Bible Strands
Galatians 4:23
His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born through the promise.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul addresses the Galatian believers to clarify their standing under the new covenant. He uses Abraham’s two sons to establish a direct contrast between human origin and divine guarantee.
The words — κατὰ σάρκα (kata sarka) = according to the flesh, and ἐκ τῆς παιδίσκης (ek tēs paidiskēs) = of the slave woman. These phrases mark the natural, biological means of Isaac’s half-brother’s birth.
The thread — The account of Abraham’s two sons and the fulfillment of God’s promise to Sarah is recorded in Genesis 21:1 and Hebrews 11:11. Paul revisits this distinction in Romans 9:7 to identify Isaac as the true line of offspring.
Why it lands — The text states that one son was produced by natural descent while the other came through a specific divine pledge. A reader must accept that spiritual standing rests on God’s promise rather than biological lineage or human effort.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
Cross-references
- Hebrews 11:11 By faith Sarah, even though she was barren and beyond the proper age, was enabled to conceive a child, because she considered Him faithful who had promised.
- Genesis 21:1 Now the LORD attended to Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what He had promised.
- Romans 9:7 Nor because they are Abraham’s descendants are they all his children. On the contrary, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.”
- Genesis 18:10 Then the LORD said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year, and your wife Sarah will have a son!” Now Sarah was behind him, listening at the entrance to the tent.
- Galatians 4:28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.
- Genesis 17:15 Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, do not call her Sarai, for her name is to be Sarah.
- Romans 4:18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.”
- Romans 10:8 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: