Galatians 4:2

2 They have to obey their guardians until they reach whatever age their father set.

Galatians 4:2 Meaning and Commentary

Galatians 4:2

But is under tutors and governors
The word rendered "tutors", is adopted by the Jewish Targumists and Rabbins into their language; and by the former is used ^F24 for any ruler and governor, civil or domestic; and by the latter, for such as are guardians of infants, fatherless children, and such as are under age, as it is here used; and who were either appointed by the will of the deceased, or by the sanhedrim, of whom they say ^F25, (Nnymqwm al ynnqydl apwrjwpa) , "we do not appoint a tutor or guardian for a bearded person"; that is, an adult person, one that is grown up to man's estate; but (aqwnyl apwrjwpa hyl Nnymqwm) , "we appoint a guardian for an infant"; and they had not used to appoint women or servants, or such as were minors themselves, or any of the common people; but men of substance, integrity, and wisdom ^F26; a fatherless child had two tutors ^F1; the power that guardians so appointed had, is at large described by Maimonides ^F2. Governors were such as acted under the tutors or guardians, and were employed by them for the improvement of their estates and minds, as stewards, schoolmasters until the time appointed of the father; by his last will and testament, which might be sooner or later, as he pleased; but if he died intestate, the time of minority, and so the duration of tutors and guardians, were according to the laws of the nation; which with the Romans was until a man was twenty five years of age; and with the Jews, for a male, was until he was thirteen years of age and one day; and for a female, until she was twelve years of age and one day, if the signs of ripeness of age appeared; but if they did not, the time was protracted until they were twenty, and even sometimes till they were thirty five years of age, before the matter was determined ^F3.

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FOOTNOTES:

F24 Targum Jon. ben Uzziel in Gen. xxxix. 4. & xli 34, 35. & xliii 15. Targum in Esther i. 8. & 2. 3.
F25 T. Bab. Bava Metzia, fol. 39. 1, 2.
F26 Maimon. Hilch. Necabot, c. 10. sect. 6.
F1 Bartenora in Misn. Pesachim, c. 8. sect. 1.
F2 Hilch. Nechalot, c. 11.
F3 Ib. Hilch. Ishot, c. 2. sect. 1, 2.

Galatians 4:2 In-Context

1 Think of it this way. If a father dies and leaves an inheritance for his young children, those children are not much better off than slaves until they grow up, even though they actually own everything their father had.

2 They have to obey their guardians until they reach whatever age their father set.

3 And that’s the way it was with us before Christ came. We were like children; we were slaves to the basic spiritual principles of this world.

4 But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.

5 God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.