King James Version

Galatians 4:3

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

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Greek

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The KJV’s Greek text (Textus Receptus) does not include “we ourselves were” (ἤμεθα) before held in here. The KJV’s Greek text (Textus Receptus) adds “we were” (ἦμεν) before held in here.

οὕτωςhoutōssoοὕτω(ς)adverb — “so”G3779thus, so, in this manner.soκαὶkaiandκαίadverb — “and”G2532and, even, also, namely.This verse uses “and”.ἡμεῖςhēmeisIἐγώ (egṓ)personal pronoun, nominative, plural — “I”, the subject formG1473I, the first-person pronoun.Strong’s files this form under G3165 (μέ).weὅτεhotewhenὅτεconjunction — “when”G3753when, at which time.whenἦμενēmenwe wereεἰμί (eimi)verb, imperfect active indicative, 1st person plural — “we were”, an ongoing action in the pastG1510I am, exist.we wereνήπιοιnēpioichildrenνήπιος (nēpios)adjective, nominative, plural, masculine — “children”, the subject formG3516unlearned, unenlightened; noun: an infant, child.childrenὑπὸhupounderὑπόpreposition — “under”G5259by, under, about.This verse uses “under”.underτὰtatheὁ (ho)article, accusative, plural, neuter — “the”, the object formG3588the, the definite article.στοιχεῖαstoicheiaelementsστοιχεῖον (stoicheion)noun, accusative, plural, neuter — “elements”, the object formG4747(a) plur: the heavenly bodies, (b) a rudiment, an element, a rudimentary principle, an elementary rule.the elementsτοῦtoutheὁ (ho)article, genitive, singular, masculine — “the”, the of-formG3588the, the definite article.κόσμουkosmouof the worldκόσμος (kosmos)noun, genitive, singular, masculine — “of the world”, the of-formG2889the world, universe; worldly affairs; the inhabitants of the world; adornment.This verse uses “the world”.of the worldἤμεθαēmethato beεἰμί (eimi)verb, imperfect middle indicative, 1st person plural — “to be”, an ongoing action in the pastG1510I am, exist.δεδουλωμένοιdedoulōmenoiam a slaveδουλεύω (douleúō)verb, perfect passive participle, nominative, plural, masculine — “am a slave”, a completed action with a present resultG1398I am a slave, am subject to, obey, am devoted.This verse uses “am a slave”.Strong’s files this form under G1402 (δουλόω, enslave).

Textus Receptus Words Not in the SBL Text

ἦμενēmenwe wereεἰμί (eimi)verb, imperfect middle indicative, 1st person plural — “we were”, an ongoing action in the pastG1510I am, exist.

Literal (Young’s Literal Translation)

so also we, when we were babes, under the elements of the world were in servitude,

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the rudiments of the world:

Young’s Literal Translation

so also we, when we were babes, under the elements of the world were in servitude,

World English Bible

So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world.

Darby Translation

So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the principles of the world;

Douay-Rheims

So we also, when we were children, were serving under the elements of the world.

American Standard Version (1901)

Young’s Literal Translation

World English Bible

Darby Translation

Douay-Rheims

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