Galatians 4:1

KJV1611 – Modern English

Now I say, that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a servant, though he is lord of all;

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

¶Λέγω δέ, ἐφʼ ὅσον χρόνον ὁ κληρονόμος, νήπιός ἐστιν, οὐδὲν διαφέρει δούλου, κύριος πάντων ὤν·

Transliteration

I legō de, for as much chronos the klēronomos, nēpios estin, nothing diapherei from doulos, kyrios of all ōn

Grammar Details

• *legō*: present indicative active, 1st person singular - I say/speak
• *de*: postpositive particle - but/and/now
• *chronos*: accusative, masculine, singular - time/period
• *klēronomos*: nominative, masculine, singular - heir
• *nēpios*: nominative, masculine, singular - infant/minor/immature person
• *estin*: present indicative, 3rd person singular - is
• *diapherei*: present indicative active, 3rd person singular - differs/distinguishes
• *doulos*: genitive, masculine, singular - slave/servant
• *kyrios*: nominative, masculine, singular - lord/master/owner
• *ōn*: present participle, nominative, masculine, singular - being

Word Meanings

• *legō*: say/speak/tell
• *de*: but/and/now (transitional)
• *chronos*: time/duration/period
• *klēronomos*: heir/inheritor
• *nēpios*: infant/child/minor/immature person
• *diapherei*: differs/distinguishes/excels
• *doulos*: slave/servant/bondservant
• *kyrios*: lord/master/owner
• *ōn*: being/existing/while being

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  I say that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, even though he is the master of everything.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  But{G1161} I say{G3004} that so long{G5550} as{G3745} the heir{G1909} is{G2076} a{G5550} child,{G3516} he differeth{G1308} nothing{G3762} from{G1308} a bondservant{G1401} though{G1401} he is lord{G2962} of all;{G3956}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Now{G1161} I say{G3004}{(G5719)}, That the heir{G2818}, as long as{G1909}{G3745}{G5550} he is{G2076}{(G5748)} a child{G3516}, differeth{G1308}{(G5719)} nothing{G3762} from a servant{G1401}, though he be{G5607}{(G5752)} lord{G2962} of all{G3956};

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  And I saye that the heyre as longe as he is a chylde differth not from a servaunt though he be Lorde of

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  But I saye: As longe as the heyre is a childe, there is no difference betwene him and a seruaunt, though he be lorde of all ye goodes:

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Then I say, that the heire as long as hee is a childe, differeth nothing fro a seruant, though he be Lord of all,

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And I say, that the heyre, as long as he is a chylde, differeth nothyng from a seruaut, though he be Lorde of all,

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ¶ Now I say, [That] the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a bondservant, though he is lord of all;

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And I say, so long time as the heir is a babe, he differeth nothing from a servant -- being lord of all,

• American Standard Version (1901)

  But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a bondservant though he is lord of all;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a bondservant though he is lord of all;

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  But I say that as long as the son is a child, he is in no way different from a servant, though he is lord of all;

• World English Bible (2000)

  But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a bondservant, though he is lord of all;

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Now I mean that the heir, as long as he is a minor, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything.

Referenced Verses

• Gal 4:23 : 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, but he of the freewoman was through promise.
• Gal 4:29 : 29 But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now.
• Gen 24:2-3 : 2 And Abraham said to his oldest servant of his house, who ruled over all that he had, "Please, put your hand under my thigh, 3 and I will make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell.
• 2 Kgs 10:1-2 : 1 And Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote letters, and sent them to Samaria, to the rulers of Jezreel, to the elders, and to those who raised Ahab's children, saying, 2 As soon as this letter comes to you, seeing your master's sons are with you, and there are with you chariots and horses, a fortified city also, and armor;
• 2 Kgs 11:12 : 12 He brought out the king's son, put the crown on him, and gave him the testimony; they made him king and anointed him; and they clapped their hands and said, 'Long live the king!'.
• 2 Kgs 12:2 : 2 Jehoash did what was right in the sight of the LORD all his days while Jehoiada the priest instructed him.