Genesis 21:19

19 Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well. She went and filled the leather bag with water and gave some to the boy.

Genesis 21:19 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 21:19

And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water
Which she saw not before; not that she was really blind and had her eyes opened, or her sight restored, but they might be holden or restrained by the providence of God, that she should not see it before; or, through inattention and distraction of mind, might not observe it; or her eyes might be swelled with weeping and crying, that she saw it not; though it is not improbable that this well was not in being before, but was immediately produced by the power of God, who when he pleases can open mountains in the midst of the valleys, and make the wilderness a pool of water, ( Isaiah 41:18 ) : the Jewish writers F11 say, it was created between the two evenings, that is, on the evening of the seventh day of the creation. Happy are those whose eyes are opened, by the Spirit and grace of God, to see the well of living water, the fountain and fulness of grace that is in Christ, where thirsty souls may come and drink and take their fill.

And she went and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad to
drink;
with which he was refreshed and recovered from his fainting, and was restored to health again.


FOOTNOTES:

F11 Pirke Eliezer, ut supra. (c. 30.)

Genesis 21:19 In-Context

17 God heard the boy crying, and from heaven the angel of God spoke to Hagar, "What are you troubled about, Hagar? Don't be afraid. God has heard the boy crying.
18 Get up, go and pick him up, and comfort him. I will make a great nation out of his descendants."
19 Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well. She went and filled the leather bag with water and gave some to the boy.
20 God was with the boy as he grew up; he lived in the wilderness of Paran and became a skillful hunter.
21 His mother got an Egyptian wife for him.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.