Galatians 4:8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.

◄ Galatians 4:8 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.

English Standard Version
Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods.

New American Standard Bible
However at that time, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are no gods.

King James Bible
Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But in the past, when you didn't know God, you were enslaved to things that by nature are not gods.

International Standard Version
However, in the past, when you did not know God, you were slaves to things that are not really gods at all.

American Standard Version
Howbeit at that time, not knowing God, ye were in bondage to them that by nature are no gods:

Douay-Rheims Bible
But then indeed, not knowing God, you served them, who, by nature, are not gods.

Darby Bible Translation
But then indeed, not knowing God, ye were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods;

Young's Literal Translation
But then, indeed, not having known God, ye were in servitude to those not by nature gods,

Cross References

2 Chronicles 13:9
Have you not cast out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and have made you priests after the manner of the nations of other lands? so that whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bullock and seven rams, the same may be a priest of them that are no gods.

Isaiah 37:19
And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them.

Jeremiah 2:11
Has a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit.

Jeremiah 5:7
How shall I pardon you for this? your children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they then committed adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots' houses.

Jeremiah 16:20
Shall a man make gods to himself, and they are no gods?

1 Corinthians 1:21
For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

1 Corinthians 8:4
As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.

1 Corinthians 10:20
But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that you should have fellowship with devils.

Galatians 4:3
Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:

Ephesians 2:12
That at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

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Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

4:8-11 The happy change whereby the Galatians were turned from idols to the living God, and through Christ had received the adoption of sons, was the effect of his free and rich grace; they were laid under the greater obligation to keep to the liberty wherewith he had made them free. All our knowledge of God begins on his part; we know him because we are known of him. Though our religion forbids idolatry, yet many practise spiritual idolatry in their hearts. For what a man loves most, and cares most for, that is his god: some have their riches for their god, some their pleasures, and some their lusts. And many ignorantly worship a god of their own making; a god made all of mercy and no justice. For they persuade themselves that there is mercy for them with God, though they repent not, but go on in their sins. It is possible for those who have made great professions of religion, to be afterwards drawn aside from purity and simplicity. And the more mercy God has shown, in bringing any to know the gospel, and the liberties and privileges of it, the greater their sin and folly in suffering themselves to be deprived of them. Hence all who are members of the outward church should learn to fear and to suspect themselves. We must not be content because we have some good things in ourselves. Paul fears lest his labour is in vain, yet he still labours; and thus to do, whatever follows, is true wisdom and the fear of God. This every man must remember in his place and calling.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

8-11. Appeal to them not to turn back from their privileges as free sons, to legal bondage again.

then—when ye were "servants" (Ga 4:7).

ye knew not God—not opposed to Ro 1:21. The heathen originally knew God, as Ro 1:21 states, but did not choose to retain God in their knowledge, and so corrupted the original truth. They might still have known Him, in a measure, from His works, but as a matter of fact they knew Him not, so far as His eternity, His power as the Creator, and His holiness, are concerned.

are no gods—that is, have no existence, such as their worshippers attribute to them, in the nature of things, but only in the corrupt imaginations of their worshippers (see on [2347]1Co 8:4; [2348]1Co 10:19, 20; 2Ch 13:9). Your "service" was a different bondage from that of the Jews, which was a true service. Yet theirs, like yours, was a burdensome yoke; how then is it ye wish to resume the yoke after that God has transferred both Jews and Gentiles to a free service?