Galatians 4:24

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Galatians 4:21-31

In these verses the apostle illustrates the difference between believers who rested in Christ only and those judaizers who trusted in the law, by a comparison taken from the story of Isaac and Ishmael. This he introduces in such a manner as was proper to strike and impress their minds, and to convince them of their great weakness in departing from the truth, and suffering themselves to be deprived of the liberty of the gospel: Tell me, says he, you that desire to be under the law, do you not... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Galatians 4:21-31

4:21-31 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 one was the son of the free woman. But the son of the slave girl was born in the ordinary human way, whereas the son of the free woman was born through a promise. Now these things are an allegory. For these two women stand for two covenants. One of these covenants--the one which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 4:24

Which things are an allegory ,.... Or "are allegorized": so Sarah and Hagar were allegorized by Philo the Jew F16 De Cherubim, p. 108, 109. , before they were by the apostle. Sarah he makes to signify virtue, and Hagar the whole circle of arts and sciences, which are, or should be, an handmaid to virtue; but these things respecting Hagar and Sarah, the bondwoman and the free, and their several offspring, are much better allegorized by the apostle here. An allegory is a way of speaking... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:24

Which things are an allegory - They are to be understood spiritually; more being intended in the account than meets the eye. Allegory, from αλλος , another, and αγορεω , or αγορευω , to speak, signifies a thing that is a representative of another, where the literal sense is the representative of a spiritual meaning; or, as the glossary expresses it, ἑτερως κατα μεταφρασιν νοουμενα, και ου κατα την αναγνωσιν· "where the thing is to be understood differently in the interpretation... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:24

Verse 24 24.These are the two covenants. I have thought it better to adopt this translation, in order not to lose sight of the beauty of the comparison; for Paul compares the two διαθὢκαι, to two mothers, and to employ testamentum, (a testament,) which is a neuter noun, for denoting a mother, would be harsh. The wordpactio (a covenant) appears to be, on that account, more appropriate; and indeed the desire of obtaining perspicuity, as well as elegance, has led me to make this choice. (76) The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 4:21-31

The allegory of Hagar. Writing to men who were unduly subservient to the Jewish Law, St. Paul clenches his argument with an appeal to what he regards as the typical meaning of the history contained in that very Law. This was an argumentum ad homines. It is important, when possible, to convince men on their own ground. Among believers in Scripture, arguments are naturally drawn from Scripture, Only it is necessary to bear in mind that there are different "views ' of Scripture; so that we... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 4:24

Which things are an allegory ( ἅτινά ἐστιν ἀλληγορούμενα ); which things are written (or, expounded ) with a further meaning. The relative ἅτινα , as distinguished from ἅ , probably means "which facts, being of this description, are," etc., or, "things, which are of such a sort that they are," etc. (comp. Colossians 2:23 in the Greek). The apostle, perhaps, intimates that the particulars just recited by him belong to a class of objects distinguished among other... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 4:24

Allegorized interpretation of the facts. "Which things are to be allegorically treated." I. THE FACTS ARE CAPABLE OF THIS TREATMENT . The apostle does not mean to signify that the facts are not historical; nor does he mean to explain them away as if they were allegory like Bunyan's 'Pilgrim's Progress; ' nor does he mean that Moses shaped his narrative in Genesis with a view to this allegorized treatment. It is more correct to say that the lives of these real personages... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Galatians 4:24

Which things - The different accounts of Ishmael and Isaac.Are an allegory - May be regarded allegorically, or as illustrating great principles in regard to the condition of slaves and freemen; and may therefore be used to illustrate the effect of servitude to the Law of Moses compared with the freedom of the gospel. He does not mean to say that the historical record of Moses was not true, or was merely allegorical; nor does he mean to say that Moses meant this to be an allegory, or that he... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Galatians 4:24

Galatians 4:24. Which things are an allegory That is, a figurative speech, wherein one thing is expressed, and another intended. Or, as Macknight explains the expression more at large: “Properly, an allegory is, when persons and events, present or near at hand, with their qualities and circumstances, are considered as types or representations of persons and events more remote, to which they have a resemblance. Of this kind were the histories of some persons and events recorded in the Old... read more

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