Galatians 4:27

KJV

For it is written, Rejoice, [thou] barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.

KJV (with Strong's)

For {G1063} it is written {G1125}, Rejoice {G2165}, thou barren {G4723} that bearest {G5088} not {G3756}; break forth {G4486} and {G2532} cry {G994}, thou that travailest {G5605} not {G3756}: for {G3754} the desolate {G2048} hath many more {G4183} children {G5043} than {G3123}{G2228} she which hath {G2192} an husband {G435}.

Complete Jewish Bible

for the Tanakh says,

“Rejoice, you barren woman who does not bear children!
Break forth and shout, you who are not in labor!
For the deserted wife will have more children
than the one whose husband is with her!”

Berean Standard Bible

For it is written: “Rejoice, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have never travailed; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.”

American Standard Version

For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; Break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: For more are the children of the desolate than of her that hath the husband.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Galatians 4:27, a profound quotation from Isaiah 54:1, serves as the climactic declaration in Paul's allegorical argument contrasting the Old Covenant of Law with the New Covenant of Grace. Through the vivid imagery of a barren woman who miraculously bears more children than one with a husband, Paul celebrates the spiritual fecundity of the "Jerusalem above"—the community of believers born of promise through faith in Christ—which, though initially appearing insignificant, is destined to produce an abundant spiritual offspring far surpassing the progeny of the Law. This verse underscores the triumph of God's grace and the expansive, joyous nature of the new covenant.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is the culmination of Paul's intricate allegory in [Galatians 4:21-31](/galatians/4-21-31 "Paul's Allegory of Sarah and Hagar"). Having established that believers are children of God through faith ([Galatians 3:26](/galatians/3-26 "Galatians 3:26 - Children of God by Faith")), Paul uses the historical figures of Sarah and Hagar, Abraham's two wives, to illustrate the two covenants. Hagar, the slave woman, represents the covenant made at Mount Sinai, which brings forth children into bondage, symbolizing the earthly Jerusalem and those who seek righteousness through the Law. Sarah, the free woman, represents the "Jerusalem above" and the covenant of promise, which brings forth children into freedom. Paul's quotation of [Isaiah 54:1](/isaiah/54-1 "Isaiah 54:1 - Prophecy of Jerusalem's Restoration") in Galatians 4:27 directly applies the prophetic promise of fruitfulness for the desolate to the spiritual children of the New Covenant, positioning them as the true heirs of Abraham's promise, born not of human effort but of divine grace.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Galatian churches were grappling with Judaizers who insisted that Gentile converts needed to observe the Mosaic Law, including circumcision, to be true Christians. This imposed a significant burden and threatened the core message of salvation by grace through faith. In Jewish culture, barrenness was often seen as a curse or a sign of divine disfavor, while numerous children were a sign of blessing and divine favor (e.g., [Psalm 127:3-5](/psalms/127-3-5 "Psalm 127:3-5 - Children are a Heritage from the Lord")). Paul's use of Isaiah 54:1, which originally promised restoration and abundant population to a desolate Jerusalem after exile, powerfully recontextualizes this imagery. He applies it to the new covenant community—the church—which, though not originating from the established Jewish legal system (symbolized by "she which hath an husband"), would experience miraculous and unprecedented growth, demonstrating God's favor and the superiority of the covenant of promise.
* **Key Themes:** Galatians 4:27 powerfully encapsulates several key themes central to Paul's epistle. Firstly, it highlights **Covenant Transformation**, emphasizing the radical shift from the Old Covenant of Law, which led to bondage, to the New Covenant of Grace, which brings freedom and spiritual fruitfulness. This transformation is not merely a change in rules but a fundamental redefinition of God's people, as seen throughout [Galatians 3](/galatians/3 "Galatians 3 - Law and Promise"). Secondly, the verse proclaims **Spiritual Fecundity**, illustrating God's miraculous ability to bring forth abundant spiritual life from seemingly impossible or "barren" circumstances, symbolizing the vast expansion of the church composed of both Jews and Gentiles. This echoes the miraculous birth of Isaac to Sarah, a foundational example of God's promise overcoming human limitations ([Romans 9:8](/romans/9-8 "Romans 9:8 - Children of Promise")). Thirdly, the command to "rejoice" speaks to the **Joy in God's Promise** and the triumphant nature of God's salvation plan, where the desolate are made bountiful. Finally, the verse underscores **Freedom in Christ**, contrasting the bondage of the Law with the liberty and blessing found in being a child of the promise, a theme Paul passionately defends in [Galatians 5:1](/galatians/5-1 "Galatians 5:1 - Stand Fast in Christian Liberty").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Rejoice (Greek, _euphraínō'_):** Derived from "eu" (well) and "phren" (mind), meaning to be in a good frame of mind, to make glad, or to be merry. In this context, it is a command to express profound joy and gladness. Paul's use of this word emphasizes the celebratory and triumphant nature of the New Covenant's spiritual fruitfulness, contrasting with the burdensome and joyless experience of legalism.
* **Barren (Greek, _steíros'_):** This word literally means "sterile" or "unfruitful." In the ancient world, barrenness was often a source of shame and sorrow. Paul's application of this term to the "Jerusalem above" (the church) highlights its seemingly improbable origin and lack of natural lineage or established system (like the Law) to produce offspring. Yet, it is precisely this "barren" entity that God empowers to be supernaturally fruitful.
* **Desolate (Greek, _érēmos'_):** Meaning lonesome, waste, or solitary. This word reinforces the imagery of the barren woman, suggesting a state of abandonment or isolation. In Isaiah's original context, it referred to Jerusalem during exile. Paul reappropriates it to describe the spiritual state of those outside the Law, who might seem "desolate" or without a clear path to God, yet through Christ, they become the recipients of abundant grace and spiritual children.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For it is written, Rejoice, [thou] barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not:"** Paul introduces his quotation from Isaiah 54:1 with the authoritative phrase "For it is written," signaling a divinely inspired and authoritative declaration. The command to "rejoice" and "break forth and cry" (a cry of joy, not sorrow) is addressed to the "barren" and "travailest not" woman. This imagery, originally referring to Jerusalem's restoration after a period of desolation, is allegorically applied by Paul to the "Jerusalem above," which represents the New Covenant community. This community, initially without the established "husband" (the Law) or natural means of producing spiritual children, is commanded to celebrate its supernatural fruitfulness.
* **"for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband."** This clause provides the reason for the rejoicing: the "desolate" woman (the "Jerusalem above," the church) will miraculously have more children than "she which hath an husband" (Hagar, representing the earthly Jerusalem and the covenant of Law). This is a stark declaration of the New Covenant's superiority and expansive reach. The "children" are spiritual offspring, those who come to faith in Christ, demonstrating that God's promise, not human effort or adherence to the Law, is the true source of abundant spiritual life and growth.

#### Literary Devices
Paul's use of [Galatians 4:27](/galatians/4-27 "Galatians 4:27 - Rejoice, Barren Woman") is a masterful display of several literary devices. The most prominent is **Allegory**, where the historical narrative of Sarah and Hagar is used to convey a deeper spiritual truth about the two covenants. Hagar and Sarah are not merely historical figures but represent abstract concepts: the Law and Grace, respectively. The verse itself is a direct **Allusion** (and quotation) to [Isaiah 54:1](/isaiah/54-1 "Isaiah 54:1 - Prophecy of Restoration"), demonstrating Paul's profound understanding and reapplication of Old Testament prophecy to the New Covenant reality. This reapplication is a form of **Typology**, where the barrenness and subsequent fruitfulness of Jerusalem in Isaiah serve as a type for the spiritual barrenness (in terms of legalistic progeny) and miraculous fruitfulness (through grace) of the church. Furthermore, the imagery employs **Personification**, addressing the "barren" and "desolate" as if they were individuals capable of rejoicing and bearing children, making the abstract concept of the covenant community vivid and relatable. The inherent **Paradox** of the barren having more children than the fertile woman highlights the supernatural nature of God's work in the New Covenant, where human limitations are overcome by divine power.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Galatians 4:27 stands as a powerful theological statement on the nature of God's redemptive plan and the identity of His people. It emphatically declares that true spiritual fruitfulness is not a result of human effort, lineage, or adherence to a legalistic system, but flows solely from God's sovereign promise and grace. The "barren" woman, representing the New Covenant community (the church), embodies the truth that God often chooses the weak, the overlooked, and the seemingly unproductive to display His greatest power and bring forth abundant life. This verse celebrates the triumph of grace over law, highlighting that the spiritual family of God, born through faith in Christ, will far exceed any community formed by natural descent or legalistic observance. It speaks to the expansive, inclusive, and miraculous nature of God's kingdom, built upon the foundation of promise and fulfilled in Christ.

* [Romans 9:6-8](/romans/9-6-8 "Romans 9:6-8 - Not all from Israel are Israel")
* [Hebrews 12:22-24](/hebrews/12-22-24 "Hebrews 12:22-24 - The Heavenly Jerusalem")
* [1 Peter 2:9-10](/1_peter/2-9-10 "1 Peter 2:9-10 - A Chosen Race, a Holy Nation")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Galatians 4:27 offers profound encouragement and a vital reorientation for believers. It reminds us that our spiritual fruitfulness, whether individually or as a church, does not depend on our inherent capabilities, our past "barrenness," or our adherence to external rules, but entirely on God's miraculous power and His covenant of grace. This verse calls us to move beyond self-reliance and legalistic striving, embracing the joyous freedom found in being children of promise. When we feel unproductive, overlooked, or "desolate" in our spiritual walk or ministry, this passage assures us that God can bring forth abundant life from the most unlikely circumstances. It challenges us to rejoice in God's surprising ways, to trust in His ability to multiply His kingdom through seemingly humble means, and to live with the confident expectation that the Gospel, empowered by grace, will continue to yield an overflowing harvest of spiritual children.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life or ministry do you feel "barren" or "desolate," and how might Galatians 4:27 encourage you to trust in God's supernatural fruitfulness?**
* **How does understanding the allegory of Sarah and Hagar deepen your appreciation for the freedom and abundance of the New Covenant in Christ?**
* **What does it mean practically to "rejoice" in God's promise, even when circumstances seem to contradict it?**
* **How can the church today better embody the "barren woman" who supernaturally produces many children, focusing on grace and evangelism rather than human effort or tradition?**

### FAQ

**Why does Paul quote Isaiah 54:1 in Galatians 4:27?**

Answer: Paul quotes [Isaiah 54:1](/isaiah/54-1 "Isaiah 54:1 - Prophecy of Jerusalem's Restoration") to provide prophetic weight and Old Testament validation for his allegorical argument concerning the two covenants. In its original context, Isaiah 54:1 promises restoration and abundant fruitfulness to Jerusalem, which had been desolate and barren during the Babylonian exile. Paul masterfully reinterprets this prophecy, applying it allegorically to the "Jerusalem above"—the New Covenant community, the church. He uses it to demonstrate that God's true people, the children of promise born through faith in Christ, will experience a miraculous and expansive growth that far surpasses the progeny of the Old Covenant of Law, which was represented by the "she which hath an husband." This quotation serves as a powerful theological climax, affirming the triumph of grace.

**Who is the "barren" woman in Galatians 4:27?**

Answer: In Paul's allegory, the "barren" woman refers to Sarah, Abraham's wife, who was naturally unable to bear children but miraculously conceived Isaac through God's promise ([Genesis 21:1-3](/genesis/21-1-3 "Genesis 21:1-3 - Birth of Isaac")). Spiritually, Paul applies this to the "Jerusalem above" ([Galatians 4:26](/galatians/4-26 "Galatians 4:26 - The Jerusalem Above")), which represents the New Covenant community—the church. This community, initially small and without the established lineage or legalistic framework of Judaism, is paradoxically destined to produce an immense number of spiritual children through faith in Christ, highlighting that its fruitfulness is entirely supernatural and by grace, not by natural means or human effort.

**Who is "she which hath an husband" in this verse?**

Answer: "She which hath an husband" refers to Hagar, Abraham's bondwoman, who bore Ishmael. In Paul's allegory, Hagar represents the earthly Jerusalem and the covenant of Law given at Mount Sinai ([Galatians 4:24-25](/galatians/4-24-25 "Galatians 4:24-25 - Hagar Represents Mount Sinai")). This covenant, though seemingly "fruitful" in producing a multitude of physical descendants and adherents, ultimately leads to spiritual bondage. Paul contrasts this with the "barren" woman (Sarah/the church), emphasizing that the spiritual children born of promise through grace will far outnumber those born under the Law, signifying the expansive and liberating nature of the New Covenant.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Galatians 4:27 finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who is the very embodiment of God's promise and the source of all spiritual fruitfulness. The "barren" woman, representing the New Covenant community, becomes fruitful precisely because of Christ. He is the "seed" of Abraham through whom all nations are blessed ([Galatians 3:16](/galatians/3-16 "Galatians 3:16 - The Seed is Christ")), and it is through His sacrificial death and resurrection that the way is opened for countless spiritual children—both Jew and Gentile—to be born into God's family by faith. The joy commanded in [Galatians 4:27](/galatians/4-27 "Galatians 4:27 - Rejoice, Barren Woman") is the joy of salvation found in Christ, who has redeemed us from the curse of the Law ([Galatians 3:13](/galatians/3-13 "Galatians 3:13 - Christ Redeemed Us from the Curse of the Law")) and made us heirs according to promise ([Galatians 3:29](/galatians/3-29 "Galatians 3:29 - Heirs According to Promise")). The vast multitude of children prophesied for the "desolate" is the church, Christ's body, gathered from every tribe and tongue, purchased by His blood, and unified in Him ([Ephesians 2:14-16](/ephesians/2-14-16 "Ephesians 2:14-16 - Christ Our Peace")). Thus, the miraculous fecundity described in this verse is a direct result of Christ's finished work, establishing a new covenant where spiritual life and abundance flow freely by grace, not by human merit or legalistic adherence.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Isaiah 54:1

¶ Sing, O barren, thou [that] didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou [that] didst not travail with child: for more [are] the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD.

Isaiah 54:5

For thy Maker [is] thine husband; the LORD of hosts [is] his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.

Psalms 113:9

He maketh the barren woman to keep house, [and to be] a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD.

Ruth 4:14

And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed [be] the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel.

Ruth 4:16

And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it.

1 Samuel 2:5

[They that were] full have hired out themselves for bread; and [they that were] hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.

Ruth 1:11

And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? [are] there yet [any more] sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?