Galatians 4:9 Meaning and Explanation
“But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Now that they know God, Paul asks how they can turn back to weak and worthless principles, desiring to be enslaved again.
What Does Galatians 4:9 Mean?
Paul presses the contradiction with tender astonishment. Now that they know God — or rather, he corrects himself, are known by God, for the initiative is his — how can they turn back? They are drifting toward the weak and impoverished principles they once escaped.
He calls these principles weak and beggarly, stripped of any power to save or enrich. To return to them is to choose bondage again, after tasting freedom. Paul cannot fathom why anyone would trade the riches of knowing God for the poverty of the old yoke.
Frequently Asked Questions About Galatians 4:9
What does Galatians 4:9 mean?
Now that they know God, Paul asks how they can turn back to weak and worthless principles, desiring to be enslaved again.