Galatians 4:27

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.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Paul addresses the Galatian believers while contrasting the allegory of Hagar and Sarah with their spiritual identity. He speaks at the moment of explaining that they are children of promise, like Isaac, rather than children of the flesh.

The words — The text cites γέγραπται (gegraptai), meaning "it has been written," to anchor the command in prior Scripture. It also uses εὐφρανθήτι (euphranthēti), translated as "do rejoice," directing the barren woman to shout for joy.

The thread — Paul quotes Isaiah 54:1 to show that the desolate woman will have more children than her who has a husband. The same imagery echoes in Psalm 113:9, which describes God settling the barren woman as a joyful mother.

Why it lands — The verse demands recognition that God’s promise produces offspring beyond natural means. It requires the reader to accept that spiritual inheritance depends on divine promise rather than 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

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.

Cross-references

Isaiah 54:1 “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.
Psalms 113:9 He settles the barren woman in her home as a joyful mother to her children. Hallelujah!
Ruth 4:14 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.
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.
Ruth 1:11 But Naomi replied, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb to become your husbands?
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.
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.
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?’”