Galatians 4:22-23
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Paul doesn't just quote a fact from Abraham's life; he highlights the contrast between a son born out of human effort and one born by divine promise. This isn't just about two sons, but about two distinct ways of relating to God – one based on striving and the other on faith.
For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is directly addressing those in the Galatian churches who are trying to live under the requirements of the Mosaic Law. He uses the well-known story of Abraham's two sons, Ishmael (born to the slave Hagar) and Isaac (born to the free woman Sarah), as a foundational illustration for his argument about freedom versus bondage.
Paul pulls a story straight from Genesis, but he's not just telling ancient history. He's revealing a powerful truth about God's people then and now.
In Galatians 4:22, Paul references Abraham's two sons: Ishmael, born to Hagar the slave, and Isaac, born to Sarah the free woman. This isn't just a footnote in Abraham's life; it's a foundational illustration for Paul's argument.
The Setup:
Paul uses this stark contrast to show that just as these two sons had different mothers and different starting points, so too do the two 'covenants' he's discussing.
The type of 'mother' a child has in this story isn't just about family trees; it determines their entire status and destiny.
Paul quickly links these two sons and their mothers to two spiritual realities. Hagar, the slave, and her son Ishmael, represent the 'old covenant' – a path of legalism and striving. Sarah, the free woman, and her son Isaac, represent the 'new covenant' – a path of grace and God's promise received by faith.
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Understand the original words
paidiskē · Greek Noun
A person owned by another, lacking legal freedom or autonomy. In a theological sense, it represents the state of being under the condemnation and bondage of sin and the curse of the law.
sarx · Greek Noun
In a biblical context, it refers to the fallen human nature—the tendency to act according to selfish, worldly desires apart from the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit. It stands in contrast to the spiritual life produced by God's grace.
epangelia · Greek Noun
A declaration or oath from God regarding future action or blessing. It emphasizes that God's redemptive work is initiated by His sovereign initiative and received through faith, rather than earned by human effort.
Paul's reference to Abraham's two sons, Ishmael and Isaac, grounds his theological argument in a well-known biblical narrative. This story, involving a slave woman and a free woman, served as a powerful and relatable illustration for his audience, highlighting the stark contrast between living under law versus experiencing freedom through God's promise.
c. 2000 BC
Abraham's Covenant and Family Beginnings
Abraham, a pivotal figure in ancient Near Eastern history, receives promises from God concerning numerous descendants and a special lineage. His family life, including his relationships with Sarah, Hagar, and their respective children, Ishmael and Isaac, is central to these unfolding divine promises.
c. 1920 BC
Birth of Ishmael
Ishmael is born to Abraham and Hagar, a slave woman, as a result of Sarah's impatience and a human attempt to fulfill God's promise. This event sets up a significant tension within Abraham's household and the unfolding narrative of God's covenant people.
c. 1910 BC— this verse
Birth of Isaac
Isaac is miraculously born to Abraham and Sarah, fulfilling God's specific promise of a son through Sarah, despite her advanced age. Isaac becomes the heir of God's covenant promises, marking a clear distinction within Abraham's descendants.
c. 1880 BC
Hagar and Ishmael Sent Away
Following Isaac's maturation and Sarah's insistence, Hagar and Ishmael are sent away from Abraham's household. This separation underscores the different destinies and relationships of their descendants in relation to God's covenant promises.
This is the primary Old Testament account detailing the birth of Ishmael, Abraham's son by Hagar, directly establishing the historical basis for Paul's statement.
Genesis 21:2This passage records the birth of Isaac, Abraham's son by Sarah, providing the other crucial half of the narrative referenced by Paul, highlighting the birth of the son of promise.
Romans 9:7-9Paul echoes this same narrative of Abraham's sons to illustrate God's sovereign choice, distinguishing between those born by natural means and those born according to God's promise, much like in Galatians.
Galatians 4:28-31Immediately following this verse, Paul explicitly draws the allegorical connection between Abraham's sons and the two covenants, showing how Isaac represents those born by the Spirit and Ishmael those under bondage to the law.
cambridgeGalatians 4:22: "For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman."
22 . it is written ] This is not a quotation of any particular passage. ‘It is recorded in Scripture’. a bondmaid ] Lit. ‘ the bondmaid’, Hagar; so ‘ the free woman’, Sarah. Hagar was an Egyptian slave in the house of Abraham. God having promised to Abraham that in his seed all nations should be blessed, Sarah, becoming impatient because the fulfilment of the promise was delayed, gav…
vincentGalatians 4:22: "For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman."
For (γάρ)Your determination to be under the law is opposed by Scripture, if you will understand it, for it is written, etc.A bondmaid (τῆς παιδίσκης)The bondmaid, indicating a well known character, Hagar, Genesis 16:3. The word in Class. means also a free maiden; but in N.T. always a slave. So almost always in lxx; but see Ruth 4:12; Judith 12:13.
Paul doesn't just quote a fact from Abraham's life; he highlights the contrast between a son born out of human effort and one born by divine promise. This isn't just about two sons, but about two distinct ways of relating to God – one based on striving and the other on faith.
Paul is directly addressing those in the Galatian churches who are trying to live under the requirements of the Mosaic Law. He uses the well-known story of Abraham's two sons, Ishmael (born to the slave Hagar) and Isaac (born to the free woman Sarah), as a foundational illustration for his argument about freedom versus bondage.
Paul is directly addressing those in the Galatian churches who are trying to live under the requirements of the Mosaic Law. He uses the well-known story of Abraham's two sons, Ishmael (born to the slave Hagar) and Isaac (born to the free woman Sarah), as a foundational illustration for his argument about freedom versus bondage.
"For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise." — Paul doesn't just quote a fact from Abraham's life; he highlights the contrast between a son born out of human effort and one born by divine promise. This isn't just about two sons, but about two d…
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Last reviewed October 2026
