatians 2:4
This issue arose because some false brothers had come in under false pretenses to spy on our freedom in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us.
Read in contextGalatians 4:31–5:1
Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
Read in contextActs 15:10
Now then, why do you test God by placing on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?
Read in contextRomans 8:15
For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
Read in contextJohn 8:31
So He said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples.
Read in context