Discovery BoxGalatians 4:26-31 
Context4:26 But the Jerusalem above is free, 1 and she is our mother. 4:27 For it is written:
“Rejoice, O barren woman who does not bear children; 2
break forth and shout, you who have no birth pains,
because the children of the desolate woman are more numerous
than those of the woman who has a husband.” 3
4:28 But you, 4 brothers and sisters, 5 are children of the promise like Isaac. 4:29 But just as at that time the one born by natural descent 6 persecuted the one born according to the Spirit, 7 so it is now. 4:30 But what does the scripture say? “Throw out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman will not share the inheritance with the son” 8 of the free woman. 4:31 Therefore, brothers and sisters, 9 we are not children of the slave woman but of the free woman.
1 sn The meaning of the statement the Jerusalem above is free is that the other woman represents the second covenant (cf. v. 24); she corresponds to the Jerusalem above that is free. Paul’s argument is very condensed at this point.
2 tn The direct object “children” is not in the Greek text, but has been supplied for clarity. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context.
3 tn Grk “because more are the children of the barren one than of the one having a husband.”
sn A quotation from Isa 54:1.
4 tc Most
5 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:11.
6 tn Grk “according to the flesh”; see the note on the phrase “by natural descent” in 4:23.
7 tn Or “the one born by the Spirit’s [power].”
8 sn A quotation from Gen 21:10. The phrase of the free woman does not occur in Gen 21:10.
9 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:11.
