Galatians 4:22
For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman.
Truth to Learn
Obedience comes from faith, which results in God’s blessing. Neither faith nor blessing comes from our own actions, even when we think they are the right thing to do.
Behind the Words
The word translated “bondwoman” is paidiskēs. This is the feminine diminutive of the word for “boy” (pais) and, therefore, means “a young girl.” Since slaves and children were considered generally equal in first century Roman society, this is also the word which was used for a female slave, sometimes referred to as a bondwoman or a handmaid.
“Freewoman,” on the other hand, is translated from the Greek word eleutheros. This is probably derived from the alternate form of erchomai, which means “to come or go.” Therefore, eleutheros literally refers to “one who is capable of movement.” Since, in Roman society, one who was a slave was only allowed to go where his or her master designated, someone who could go where they pleased was referred to as eleutheros. The use of this word in the current verse is in the feminine form, therefore, it is translated as freewoman.
Meaning Explained
In order to fully understand the allegory that Paul is using we need to understand a little bit about the book of Genesis. In Genesis 11:29, 30 we learn that Abram took a wife by the name of Sarai. Then, in Genesis 12:1, 2 God told Abram,
Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation;
Abram was obedient to God and left
Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. And she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar. So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the LORD has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai. (Genesis 16:1, 2)
This may sound bizarre to those of us who have been raised in a Western society but it was not uncommon in the days of Abram. He listened to his wife, Sarai, and ended up having a son by Hagar who he named Ishmael. This son grew up and became the father of the Arab people.
But this was not the son whom God had promised to Abram (later named Abraham), so about 15 years later Abraham and Sarai (later renamed Sarah) finally had their own son and named him Isaac. It was through this son of the promise that God fulfilled His promise to make of Abraham a great nation.
Application
Abraham was weak in his faith when he listened to Sarai and had a son by Hagar, doing what he thought was right. Later he believed God’s promise that he would have a son by Sarah and because he believed God he was declared righteous; and Isaac, the son of the promise, was born.
In God’s service, for His glory,
Copyright © 2008 Will Krause. All rights reserved.
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