Galatians 4:22

22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman.

Galatians 4:22 in Other Translations

22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.

22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman.

22 The Scriptures say that Abraham had two sons, one from his slave wife and one from his freeborn wife.

22 Abraham, remember, had two sons: one by the slave woman and one by the free woman.

22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, one by the handmaid, and one by the freewoman.

22 Scripture says that Abraham had two sons, one by a woman who was a slave and the other by a free woman.

22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave and the other by a free woman.

22 It is written that Abraham had two sons. The slave woman gave birth to one of them. The free woman gave birth to the other one.

Galatians 4:22 Meaning and Commentary

Galatians 4:22

For it is written
In ( Genesis 16:15 ) ( 21:9 )

that Abraham had two sons,
not two sons only; for besides the two referred to, he had six more, ( Genesis 25:2 ) but it being only pertinent to the apostle's purpose to take notice of these two, he mentions no more, though he does not deny that he had any more. These two sons were Ishmael and Isaac:

the one by a bondmaid.
Ishmael was by Hagar, Sarah's servant, who represented the covenant the Jewish nation was under the bondage of.

The other by a free woman.
Isaac was by Sarah, Abraham's proper and lawful wife, who was mistress of the family, and represented in figure the covenant, and Gospel church state, and all believers, Gentiles as well as Jews, as under the liberty thereof.

Galatians 4:22 In-Context

20 how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!

21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says?

22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman.

23 His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise.

24 These things are being taken figuratively: The women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar.

Cross References

• 1. Genesis 16:15
• 2. Genesis 21:2