Galatians 4:24
 
Galatians 4:24
(KJV) Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
(1611 KJV) Which things are an Allegorie; for these are the two Couenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
(1587 Geneva Bible) By the which things another thing is ment: for these mothers are the two testaments, the one which is Agar of mount Sina, which gendreth vnto bondage.
 
Counterfeit Versions
(1881 RV) Which things contain an allegory: for these women are two covenants; one from mount Sinai, bearing children unto bondage, which is Hagar.
(1901 ASV) Which things contain an allegory: for these women are two covenants; one from mount Sinai, bearing children unto bondage, which is Hagar.
(CSB) These things are being taken figuratively, for the women represent two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery ​— ​this is Hagar.
(NIV) These things are being taken figuratively: The women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar.
(NASV) This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar.
(THE MESSAGE) The two births represent two ways of being in relationship with God. One is from Mount Sinai in Arabia. It corresponds with what is now going on in Jerusalem—a slave life, producing slaves as offspring. This is the way of Hagar.
(NLT) These two women serve as an illustration of God’s two covenants. The first woman, Hagar, represents Mount Sinai where people received the law that enslaved them.
(AMP) Now all this is an allegory; these [two women] represent two covenants. One covenant originated from Mount Sinai [where the Law was given] and bears [children destined] for slavery; this is Hagar.
(ESV) Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar.
(CEV) All of this has another meaning as well. Each of the two women stands for one of the agreements God made with his people. Hagar, the slave woman, stands for the agreement that was made at Mount Sinai. Everyone born into her family is a slave.
(RSV) Now this is an allegory: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar.
(NAB-Roman Catholic) Now this is an allegory. These women represent two covenants. One was from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; this is Hagar.
(NWT-Jehovah’s Witnesses) These things stand as a symbolic drama; for these [women] mean two covenants, the one from Mount Si´nai, which brings forth children for slavery, and which is Ha´gar.
 
Textus Receptus - Traditional Text
ατινα εστιν αλληγορουμενα αυται γαρ εισιν αι δυο διαθηκαι μια μεν απο ορους σινα εις δουλειαν γεννωσα ητις εστιν αγαρ
 
Hort-Westcott - Critical Text
ατινα εστιν αλληγορουμενα αυται γαρ εισιν δυο διαθηκαι μια μεν απο ορους σινα εις δουλειαν γεννωσα ητις εστιν αγαρ
 
Corrupted Manuscripts
This verse is corrupted in the following manuscripts:
Byzantine - 450-1450 A.D.
Aleph 01 - Sinaiticus - Nineteenth Century Counterfeit
A 02 - Alexandrinus - Fifth century
B 03 - Vaticanus - Fourth century
C 04 - Ephraemi Rescriptus - Fifth century
D 06 - Paris: Claromontanus - Sixth century
K 018 - Ninth century
L 020 - Ninth century
P 025 - Ninth century
 
Manuscripts which agree with the Textus Receptus for this verse
Aleph 01 - Sinaiticus - Nineteenth Century Counterfeit (corrected)
 
Published Critical Greek Texts with Corruptions
Omits “the” before “two covenants”
Alford, Henry - 1849 revised in 1871
Greisbach, Johann - 1805
Lachmann, Karl - 1842
Tregelles, Samuel - 1857
Wordsworth, Christopher - 1856 revised in 1870
Westcott and Hort - 1881
Hodges and Farstad - Majority Text
Nestle - 1927 as revised in seventeenth edition in 1941
Nestle-Aland - 1979 - Twenty Sixth Edition
Nestle-Aland - 1993 - Twenty Seventh Edition
Tischendorf, Constantine - 1869
United Bible Societies - 1983 - Fourth Edition
 
Affected Teaching
Here is a case of one small word changing the entire understanding of this verse and the section in view. God made only two covenants, the one from Sinai which was the first and the covenant of Grace which was the second and final one. The word “the” is a definite article which means that this verse is pointing to the fact that God had made only two covenants. This is important because about 2 years ago, I heard a man on the radio claiming that God was dissatisfied with the second covenant and therefore made a third covenant. This is impossible since the final covenant of grace was to cover all the saved and third covenant was unnecessary. This would also be blasphemous because the second covenant was instituted by Christ via His sacrifice upon Calvary. God was pleased with that sacrifice, raised Him from the dead and now every believer is covered by the grace of God. This verse in the modern versions, leaves room for a third covenant because there is no definite article emphasizing the fact that God made only two covenants. The modern versions leave the door open for all kind of spurious additions and interpretations and we wonder why the church is in such disarray.
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