4:30a

But: There is a contrast between 4:29 and 4:30. The contrast is between the way that the false teachers were treating the Galatians (persecuting them) and the way that the Galatians should treat the false teachers (cast them out). The Greek indicates this contrast with a conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as But.

Many English versions do not translate this conjunction. In some languages, it will not be necessary to translate this conjunction either.

what does the Scripture say?: This is a rhetorical question. Paul used this rhetorical question to emphasize what the Scripture says.

Some ways to translate this emphasis are:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

what do the Scriptures say about that? (New Living Translation (2004))

• As a statement. For example:

consider what God’s word says:

Use whichever form is most natural in your language.

4:30b

Expel the slave woman and her son: This is a quotation from Genesis 21:10. God told Abraham to send Hagar and her son away from the household.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

Send away the slave woman and her son
-or-
Throw out the slave woman and her son. (New Century Version)
-or-
Cast out/Banish the slave woman and her son

Paul probably quoted this verse to tell the Galatian Christians to expel those people who were telling them to follow the law.

4:30c

for: Verse 4:30c is the basis for the command to send away the slave woman and her son (in 4:30b). The Greek introduces this basis with a conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as for. Another way to translate this conjunction is:

b Get rid of the slave woman and her son, c because the son of the slave woman must never share the inheritance d with the son of the free woman. (God’s Word)

In some language, no conjunction is needed to introduce the basis for the command. For example:

b Get rid of the slave woman and her son! c He won’t be given anything. d The son of the free woman will receive everything. (Contemporary English Version)

In other languages, it is more natural to put the basis before the command. For example:

c The son of the slave woman must never share the inheritance d with the son of the free woman. b So throw out the slave woman and her son.

the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance: In the case of Abraham, his possessions that were to be inherited as part of the inheritance included the spiritual blessing of the covenant that God made with him. The son of the slave woman was not part of that covenant.

Some other ways to translate the phrase will never share in the inheritance are:

will not be an heir
-or-
will not have a part of the father’s property (Good News Translation)
-or-
will not receive the blessing

4:30d

with the free woman’s son: In some languages, it may be more natural to make this phrase a separate sentence. For example:

The son of the free woman will be the heir of everything.
-or-
The son of the free women will inherit/receive all his father’s possessions.

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
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