Bible Strands
Galatians 4:31
Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul addresses the Galatian believers at the close of his Hagar-Sarah allegory to define their spiritual inheritance.
The words — The clause relies on οὐκ (ouk) meaning "not" and τέκνα (tekna) meaning "children," which directly negate any claim to the slave woman's line.
The thread — The slavery-freedom contrast reappears in Galatians 5:1 and Galatians 5:13, while John 8:36 records the conditional statement that the Son's action leads to being free indeed.
Why it lands — The text commands readers to abandon the slave woman's lineage and claim their standing as children of the free woman.
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
So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
Cross-references
- John 8:36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
- Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery.
- Galatians 5:13 For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love.
- John 1:12 But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—
- 1 John 3:1 Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.
- Hebrews 2:14 Now since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity, so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil,