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Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

Galatians 4:29

Persecuted. — The expression used in Genesis 21:9 is translated in our version “mocking.” It seems doubtful whether the Hebrew can really mean more than “playing.” The Jewish traditions added that Ishmael took out the child Isaac and “shot at him with arrows under pretence of sport.” The Arab tribes, Ishmael’s descendants, had always been a thorn in the side of their Israelite neighbours.

Him that was born after the Spirit. — A miraculous agency intervened in the birth of Isaac, and the Christian Church was inaugurated and inspired by the same agency — that of the Spirit. The Messianic reign was realised through the Spirit; and their participation in this reign made all Christians true and spiritual descendants of Abraham.

Even so it is now. — This seems to have especial reference to the behaviour of the Judaising party in Galatia, but would also apply to the relations between Jews and Christians generally.

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See also Galatians 4:29 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 29. _BUT AS THEN HE_] Ishmael, _who was born after the_ _flesh_-whose birth had nothing _supernatural_ in it, but was according to the ordinary course of nature, _PERSECUTED HIM_] Isaac, _who...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    BUT AS THEN HE THAT WAS BORN AFTER THE FLESH - Ishmael; see Galatians 4:23. PERSECUTED HIM THAT WAS BORN AFTER THE SPIRIT - That is, Isaac. The phrase, “after the Spirit,” here, is synonymous with “ac...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 4 _ 1. Under the law in the state of minority. (Galatians 4:1)_ 2. The Son revealed to redeem. (Galatians 4:4) 3. Because ye are Sons; the Spirit of Sonship. (Galatians 4:6) 4. The backslid

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    GALATIANS 4:21 TO GALATIANS 5:1. The new thing he tries is an allegorising spiritualising application of an OT story. Slave-born Ishmael mocked (Genesis 21:10 *) free-born Isaac, and the son of the sl...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    THE DAYS OF CHILDHOOD (Galatians 4:1-7)...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    Tell me this--you who want to be subject to the law, you listen to it being read to you, don't you? Well, then, it stands written in it that Abraham had two sons; one was the son of the slave girl and...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    EVEN SO IT IS NOW. so it is now also....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    In Genesis 21:9-10, we read, -And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had borne unto Abraham, mocking. Wherefore she said, Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwo...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ἈΛΛʼ. In contrast to what we might have expected as God’s chosen, Why wonder at persecution? Isaac had to bear it at Ishmael’s hands. It should be observed that by this further evidence of the applica...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    21–5:1. _Another appeal, based upon the principles underlying the history of Hagar and Sarah, and the birth of Isaac. Christ set us free; stand fast therefore in this freedom_ (Galatians 4:21) You wis...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΓΕΝΝΗΘΕΊΣ _aor. pass._part, от ΓΕΝΝΆΩ (G1080), _см._ Galatians 4:23. ΈΔΊΩΚΕΝ _impf. ind. act. от_ ΔΙΏΚΩ (G1377) охотиться, преследовать. _Impf._ изображает длительное действие в прошлом....

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    BORN AFTER THE FLESH— That is, _Ishmael;_ in whose birth there was nothing beyond the common course of nature. He that was _born after the Spirit_ is _Isaac,_ who was produced as the spiritual seed, b...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    TEXT 4:28-31 (28) Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise, (29) But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, so also it is now. (30) How...

  • Combined Bible Commentary

    _VERSE 29. BUT AS THAT HE THAT WAS BORN AFTER THE FLESH PERSECUTED HIM THAT WAS BORN AFTER THE SPIRIT, EVEN SO IT IS NOW._ Our opponents blame our doctrine for the present turmoil. But ours is a doctr...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. BUT - But our being "children of promise" does not exempt us from persecution. PERSE...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    1 The place of an infant heir differs from that of a slave in right but not in fact. Though entitled to all, he is treated as though master of nothing. He is watched by guardians, and supervised by st...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE BONDAGE OF THE LAW. FREEDOM IN CHRIST 1-7. Under the Law we were in bondage; under the Gospel we have received the freedom of sons. PARAPHRASE. '(1) The heir before he comes of age can no more en...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    Cp. Genesis 21:9. The 'mocking' there mentioned hardly amounts to persecution. Perhaps the general hostility of Hagar's descendants to Israel is referred to: cp. Psalms 83:6; 1 Chronicles 5:10;...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    CHRIST HAS MADE US FREE GALATIANS _HELEN POCOCK_ CHAPTER 4 YOU ARE GOD’S SONS, YOU ARE NOT SLAVES V1 I will continue what I was saying to you. A young son will receive the property that his fath...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 19 THE STORY OF HAGAR. Galatians 4:21 - Galatians 5:1 THE Apostle wishes that he could "change his voice" (Galatians 4:20). Indeed he has changed it more than once. "Any one who looks closel...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    PATRIARCHAL HISTORY IS EMPLOYED TO ILLUSTRATE THE PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS, WHO ARE THE PROMISED SEED OF ABRAHAM, BY JEWS WHO ARE HIS SEED AFTER THE FLESH. HAGAR AND HER SON, SARAH AND HER SON, FURNI...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    ἐδίωκεν. This imperfect denotes a tendency and disposition rather than actual persecution on the part of Ishmael. The nearest approach to it recorded is in fact his mockery of Isaac on the occasion of...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    “CHILDREN OF PROMISE” Galatians 4:21 In this allegory of Sarah and Hagar, it is important to notice that Paul is not dealing with the principle of evil within our hearts, but with the attempt to min...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    He now declared the process of freedom. "God sent forth His Son... under the law." Thus the law He kept was justified, and He lived thereby. But more than this, He bore its penalty, and so procured ju...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    But as then he that was born after the (i) flesh persecuted him [that was born] after the (k) Spirit, even so [it is] now. (i) By the common course of nature. (k) By the virtue of God's promise and...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    St. Paul makes another observation upon this example of Ismael and Isaac: that as Ismael was troublesome to Isaac, for which he and his mother were turned out of the family, so also now the Jews insul...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (20) I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you. (21) В¶ Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? (22) For it is written, that...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    Galatians 1:1-24. We saw the second of Corinthians characterized by the most rapid transitions of feeling, by a deep and fervent sense of God's consolations, by a revulsion so much the more powerful i...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    29._As then, he that was born after the flesh_. He denounces the cruelty of the false apostles, who wantonly insulted pious persons that placed all their confidence in Christ. There was abundant need...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    The relative position therefore of the Jew (even though he were godly) before the coming of Christ, and of the believing Jew or Gentile when Christ had been revealed, is clearly set forth; and in the...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    BUT AS THEN,.... In the times of Abraham, when Hagar and Sarah, the types of the two dispensations of the covenant, and Ishmael and Isaac, the figures of the two different seeds, the natural and spiri...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him _that was born_ after the Spirit, even so _it is_ now. Ver. 29. _Persecuted him_] By cruel mockings and real injuries, challenging the birt...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Now_ That I may apply what has just been advanced to ourselves; _we, brethren_ Who believe, whether Jews or Gentiles; _as Isaac was_ Κατα Ισαακ, _after the manner of Isaac; are children of promise_ A...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    SO IT IS NOW; as Ishmael opposed Isaac, so the unbelieving Jews, called, in verse Galatians 4:25, Jerusalem which now is, and who were still in bondage to the law, persecuted Christians....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    BUT AS THEN HE THAT WAS BORN AFTER THE FLESH PERSECUTED HIM THAT WAS BORN AFTER THE SPIRIT, EVEN SO IT IS NOW....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The application of the lesson:...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    HOW CHILDREN ARE ADOPTED AS SONS (vs.1-7) The first few verses of chapter 4 give us the distinctive Christian position in more detail. This position is the result of promise accomplished, as contrast...

  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

    TELL ME, YOU WHO DESIRE TO BE UNDER THE LAW, DO YOU NOT HEAR THE LAW? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. Notice Abraham's age: 75 - P...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    28-31 The history thus explained is applied. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bond-woman, but of the free. If the privileges of all believers were so great, according to the new covenant...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    As it was in Abraham's time, Ishmael, who was born in a mere carnal and ordinary way of generation, persecuted Isaac, by mocking at him, GENESIS 21:9, who was born by virtue of the promise, and the mi...

  • McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries

    But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, so also is it now....

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Galatians 4:29 But G235 as G5618 born G1080 (G5685) according G2596 flesh G4561 then G5119 persecuted G1377 ...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘But as then he who was born after the flesh persecuted he who was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the handmaid and her son, for the son of the han...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    A LESSON FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT LAW (GALATIANS 4:21). Paul now turns to the Old Testament for examples of what he is trying to say....

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Galatians 4:29. BUT AS THEN HE THAT WAS BORN AFTER THE FLESH PERSECUTED HIM _(that was born)_ AFTER THE SPIRIT, EVEN SO NOW. The history of Isaac and Ishmael was typical also in another respect, inasm...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    The Apostle resumes his argument for the superiority of the gospel over the law, and illustrates the difference of the two by an allegorical interpretation of the history of Sarah and Hagar, and their...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    PERSECUTED (εδιωκεν). Imperfect active of διωκω, to pursue, to persecute. Genesis 21:9 has in Hebrew "laughing," but the LXX has "mocking." The Jewish tradition represents Ishmael as shooting arrow...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Galatians 4:1. Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; but is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father....

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Galatians 4:12. _Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all._ He had told them the gospel, and other teachers had come in and alienated their affections. H...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Believers full redemption from the law. Sonship through the Spirit. Dangers of lapsing into legality. Impossibility of mixing law and grace. CHARACTERS: God, Christ, Holy Spirit, Paul, Abra...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Galatians 4:1. _The heir, as long as he is a child,_ and a minor, _differeth_ _nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all._ He is under guardians, till the year appointed by the will of his fath...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    PERSECUTED THE ONE. "At that time, Ismael the slave son persecuted Isaac the free-born son. It is the same way now, when certain Jews who are _slave-sons_ persecute us _the free-born-sons_!...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _He that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit._ ENMITY BETWEEN THE NATURAL AND THE SPIRITUAL MAN I must profess that since I observed the course of the world, and th...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    GALATIANS—NOTE ON GALATIANS 4:29 SO ALSO IT IS NOW. Ishmael persecuted Isaac (suggested by Genesis 21:9). Now the Jews who seek justification by human effort persecute Chr

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    GALATIANS—NOTE ON GALATIANS 4:21 Paul again emphasizes the difference between being a free child of God and being a slave to the law, sin, and false gods. Abraham’s son Ishmael—technically the firstbo...

  • The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    CHAPTER 4 SYNOPSIS OF THE CHAPTER i. He continues the argument of the preceding chapter that the Jews, like children and slaves, were under the Jewish law as a pædagague, while Christians, as sons o...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES_ Galatians 4:24. WHICH THINGS ARE AN ALLEGORY.—Under the things spoken of—the two sons, with their contrast of parentage and position—there lies a spiritual meaning. G...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION GALATIANS 4:1 NOW I SAY (λέγω δέ). A form of expression usual with the apostle when introducing a new statement designed either to explain or elucidate something before said (of. Galati...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now I say, That an heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father (Galatians 4:1-2...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Thessalonians 2:14; 1 Thessalonians 2:15; Galatians 5:11; Galatians 6:12;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    But as then, he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, so it is now also — And so it will be in all ages and nations to the end of the world....

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