Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Galatians 4:25

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

The bond-woman was called Hagar, and "Hagar" is the word for Mount Sinai in the language of that country. So that it is necessary that all who are born of the Old Covenant should be bondmen, for that mountain where the Old Covenant was delivered hath a name in common with the bondwoman. And it includes Jerusalem, for this is the meaning of, "And answereth to Jerusalem that now is." That is, it borders on, and is contiguous to it. "For she is in bondage with her children." What follows from hence? …

Homily on Galatians 4 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

And Sinai is located in Arabia, and in the Arabic language it is called "Hagar." It corresponds to Jerusalem, that is, it is in the vicinity of, borders upon, or is likened to the earthly Jerusalem; it is compared with it, is transferred to it, since there is a resemblance between the two. Just as Hagar was a slave and bore children into slavery, so also the law, given from Mount Sinai, which is called Hagar and is likened to Jerusalem, bears into slavery those who hold to it. …

Commentary on Galatians ↗

Oecumenius

Mount Sinai is in Arabia. There the law was given to Moses. It is near Jerusalem. That mountain Sinai itself, in the language of the Arabs, is called Hagar. And, it is said, therefore: Hagar and Sarah were types of the two covenants. The slave-girl was a type of the Old Covenant, for she begets servants of the law. The free woman is a type of the New Covenant, for she bears those freed from the yoke of the law. …

Commentary on Galatians ↗

Western Saints

Jerome

For this is Hagar arising from Mount Sinai, in servitude, which is Agar. For Sinai is a mountain in Arabia, which corresponds to the present Jerusalem, and is in servitude with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written: Rejoice, barren one who does not bear, break forth and shout, you who do not travail, for many are the children of the desolate, more numerous than those of the one who has a husband. …

Commentary on Galatians ↗

Thomas Aquinas

Then he gives the explanation of the mystery when he says: "Sinai is a mountain in Arabia, which hath affinity to that Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children." But here a difficulty arises: for since Sinai is almost twenty days journey from Jerusalem, it seems false that Sinai has affinity to [borders on] Jerusalem, as the Apostle says here. …

Commentary on Galatians ↗