independentparticipialrelativepurposecausecomparativecontentconditionalphrase modifierdashed = verbless / suspended
Flush-left = a main (independent) clause. Each dependent line begins directly beneath the word it attaches to in the line above — the anchor word is dotted-underlined, and lights up when you hover its dependent clause; each tag also names the attachment. A dashed border marks verbless, elliptical, or suspended lines. Where a long sentence's staircase runs wider than the page, the diagram scrolls sideways. (In print, or without JavaScript, lines fall back to stepped indent columns.)
The heir in his minority — sons and heirs through the Son 4:1–7
vv. 1–3 — the analogy: the minor heir no better than a slave; so we, under the στοιχεῖα
1
Λέγω δέ,independent — the discourse marker — resuming the heir of 3:29
ἐφ' ὅσον χρόνον ὁ κληρονόμος νήπιός ἐστιν,comparative — comparative extent — leans on the main clause below
οὐδὲν διαφέρει δούλουcontent — what Paul means — heir and slave indistinguishable
κύριος πάντων ὤν,participial — concessive — lord of everything, master of nothing
2
ἀλλὰ ὑπὸ ἐπιτρόπους ἐστὶν καὶ οἰκονόμουςcontent — the positive side — under ἐπίτροποι and οἰκονόμοι
ἄχρι τῆς προθεσμίας τοῦ πατρός.phrase modifier — the term — the father's προθεσμία
3
οὕτως καὶ ἡμεῖς,independent — the application — the subject suspended
ὅτε ἦμεν νήπιοι,relative — ὅτε-temporal — our minority
ὑπὸ τὰ στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου ἤμεθα δεδουλωμένοι·independent — periphrastic — bondage under the στοιχεῖα
vv. 4–7 — the fullness of time: the Son sent, the Spirit sent, the slave made heir
4
ὅτε δὲ ἦλθεν τὸ πλήρωμα τοῦ χρόνου,relative — ὅτε-temporal — the προθεσμία arrives; leans on the sending below
ἐξαπέστειλεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ,independent — the first sending — ἐξαπέστειλεν
γενόμενον ἐκ γυναικός,participial — the Son's condition — true humanity
γενόμενον ὑπὸ νόμον,participial — the Son's condition — placed where the enslaved are
5
ἵνα τοὺς ὑπὸ νόμον ἐξαγοράσῃ,purpose — twin purpose 1 — redemption out of the law's custody
ἵνα τὴν υἱοθεσίαν ἀπολάβωμεν.purpose — twin purpose 2 — υἱοθεσία; note the shift to 'we'
6
ὅτι δέ ἐστε υἱοί,cause — causal ὅτι (not 'that') — leans on the second sending below
ἐξαπέστειλεν ὁ θεὸς τὸ πνεῦμα τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ εἰς τὰς καρδίας ἡμῶν,independent — the second sending — the same verb, now the Spirit
κρᾶζον·participial — the Spirit's own voice in us
Ἀββᾶ ὁ πατήρ.content — the cry — Aramaic and Greek, the son's address (cf. Rom 8:15)
7
ὥστε οὐκέτι εἶ δοῦλος ἀλλὰ υἱός·independent — ὥστε — the conclusion, pressed home in the singular
εἰ δὲ υἱός,conditional — protasis — leans on the apodosis below
καὶ κληρονόμος διὰ θεοῦ.independent — elliptical apodosis — heir by God's own act
The appeal — from slavery re-embraced to birth-pangs 4:8–20
vv. 8–11 — then and now: turning back to the elements
8
Ἀλλὰ τότε μὲν οὐκ εἰδότες θεὸνparticipial — τότε μέν — the pagan past; leans on the main clause below
ἐδουλεύσατε τοῖς φύσει μὴ οὖσιν θεοῖς·independent — the old slavery — to no-gods
9
νῦν δὲ γνόντες θεόν,participial — νῦν δέ — leans on the question below
μᾶλλον δὲ γνωσθέντες ὑπὸ θεοῦ,participial — the self-correction — God's knowing is prior
πῶς ἐπιστρέφετε πάλιν ἐπὶ τὰ ἀσθενῆ καὶ πτωχὰ στοιχεῖα,independent — the incredulous question — the same στοιχεῖα as v. 3
οἷς πάλιν ἄνωθεν δουλεύειν θέλετε;relative — on τὰ στοιχεῖα — πάλιν ἄνωθεν, slavery chosen twice
10
ἡμέρας παρατηρεῖσθε καὶ μῆνας καὶ καιροὺς καὶ ἐνιαυτούς.independent — the evidence — the calendar list
11
φοβοῦμαι ὑμᾶςindependent — the fear stated
μή πως εἰκῇ κεκοπίακα εἰς ὑμᾶς.content — μή πως after a fear verb — the labor wasted
vv. 12–16 — become as I am: the memory of your welcome
12
Γίνεσθε ὡς ἐγώ,independent — the imperative of the appeal
ὅτι κἀγὼ ὡς ὑμεῖς,cause — verbless ground — Paul became law-free like Gentiles
ἀδελφοί, δέομαι ὑμῶν.independent — the plea itself, with the vocative
οὐδέν με ἠδικήσατε·independent — the record cleared — no personal grievance
13
οἴδατε δὲindependent — the shared memory invoked
ὅτι δι' ἀσθένειαν τῆς σαρκὸς εὐηγγελισάμην ὑμῖν τὸ πρότερον,content — content — illness the occasion of the first visit
14
καὶ τὸν πειρασμὸν ὑμῶν ἐν τῇ σαρκί μουphrase modifier — fronted object — leans on the verbs below; text reads 'your trial'
οὐκ ἐξουθενήσατε οὐδὲ ἐξεπτύσατε,independent — the double negative — no scorn, no spitting out
ἀλλὰ ὡς ἄγγελον θεοῦ ἐδέξασθέ με,independent — the welcome — as God's messenger
ὡς Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν.comparative — the comparison raised — as Christ himself
15
ποῦ οὖν ὁ μακαρισμὸς ὑμῶν;independent — verbless question — the vanished self-congratulation
μαρτυρῶ γὰρ ὑμῖνindependent — the testimony formula
ὅτι εἰ δυνατὸν τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ὑμῶν ἐξορύξαντες ἐδώκατέ μοι.content — content, with εἰ δυνατόν embedded — the eyes-plucked devotion
16
ὥστε ἐχθρὸς ὑμῶν γέγοναindependent — ὥστε-question — friendship inverted
ἀληθεύων ὑμῖν;participial — means — the offense is only the truth
vv. 17–20 — the rival suitors, and the mother in labor
17
ζηλοῦσιν ὑμᾶς οὐ καλῶς,independent — the agitators as suitors — ζηλόω, courtship language
ἀλλὰ ἐκκλεῖσαι ὑμᾶς θέλουσιν,independent — the real aim — exclusion
ἵνα αὐτοὺς ζηλοῦτε.purpose — the design — the courtship reversed
18
καλὸν δὲ ζηλοῦσθαι ἐν καλῷ πάντοτε,independent — the concession — verbless maxim
καὶ μὴ μόνον ἐν τῷ παρεῖναί με πρὸς ὑμᾶς,phrase modifier — ἐν τῷ + infinitive — not only in Paul's presence
19
τέκνα μου,phrase modifier — the vocative breaks in — no longer suitor but mother
οὓς πάλιν ὠδίνωrelative — on τέκνα (constructio ad sensum, masc. οὕς) — labor a second time
μέχρις οὗ μορφωθῇ Χριστὸς ἐν ὑμῖν·relative — μέχρις οὗ-temporal — the labor's term: Christ formed in them
20
ἤθελον δὲ παρεῖναι πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἄρτι,independent — desiderative imperfect — the unattainable wish
καὶ ἀλλάξαι τὴν φωνήν μου,content — second complement of ἤθελον — another voice for another setting
ὅτι ἀποροῦμαι ἐν ὑμῖν.cause — the reason for the wish — ἀπορία over them
The allegory of Hagar and Sarah — two covenants 4:21–31
vv. 21–23 — the law's own story: two sons, two mothers
21
Λέγετέ μοι,independent — the challenge opens
οἱ ὑπὸ νόμον θέλοντες εἶναι,participial — vocative — the would-be subjects of the law
τὸν νόμον οὐκ ἀκούετε;independent — the question — the law itself will testify
22
γέγραπται γὰρindependent — the warrant — Gen 16–21 summarized
ὅτι Ἀβραὰμ δύο υἱοὺς ἔσχεν,content — the story's datum — two sons
ἕνα ἐκ τῆς παιδίσκης καὶ ἕνα ἐκ τῆς ἐλευθέρας.phrase modifier — apposition — the two mothers introduced
23
ἀλλ' ὁ μὲν ἐκ τῆς παιδίσκης κατὰ σάρκα γεγέννηται,independent — μέν — Ishmael, κατὰ σάρκα
ὁ δὲ ἐκ τῆς ἐλευθέρας δι' ἐπαγγελίας.independent — δέ — Isaac, δι' ἐπαγγελίας; verb elided
vv. 24–27 — two covenants, two Jerusalems
24
ἅτινά ἐστιν ἀλληγορούμενα·independent — connective relative (ἅτινα) — the story reread
αὗται γάρ εἰσιν δύο διαθῆκαι,cause — the key — the mothers are covenants
μία μὲν ἀπὸ ὄρους Σινᾶ εἰς δουλείαν γεννῶσα,phrase modifier — apposition — the Sinai covenant, a mother of slaves
ἥτις ἐστὶν Ἁγάρ.relative — the identification — Sinai is Hagar
25
τὸ δὲ Ἁγὰρ Σινᾶ ὄρος ἐστὶν ἐν τῇ Ἀραβίᾳ,independent — the disputed gloss — the name 'Hagar' pinned to Sinai in Arabia
συστοιχεῖ δὲ τῇ νῦν Ἰερουσαλήμ,independent — συστοιχέω — the column of correspondences
δουλεύει γὰρ μετὰ τῶν τέκνων αὐτῆς.cause — why they align — the present Jerusalem enslaved
26
ἡ δὲ ἄνω Ἰερουσαλὴμ ἐλευθέρα ἐστίν,independent — the other column — the Jerusalem above
ἥτις ἐστὶν μήτηρ ἡμῶν·relative — on the free Jerusalem — our mother
27
γέγραπται γάρ·cause — the warrant for her freedom and fruitfulness
Εὐφράνθητι, στεῖρα ἡ οὐ τίκτουσα,content — Isa 54:1 — the barren one summoned to joy
ῥῆξον καὶ βόησον, ἡ οὐκ ὠδίνουσα·content — Isa 54:1 — the second summons, to her who never labored
ὅτι πολλὰ τὰ τέκνα τῆς ἐρήμου μᾶλλον ἢ τῆς ἐχούσης τὸν ἄνδρα.content — Isa 54:1 — the oracle's own ὅτι-ground: the desolate one's many children
vv. 28–31 — children of promise: cast out the slave woman
28
ὑμεῖς δέ, ἀδελφοί, κατὰ Ἰσαὰκ ἐπαγγελίας τέκνα ἐστέ.independent — the application — the Galatians on Isaac's side
29
ἀλλ' ὥσπερ τότε ὁ κατὰ σάρκα γεννηθεὶς ἐδίωκεν τὸν κατὰ πνεῦμα,comparative — ὥσπερ — leans on οὕτως below: Ishmael's mocking as persecution
οὕτως καὶ νῦν.independent — elliptical — the agitators cast as Ishmael
30
ἀλλὰ τί λέγει ἡ γραφή;independent — Scripture personified — the verdict invited
Ἔκβαλε τὴν παιδίσκην καὶ τὸν υἱὸν αὐτῆς,content — Gen 21:10 — Sarah's word become Scripture's command
οὐ γὰρ μὴ κληρονομήσει ὁ υἱὸς τῆς παιδίσκης μετὰ τοῦ υἱοῦ τῆς ἐλευθέρας.cause — the command's ground — emphatic οὐ μή: no shared inheritance
31
διό, ἀδελφοί, οὐκ ἐσμὲν παιδίσκης τέκνα ἀλλὰ τῆς ἐλευθέρας.independent — διό — the conclusion: children of the free woman
Analysis. Galatians 4 argues in three textures, and the leaning lines carry the first of them. In vv. 1–7 nearly every main clause sits under a frame that arrives before it: the ἐφ' ὅσον χρόνον comparison leans on οὐδὲν διαφέρει, the two ὅτε temporals lean on their main verbs (our minority; the fullness of time), the causal ὅτι δέ ἐστε υἱοί leans on the sending of the Spirit, and the εἰ δὲ υἱός protasis leans on the elliptical apodosis καὶ κληρονόμος — so the page shows the argument's rhythm: first the condition of the times, then God's act flush at the margin. The twin ἵνα purposes of the Son's mission hang side by side from the one verb ἐξαπέστειλεν, and the Spirit's cry Ἀββᾶ ὁ πατήρ hangs as quoted content beneath κρᾶζον. Verses 8–20 are the personal appeal: mostly flush-left staccato — questions, reproaches, remembered kindness — with the τότε μέν and νῦν δέ participles (including the self-correction μᾶλλον δὲ γνωσθέντες) leaning above the clauses they frame, and the fronted object καὶ τὸν πειρασμὸν ὑμῶν suspended over the verbs that refused to despise it; the one deep chain is v. 19, where the vocative τέκνα μου pulls the sentence down through birth-pangs to μέχρις οὗ μορφωθῇ Χριστός. Verses 21–31 are the allegory: an identification chain steps inward from ἅτινά ἐστιν ἀλληγορούμενα (two covenants — one from Sinai — which is Hagar), two short quotation columns hang from γέγραπται (Isa 54:1) and λέγει (Gen 21:10), and the section closes flush-left with the διό conclusion. Interpretive choices the layout takes a side on: τὰ στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου (vv. 3, 9) are read as the enslaving 'elements' common to Jew and Gentile, so that the ὑμεῖς of vv. 8–9 relapse into the same bondage; ὅτι in v. 6 is causal ('because you are sons'), not declarative; v. 14 follows the printed text τὸν πειρασμὸν ὑμῶν — 'your trial', the trial Paul's flesh posed to them — as fronted object of ἐξουθενήσατε; ἤθελον (v. 20) is the desiderative imperfect ('I could wish'); v. 25 keeps the disputed gloss with Ἁγάρ present; and ὥσπερ in v. 29 leans forward on the verbless οὕτως καὶ νῦν.