Galatians 4 · Verse 27

Galatians 4:27

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.
Galatians 4:27, King James Version

Galatians 4:27 in other translations

BSBFor 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.”
WEBFor it is written, “Rejoice, you barren who don’t bear. Break out and shout, you who don’t travail. For the desolate women have more children than her who has a husband.”
ASVFor it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; Break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: For more are the children of the desolate than of her that hath the husband.
YLTfor it hath been written, ‘Rejoice, O barren, who art not bearing; break forth and cry, thou who art not travailing, because many are the children of the desolate--more than of her having the husband.'
DARBYFor it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break out and cry, thou that travailest not; because the children of the desolate are more numerous than those of her that has a husband.
BBEFor it is in the Writings, You who have never given birth, be glad; give cries of joy, you who have had no birth-pains; for the children of her who has been given up by her husband are more than those of the woman who has a husband.
WebsterFor 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 who hath a husband.

What does Galatians 4:27 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
27. (Is 54:1). thou barren--Jerusalem above: the spiritual Church of the Gospel, the fruit of "the promise," answering to Sarah, who bore not "after the flesh": as contrasted with the law, answering to Hagar, who was fruitful in the ordinary course of nature. Isaiah speaks primarily of Israel's restoration after her long-continued calamities; but his language is framed by the Holy Spirit so as to reach beyond this to the spiritual Zion: including not only the Jews, the natural descendants of Abraham and children of the law, but also the Gentiles. The spiritual Jerusalem is regarded as "barren" while the law trammeled Israel, for she then had no spiritual children of the Gentiles. break forth--into crying. cry--shout for joy. many more--Translate as Greek, "Many are the children of the desolate (the New Testament Church made up in the greater part from the Gentiles, who once had not the promise, and so was destitute of God as her husband), more than of her which hath an (Greek, 'THE') husband (the Jewish Church having God for her husband, Is 54:5; Jr 2:2)." Numerous as were the children of the legal covenant, those of the Gospel covenant are more so. The force of the Greek article is, "Her who has THE husband of which the other is destitute."

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 27. For it is written. This passage is found in Isa 44:1. For an exposition of its meaning as it occurs there, see my Notes on Isaiah. The object of the apostle in introducing it here seems to be to prove that the Gentiles, as well as the Jews, would partake of the privileges connected with the heavenly Jerusalem. He had in the previous verse spoken of the Jerusalem from above as the common mother of ALL true Christians, whether by birth Jews or Gentiles. This might be disputed or doubted by the Jews; and he therefore adduces this proof from the Old Testament. Or if it was not doubted, still the quotation was pertinent, and would illustrate the sentiment which he had just uttered. The mention of Jerusalem as a mother seems to have suggested this text. Isaiah had spoken of Jerusalem as a female that had been long desolate and childless, now rejoicing by a large accession from the Gentile world, and increased in numbers like a female who should have more children than one who had been long married. To this Paul appropriately refers when he says that the whole church, Jews and Gentiles, were the children of the heavenly Jerusalem, represented here as a rejoicing mother. He has not quoted literally from the Hebrew, but he has used the Septuagint version, and has retained the sense. The sense is, that the accession from the Gentile world would be far more numerous than the Jewish people had ever been--a prophecy that has been already fulfilled.

Rejoice thou barren that bearest not. As a woman who has had no children would rejoice. This represents probably the heathen world, as having been apparently forsaken and abandoned, and with whom there had been none of the true children of God.

Break forth and cry. Or, "break forth and exclaim;" i.e., break out into loud and glad exclamations at the remarkable accession. The cry here referred to was to be a joyful cry or shout; the language of exultation. So the Hebrew word in Isa 44:1, means.

For the desolate. She who was desolate and apparently forsaken. It literally refers to a woman who had seemed to be desolate and forsaken, who was unmarried. In Isaiah it may refer to Jerusalem, long forsaken and desolate, or as some suppose to the Gentile world. Isa 44:1.

Than she which hath an husband. Perhaps referring to the Jewish people as in covenant with God, and often spoken of as married to him, Isa 62:4,6, 44:5.

(b) "it is written" Isa 44:1

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 27 Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not - This quotation is taken from Isa 54:1, and is certainly a promise which relates to the conversion of the Gentiles, as the following clause proves; for the desolate - the Gentile world, hath many more children - is a much larger and more numerous Church, than she - Jerusalem, the Jewish state, which hath a husband - has been so long in covenant with God, living under his continual protection, and in possession of a great variety of spiritual advantages; and especially those offered to her by the Gospel, which she has rejected, and which the Gentiles have accepted.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Galatians 4:21-27

The difference between believers who rested in Christ only, and those who trusted in the law, is explained by the histories of Isaac and Ishmael. These things are an allegory, wherein, beside the literal and historical sense of the words, the Spirit of God points out something further. Hagar and Sarah were apt emblems of the two different dispensations of the covenant. The heavenly Jerusalem, the true church from…

Read the full comment on Galatians 4:21-27 →

Galatians 4:27 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

γέγραπταιgegraptaiIt has been writtenG1125
γάρ·garfor:G1063
εὐφράνθητιeuphranthētido rejoiceG2165
στεῖραsteiraO barren womanG4723
ἡhēyou who [are]G3588
οὐounotG3756
τίκτουσα,tiktousabearing,G5088
ῥῆξονrhēxondo break forthG4486
καὶkaiandG2532
βόησονboēsondo call aloudG994
ἡhēyou who [are]G3588
οὐκouknotG3756
ὠδίνουσα,ōdinousatravailing,G5605
ὅτιhotibecauseG3754
πολλὰpollamanyG4183
τὰta[are] theG3588
τέκναteknachildrenG5043
τῆςtēsof theG3588
ἐρήμουerēmoudesolate womanG2048
μᾶλλονmallonmoreG3123
ἢēthanG2228
τῆςtēsof [her] whoG3588
ἐχούσηςechousēshavingG2192
τὸνtontheG3588
ἄνδρα.andrahusband.G435

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Galatians 4:27

  • Isaiah 54:1-5

    Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the Lord. Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited. Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more. …

  • Psalms 113:9

    He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the Lord.

  • Ruth 4:14-16

    And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the Lord, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel. And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him. And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it.

  • 1 Samuel 2:5

    They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.

  • 1 Timothy 5:5

    Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.

  • Ruth 1:11-13

    And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons; Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me.

  • 2 Samuel 13:20

    And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; regard not this thing. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s house.

  • Isaiah 49:21

    Then shalt thou say in thine heart, Who hath begotten me these, seeing I have lost my children, and am desolate, a captive, and removing to and fro? and who hath brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where had they been?

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Rejoice.
Isa 54:1-5
barren.
1Sa 2:5; Ps 113:9
desolate.
Ru 1:11-13; 4:14-16; 2Sa 13:20; Isa 49:21; 1Ti 5:5

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Galatians 4:26

    But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

  • Galatians 4:27

    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.

  • Galatians 4:28

    Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

Read all of Galatians 4

Galatians 4:27 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque está escrito: Alégrate, estéril, que no pares: prorrumpe y clama, la que no estás de parto; porque más son los hijos de la dejada, que de la que tiene marido.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Car il est écrit: « Réjouis-toi, stérile qui n’enfantes point; éclate de joie et pousse des cris, toi qui n’es point en travail d’enfant; car les enfants de la délaissée sont plus nombreux que les enfants de celle qui a un mari ».
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn es steht geschrieben: "Sei fröhlich, du Unfruchtbare, die du nicht gebierst; brich in Jubel aus und schreie, die du keine Geburtswehen hast! denn die Kinder der Einsamen sind zahlreicher als derjenigen, die den Mann hat."
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Scriptum est enim: Lætare, sterilis, quæ non paris; erumpe et clama, quæ non parturis: quia multi filii desertæ, magis quam ejus quæ habet virum.