Genesis 21:13

13 And I will make ¹a nation of the son of the slave woman also, because he is your offspring."

Genesis 21:13 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 21:13

And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation,
&c.] A great nation, as is promised, ( Genesis 17:20 ) ; and such the Ishmaelites and Saracens have been, and the Turks now are, the descendants of Ishmael. The Targum of Jonathan paraphrases it, a people of thieves, or a thieving people; as were the Saracens, and who are thought to have that name from the Arabic word "sarac" ^F25, to thieve; though they would have it derived from Sarah: but it is not agreeable to the promise of God to Abraham, that when for his comfort he is told that his son Ishmael and his descendants should become a great nation, that they should be described as a company of thieves and robbers; and especially when the reason of the promise is given,

because he [is] thy seed;
or thy son; here the word "seed" is again used of a single individual; see ( Genesis 4:25 ) ( Galatians 3:16 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F25 <arabic> "furatus fuit, furto abstulit", Golius, col. 1167. Castel. col. 2626.

Genesis 21:13 In-Context

11 And the thing was very displeasing to Abraham on account of his son.

12 But God said to Abraham, "Be not displeased because of the boy and because of your slave woman. Whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for through Isaac shall your offspring be named.

13 And I will make a nation of the son of the slave woman also, because he is your offspring."

14 So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, along with the child, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.

15 When the water in the skin was gone, she put the child under one of the bushes.

Cross References

• 1. ver. 18; Genesis 16:10; Genesis 17:20