Galatians 4:25

"These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar."

Key Reflection

This verse uses the stories of Sarah and Hagar as an allegory, representing the contrast between the old covenant under the law (Mount Sinai) and the new covenant in Christ. The old covenant brings bondage, symbolized by Hagar, while the new covenant offers freedom and grace.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Verse 25. For this Agar is mount Sinai. This Hagar well represents the law given on Mount Sinai. No one can believe that Paul meant to say that Hagar was literally Mount Sinai. A great deal of perplexity has been felt in regard to this passage; and Bentley proposed to cancel it altogether as an interpolation. But there is no good authority for this. Several MSS. and versions read it, "For this Sinai is a mountain in Arabia;" others, "to this Hagar Jerusalem answereth," etc.

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