Definition: Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Galatians 4:8. It's a really important and somewhat surprising one! Here’s what it means in simpler terms: “Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.” Let’s unpack it word-by-word: “Galatians 4:8” : This is the verse itself – a specific passage from the book of Galatians. “Howbeit then…” : This is a little tricky! It's like a transition phrase, setting up something that contrasts with what came before. “However then” means “But now, because you didn’t know God…” “ye knew not God” : This is the core of the verse. It means that before you learned about Jesus Christ and his teachings, you didn't understand or believe in a god. You were living in a world where there wasn't a central figure who offered salvation and purpose. Think of it like being raised without knowing your parents – you don’t have the foundation for understanding family relationships. “ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods” : This is the key part! “Service” means to help, to work, or to contribute. "These" refers to God himself . So, this verse means: “Because you didn’t understand God, you were called to serve him.” In a nutshell: The verse is saying that before you knew about Jesus Christ, you weren't connected to the idea of a personal god. You were living in a world where there wasn’t a central figure offering salvation and guidance. So, you were called to serve God through his teachings and actions - to work for him and follow his will. Why is this important? This verse is really significant because it highlights that our understanding of God isn't something we simply discover – it’s something we receive through Jesus Christ. It’s a fundamental shift in how we think about the relationship with God and the purpose of life. Do you want me to: Explain this verse further? Connect it to a specific concept (like faith, or salvation)?