Galatians 4:21

Galatians 4:21

Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?

a. NLT: Tell me, you who want to live under the law, do you know what the law actually says?

b. NIV: Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says?

c. YLT: Tell me, ye who are willing to be under law, the law do ye not hear?

d. Amplified Bible Classic: Tell me, you who are bent on being under the Law, will you listen to what the Law [really] says?

e. Worrell Translation: Tell me, ye who are wishing to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?

1. “Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law…”

a. Tell [3004 * lego] [Strong: a primary verb; properly, to "lay" forth, i.e. (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas G2036 and G5346 generally refer to an individual expression or speech respectively; while G4483 is properly to break silence merely, and G2980 means an extended or random harangue)); by implication, to mean:—ask, bid, boast, call, describe, give out, name, put forth, say(-ing, on), shew, speak, tell, utter.

b. me [3427 * moi] [Strong: the simpler form of G1698; to me:—I, me, mine, my.]

c. ye that desire [2309 * thelo] [Strong: apparently strengthened from the alternate form of G138; to determine (as an active option from subjective impulse; whereas G1014 properly denotes rather a passive acquiescence in objective considerations), i.e. choose or prefer (literally or figuratively); by implication, to wish, i.e. be inclined to (sometimes adverbially, gladly); impersonally for the future tense, to be about to; by Hebraism, to delight in:—desire, be disposed (forward), intend, list, love, mean, please, have rather, (be) will (have, -ling, - ling(-ly)).]

d. to be [1511 * eniai] [Strong: present infinitive from G1510; to exist:—am, was. come, is, × lust after, ×please well, there is, to be, was.]

e. under [5259 * hupo] [Strong: a primary preposition; under, i.e. (with the genitive case) of place (beneath), or with verbs (the agency or means, through); (with the accusative case) of place (whither (underneath) or where (below) or time (when (at)):—among, by, from, in, of, under, with.]

f. the law [3551 * nomos] [Strong: from a primary νέμω némō (to parcel out, especially food or grazing to animals); law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specially, (of Moses (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively (a principle):—law.]

2. “…do ye not hear the law?”

a. do ye…hear [191 * akouo] [Strong:  a primary verb; to hear (in various senses):—give (in the) audience (of), come (to the ears), (shall) hear(-er, -ken), be noised, be reported, understand.]

b. not 3756 * ou] [Strong: a primary word; the absolute negative (compare G3361) adverb; no or not:—+ long, nay, neither, never, no (X man), none, (can-)not, + nothing, + special, un(-worthy), when, + without, + yet but.] 

c. the law [3551 * nomos] [Strong: from a primary νέμω némō (to parcel out, especially food or grazing to animals); law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specially, (of Moses (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively (a principle):—law.]

1). Adam Clarke Commentary: It is evident that the word law is used in two senses in this verse. It first means the Mosaic institutions; secondly, the Pentateuch, where the history is recorded to which the apostle refers.