Galatians 4 · Verse 29

Galatians 4:29

But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.

Galatians 4:29, King James Version

Galatians 4:29 in other translations

BSB	At that time, however, the son born by the flesh persecuted the son born by the Spirit. It is the same now.
WEB	But as then, he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now.
ASV	But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, so also it is now.
YLT	but as then he who was born according to the flesh did persecute him according to the spirit, so also now;
DARBY	But as then he that was born according to flesh persecuted him that was born according to Spirit, so also it is now.
BBE	But as in those days he who had birth after the flesh was cruel to him who had birth after the Spirit, even so it is now.
Webster	But as then he that was born according to the flesh persecuted him that was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now.

What does Galatians 4:29 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

29. persecuted--Ishmael "mocked" Isaac, which contained in it the germ and spirit of persecution (Ge 21:9). His mocking was probably directed against Isaac's piety and faith in God's promises. Being the older by natural birth, he haughtily prided himself above him that was born by promise: as Cain hated Abel's piety. him ... born after the Spirit--The language, though referring primarily to Isaac, born in a spiritual way (namely, by the promise or word of God, rendered by His Spirit efficient out of the course of nature, in making Sarah fruitful in old age), is so framed as especially to refer to believers justified by Gospel grace through faith, as opposed to carnal men, Judaizers, and legalists. even so it is now--(Ga 5:11; 6:12, 17; Ac 9:29; 13:45, 49, 50; 14:1, 2, 19; 17:5, 13; 18:5, 6). The Jews persecuted Paul, not for preaching Christianity in opposition to heathenism, but for preaching it as distinct from Judaism. Except in the two cases of Philippi and Ephesus (where the persons beginning the assault were pecuniarily interested in his expulsion), he was nowhere set upon by the Gentiles, unless they were first stirred up by the Jews. The coincidence between Paul's Epistles and Luke's history (the Acts) in this respect, is plainly undesigned, and so a proof of genuineness (see Paley, Horæ Paulinæ).

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

Barnes' Notes

Verse 29. But as then he that was born after the flesh. Ishmael. See Gal 4:23.

Persecuted him that was born after the Spirit. That is, Isaac. The phrase, "after the Spirit," here is synonymous with "according to the promise," in the previous verse. It stands opposed to the phrase, "after the flesh," and means that his birth was by the special or miraculous agency of God. See Rom 4. It was not in the ordinary course of events. The persecution here referred to, was the injurious treatment which Isaac received from Ishmael, or the opposition which subsisted between them. The particular reference of Paul is doubtless to Gen 21:9, where it is said that "Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had borne unto Abraham, mocking." It was on account of this, and at the special request of Sarah, that Hagar and her son were expelled from the house of Abraham, Gen 21:10.

Even so it is now. That is, Christians, the children of the promise, are persecuted by the Jews, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, "as it now is," and who are uninterested in the promises, as Ishmael was. For an illustration of this, see Paley's Horae Pauline, on this [Epistle, No. V. Dr. Paley has remarked, that it does not appear that the apostle Paul was ever set upon by the Gentiles, unless they were first stirred up by the Jews, except in two instances. One of these was at Philippi, after the cure of the Pythoness, (Acts 16:19;) and the other at Ephesus, at the instance of Demetrius, Acts 19:24. The persecutions of the Christians arose, therefore, mainly from the Jews--from those who were in bondage to the law, and to rites and customs; and Paul's allusion here to the case of the persecution which Isaac the free-born son endured, is exceedingly pertinent and happy.

(d) "he that was born" Gen 21:9 (e) "even so it is now" Jn 15:19

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 29 But as then he - Ishmael, who was born after the flesh - whose birth had nothing supernatural in it, but was according to the ordinary course of nature, Persecuted him - Isaac, who was born after the Spirit - who had a supernatural birth, according to the promise, and through the efficacy, of the Holy Spirit, giving effect to that promise - Sarah shall have a son, Gen 17:16-21; Gen 21:1, etc. Persecuted him; the persecution here referred to is that mentioned Gen 21:9. It consisted in mocking his brother Isaac. Even so it is now - So the Jews, in every place, persecute the Christians; and show thereby that they are rather of the posterity of Hagar than of Sarah.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Galatians 4:28-31

The history thus explained is applied. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bond-woman, but of the free. If the privileges of all believers were so great, according to the new covenant, how absurd for the Gentile converts to be under that law, which could not deliver the unbelieving Jews from bondage or condemnation! We should not have found out this allegory in the history of Sarah and Hagar, if it had not…

Read the full comment on Galatians 4:28-31 →

Galatians 4:29 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.

ἀλλ᾽all᾽ButG235

ὥσπερhōsperjust asG5618

τότεtoteat that timeG5119

ὁhothe [one]G3588

κατὰkataaccording toG2596

σάρκαsarkafleshG4561

γεννηθεὶςgennētheishaving been bornG1080

ἐδίωκενediōkenhe was persecutingG1377

τὸνtonthe [one born]G3588

κατὰkataaccording toG2596

πνεῦμαpneumaSpiritG4151

οὕτωςhoutōssoG3779

καὶkaialsoG2532

νῦν·nun[it is] now;G3568

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

Cross references for Galatians 4:29

Genesis 21:9
And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.
Romans 8:13
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
Galatians 5:11
And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.
1 Thessalonians 2:14-15
For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:
Galatians 4:23
But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
Matthew 23:34-37
Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
John 15:9
As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
Hebrews 10:33-34
Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
John 3:5
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Galatians 6:12-14
As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
Romans 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

he that.
Ge 21:9
after the Spirit.
Joh 3:5; 15:9; Ro 8:1,13
even.
5:11; 6:12-14; Mt 23:34-37; 1Th 2:14,15; Heb 10:33,34

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

Context

Galatians 4:28
Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
Galatians 4:29
But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
Galatians 4:30
Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.

Read all of Galatians 4

Galatians 4:29 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Empero como entonces el que era engendrado según la carne, perseguía al que había nacido según el Espíritu, así también ahora.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Mais, comme alors celui qui était né selon la chair persécutait celui qui était né selon l’Esprit, il en est de même aussi maintenant.
German Elberfelder 1871	Aber so wie damals der nach dem Fleische Geborene den nach dem Geiste Geborenen verfolgte, also auch jetzt.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Sed quomodo tunc is, qui secundum carnem natus fuerat, persequebatur eum qui secundum spiritum: ita et nunc.