Hagar, Sinai, and the Jerusalem above (4:25–27)

Says Galatians 4:25 reads τὸ δὲ Ἁγὰρ Σινᾶ ὄρος ἐστὶν ἐν τῇ Ἀραβίᾳ (to de Hagar Sina oros estin en tē Arabia), with the neuter article before the name. The Greek order is “Sinai mountain”; the BSB has “Mount Sinai”. Editions differ on the particle and the name (see the textual note on 4:25).

Says She συστοιχεῖ δὲ τῇ νῦν Ἰερουσαλήμ (systoichei de tē nyn Ierousalēm, “corresponds to the present Jerusalem”): Abbott-Smith gives συνστοιχέω “to stand in the same rank or line” and, at this verse, “to correspond to”. The reason is δουλεύει γὰρ μετὰ τῶν τέκνων αὐτῆς.

Says Galatians 4:26 sets against her ἡ δὲ ἄνω Ἰερουσαλὴμ ἐλευθέρα ἐστίν (hē de anō Ierousalēm eleuthera estin, “the Jerusalem above is free”); Abbott-Smith lists this verse for ἄνω with the article, “above”. She is μήτηρ ἡμῶν.

Says Galatians 4:27 cites Isaiah 54:1, “Rejoice, O barren woman, who bears no children”: στεῖρα, “barren”; ῥῆξον, “to break forth into speech”; and τῆς ἐρήμου, “solitary, lonely, desolate, deserted”.

Uncertain How Hagar stands for Sinai, and what the Jerusalem above is, the grammar does not settle. No lean is taken here.