Two women and two covenants (4:21–27)

Says Paul asks those who “want to be under the law” whether they “understand what the law says”. “it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman” (see Gal 4:22 → Gen 16:15). “His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born through the promise” (see Gal 4:23 → Gen 21:1–2). “These things serve as illustrations, for the women represent two covenants”. One covenant is “from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery: This is Hagar”. “Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present-day Jerusalem”. Editions differ on the particle and the name in 4:25 (see τὸ δὲ Ἁγὰρ Σινᾶ / τὸ γὰρ Ἁγὰρ Σινᾶ / τὸ γὰρ Σινᾶ). The Arabia setting is treated in Hagar, Sinai in Arabia, and Jerusalem (4:24–26) and Hagar, Sinai, and the Jerusalem above (4:25–27).

Says “the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother”. “For it is written:” “Rejoice, O barren woman, who bears no children” (see Gal 4:27 → Isa 54:1).

Uncertain Lightfoot, in his paraphrase of 4:21–27, writes, “The other answers to the heavenly Jerusalem, which is free—I mean the Church of Christ, our common mother.” Chrysostom, on 4:26, writes, “Thus the type of the Jerusalem below was Hagar, as is plain from the mountain being so called; but of that which is above is the Church.” Calvin, on 4:26, places it in this world, “for the Church is spread over the whole world,” These are their readings; no verdict is given. The wording of 4:24 is treated in Allegory and the Genesis history (4:24) and Allegoroumena, and two covenants (4:21–24).