to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's easy to miss here is that "adoption as sons" isn't about becoming sons for the first time, but rather about receiving the full privileges and standing of adult children from God, transforming us from a state of servitude to one of honored freedom. This wasn't a restoration of something lost, but an entirely new and exalted relationship conferred upon us.
to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is explaining the purpose behind Jesus' coming to earth, emphasizing that he was born under the Jewish law to free people from its constraints. This act of redemption was so believers, both Jewish and Gentile, could be welcomed into God's family as adopted sons, moving from a state of servitude to privileged sonship.
We often think of redemption as simply being freed from something bad. But in Galatians 4:5, the word 'redeem' points to something much deeper.
The Greek word for 'redeem' here, when linked to being 'under the law,' signifies a profound rescue. It means Christ didn't just help us escape the penalty of the law; He actually bought us out of its dominion and curse.
Think of it like this:
What does it truly mean to become a 'son' or 'child' of God? Galatians 4:5 uses a powerful term that goes beyond mere emotional connection.
The verse speaks of receiving 'adoption as sons.' This isn't about regaining a status we lost or simply feeling loved. It's about a formal, legal act by God where we are brought into His family with all the rights and privileges of His children.
Consider these points:
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Understand the original words
exagorazō · Greek Verb
To buy back or liberate someone from slavery or a debt through the payment of a ransom or price; in theology, it refers to Christ’s payment for our sin.
huiothesia · Greek Noun
The act of God by which He places believers into His family as legal children, granting them the status, rights, and intimacy of children of God.
The verse highlights a dramatic shift: from a state of being 'under the law' – bound by its demands and penalties – to the incredible freedom and status of being 'adopted as sons' through Christ's redemptive work. This wasn't just a minor adjustment; it was a complete change in relationship with God, moving from a position of servitude or childhood to full sonship and inheritance.
c. 1400 BC
Giving of the Mosaic Law
God establishes His covenant with Israel at Mount Sinai, giving them the Law, which includes commands, rituals, and a system of judgment for disobedience.
c. 700 BC - 500 BC
Prophetic Warnings and Exile
Prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel warn Israel of impending judgment due to disobedience to the Law, leading to the Babylonian Exile.
c. 6th Century BC
Babylonian Exile
Many Israelites are deported to Babylon, experiencing a loss of homeland and a period of subservience and national crisis.
c. 1st Century BC - 1st Century AD
Roman Rule and Messianic Expectation
Judea is under Roman occupation, fueling a strong desire for a Messiah who would 'redeem' Israel and restore its glory.
c. AD 27-30— this verse
Jesus' Ministry and Crucifixion
Jesus lives, teaches, and ultimately dies on the cross, fulfilling the redemptive purpose described in Galatians 4:5 to redeem humanity from the Law's penalty and curse.
c. AD 30-50
Early Church Growth and Inclusion of Gentiles
Following Jesus' resurrection, the apostles preach the gospel, and the early church grapples with the inclusion of non-Jewish believers, solidifying the concept of adoption into God's family for all.
This passage echoes the concept of adoption, highlighting that through the Spirit, believers receive the 'Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”' This directly connects to the idea of receiving sonship mentioned in Galatians 4:5.
John 1:12This verse speaks to the transformative power of believing in Jesus' name, stating that believers are given 'the right to become children of God.' This illuminates the gracious bestowal of sonship that redemption makes possible.
Galatians 3:13This verse mentions Christ 'redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us,' which is the foundational act enabling the redemption spoken of in Galatians 4:5. It explains *how* the redemption from the law's bondage was achieved.
Ephesians 1:5Paul speaks of God 'predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ according to the purpose of his will,' underscoring that adoption is a divine plan and gift, aligning with the purpose of Christ's redemptive work.
cambridgeGalatians 4:5: "To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons."
5 . Born under the law, our Blessed Lord not only in His most holy life fulfilled all the commandments of the law, but in His death He satisfied its conditions by bearing its penalty, and redeeming us from its curse; born of a woman, He became the Head and representative of the human race, that in Him we might become sons of God. Possibly the wider rendering ‘under law’ may be correct, in which…
vincentGalatians 4:5: "To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons."
To redeem (ἵνα ἐξαγοράσῃ)See on Galatians 3:13. To redeem from the dominion and curse of the law. The means of redemption is not mentioned. It cannot be merely the birth of Christ of a woman and under the law. These are mentioned only as the preliminary and necessary conditions of his redeeming work. The means or method appears in Galatians 3:13.We might receive (ἀπολάβωμεν)Not receive ag…
What's easy to miss here is that "adoption as sons" isn't about becoming sons for the first time, but rather about receiving the full privileges and standing of adult children from God, transforming us from a state of servitude to one of honored freedom. This wasn't a restoration of something lost, but an entirely new and exalted relationship conferred upon us.
Paul is explaining the purpose behind Jesus' coming to earth, emphasizing that he was born under the Jewish law to free people from its constraints. This act of redemption was so believers, both Jewish and Gentile, could be welcomed into God's family as adopted sons, moving from a state of servitude to privileged sonship.
Paul is explaining the purpose behind Jesus' coming to earth, emphasizing that he was born under the Jewish law to free people from its constraints. This act of redemption was so believers, both Jewish and Gentile, could be welcomed into God's family as adopted sons, moving from a state of servitude to privileged sonship.
"to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons." — What's easy to miss here is that "adoption as sons" isn't about becoming sons for the first time, but rather about receiving the full privileges and standing of adult children from God, transforming…
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Last reviewed October 2026