Genesis 16:1-7

Hagar and Ishmael

1 Abram's wife Sarai had not borne him children. She owned an Egyptian slave named Hagar.
2 Sarai said to Abram, "Since the Lord has prevented me from bearing children, go to my slave; perhaps I can have children[a] by her." And Abram agreed to what Sarai said.[b]
3 So Abram's wife Sarai took Hagar, her Egyptian slave, and gave her to her husband Abram as a wife for him. [This happened] after Abram had lived in the land of Canaan 10 years.
4 He slept with[c] Hagar, and she became pregnant. When she realized that she was pregnant, she looked down on her mistress.
5 Then Sarai said to Abram, "You are responsible for my suffering![d] I put my slave in your arms,[e] and ever since she saw that she was pregnant, she has looked down on me. May the Lord judge between me and you."
6 Abram replied to Sarai, "Here, your slave is in your hands; do whatever you want with her."[f] Then Sarai mistreated her so much that she ran away from her.
7 The Angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur.

Genesis 16:1-7 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 16

This chapter gives an account of Abram's marrying his maid, at the instance of his wife Sarai, Ge 16:1-3, who, upon conceiving, despised her mistress; of which complaint is made to Abram, who leaving his maid to his wife, to deal with her as she pleased, dealt harshly by her, and therefore fled from her, Ge 16:4-6; when she was met by an angel, who advised her to return and submit herself to her mistress, and told her her seed would be greatly multiplied, gave a name to the child she went with, and described his temper and disposition, Ge 16:7-12; and then we have the name of God that spoke to her, and of the place where the discourse passed between them, Ge 16:13,14; and the chapter is concluded with the birth of Ishmael, and the age of Abram at his birth, Ge 16:15,16.

Footnotes 6

  • [a]. Lit I will be built up
  • [b]. Lit Abram listened to the voice of Sarai
  • [c]. Lit He came to
  • [d]. Or May my suffering be on you
  • [e]. Lit bosom
  • [f]. Lit do to her what is good in your eyes
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