Galatians 4:29
in Galatians 4At that time, however, the son born by the flesh persecuted the son born by the Spirit. It is the same now.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, so also it is now.
KJV
But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
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This verse in Galatians 4
Commentary
12 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
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.
This site's exposition
the son born by the flesh persecuted the son born by the Spirit
on Galatians 4:29-31
Genesis 21:9 and 10 supplies the last piece: the son born by the flesh persecuted the son born by the Spirit. Sarah's demand, Expel the slave woman and her son, becomes the word of Scripture on the inheritance.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
— [THEODORET] Let this not trouble us either, that those entrusted are driven out by the unbelievers. For we find something of this kind also in the type, but it in no way prevailed against Isaac. [end of the excerpt by Theodoret] — "Yet as …
Ishmael, the elder brother, persecuted him while still a nursing infant, claiming for himself the prior right of circumcision and the inheritance of the firstborn.… And it is aptly said that he who is born according to nature persecutes the spiritual. The spiritual one never persecutes the natural one but forgives him like an untutored brother, for he knows that he may progress.
What! does all this consolation consist in showing that freemen are persecuted by bond-men? By no means, he says, I do not stop here, listen to what follows, and then, if you be not pusillanimous under persecution, you will be sufficiently comforted. And what is it that follows? "Cast out the son of the handmaid, for he shall not inherit with the son of the freewoman." Behold the reward of tyranny for a season, and of recklessness out of season! the son is cast out of his father's house, and becomes, together with his mother, an exile and a wanderer. And consider too the wisdom of the remark; for he says not that he was cast forth merely because he persecuted, but that he should not be heir. For this punishment was not exacted from him on account of his temporary persecution, (for that would have been of little moment, and nothing to the point,) but he was not suffered to participate in the inheritance provided for the son. And this proves that, putting the persecution aside, this very thing had been typified from the beginning, and did not originate in the persecution, but in the purpose of God. Nor does he say, "the son of Abraham shall not be heir," but, "the son of the handmaid," distinguishing him by his inferior descent. Now Sarah was barren, and so is the Gentile Church; observe how the type is preserved in every particular, as the former, through all the by-gone years, conceived not, and in extreme old age became a mother, so the latter, when the fulness of time is come, brings forth. And this the prophets have proclaimed, saying, "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 which hath the husband." And hereby they intend the Church; for she knew not God, but as soon as she knew Him, she surpassed the fruitful synagogue.
(Vers. 29-31.) 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. But 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. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free. In this liberty Christ hath made us free.
The Medieval Church1 voice
Secondly, they are distinguished according to affection, because "he that was born according to the flesh persecuted him that was after the spirit." But this raises a difficulty. First, because it is not recorded that Ishmael persecuted Isaac, but only that they played together: "When …
5 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
Then, lest someone say: what kind of freedom is this, when the Jews scourge the believers, and those who think themselves free are subjected to persecution? — he says that it was the same way back then too. Ishmael persecuted Isaac, but nevertheless this in …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
But as then, he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, so it is now also - And so it will be in all ages and nations to the end of the world.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — scripture-overlap:82%@v25-30
But as then,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
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.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
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.
The words behind it
14 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἀλλ᾽ | all᾽ | But | G235 → | 635 times |
| ὥσπερ | hosper | just as | G5618 → | |
| τότε | tote | at that time | G5119 → | 160 times |
| ὁ | ho | the [one] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κατὰ | kata | according to | G2596 → | 468 times |
| σάρκα | sarka | flesh | G4561 → | 146 times |
| γεννηθεὶς | gennetheis | having been born | G1080 → | 97 times |
| ἐδίωκεν | edioken | he was persecuting | G1377 → | 45 times |
| τὸν | ton | the [one born] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κατὰ | kata | according to | G2596 → | 468 times |
| πνεῦμα | pneuma | Spirit | G4151 → | 378 times |
| οὕτως | houtos | so | G3779 → | 208 times |
| καὶ | kai | also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| νῦν· | nun | [it is] now; | G3568 → | 145 times |
ἀλλ᾽But
all᾽G235 →635 times
ὥσπερjust as
hosperG5618 →
τότεat that time
toteG5119 →160 times
ὁthe [one]
hoG3588 →19766 times
κατὰaccording to
kataG2596 →468 times
σάρκαflesh
sarkaG4561 →146 times
γεννηθεὶςhaving been born
gennetheisG1080 →97 times
ἐδίωκενhe was persecuting
ediokenG1377 →45 times
τὸνthe [one born]
tonG3588 →19766 times
κατὰaccording to
kataG2596 →468 times
πνεῦμαSpirit
pneumaG4151 →378 times
οὕτωςso
houtosG3779 →208 times
καὶalso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
νῦν·[it is] now;
nunG3568 →145 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Romans 8:13For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
it leads to
- Galatians 6:8
The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
- 1 Peter 2:11
Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul.
- Colossians 3:5–8
Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.
- 1 Corinthians 9:27
No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
- Titus 2:12
It instructs us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives in the present age,
- Galatians 6:8
Through
Galatians 5:11Now, brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 1:23
but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,
- 1 Corinthians 1:23
Through
Galatians 4:23His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born through the promise.
it leads to
- Hebrews 11:11
By faith Sarah, even though she was barren and beyond the proper age, was enabled to conceive a child, because she considered Him faithful who had promised.
- Hebrews 11:11
Through
Genesis 21:9But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking her son,
it leads to
- Genesis 16:15
And Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram gave the name Ishmael to the son she had borne.
- Genesis 16:15
Where this verse is studied
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About Galatians
This page draws on 13 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); J. B. Lightfoot, Saint Paul's Epistle to the Galatians; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS 2.4.29-31; Jerome, Commentary on Galatians; John Calvin, Commentary on Galatians; John Chrysostom, Homily on Galatians 4; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Oecumenius, Commentary on Galatians; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Galatians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Galatians.