Genesis 21:19

19 And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of springing water; and she went and filled the skin with water, and gave the child drink.

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 And God heard the voice of the child from the place where he was, and an angel of God called Agar out of heaven, and said to her, What is it, Agar? fear not, for God has heard the voice of the child from the place where he is.
18 Rise up, and take the child, and hold him in thine hand, for I will make him a great nation.
19 And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of springing water; and she went and filled the skin with water, and gave the child drink.
20 And God was with the child, and he grew and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.
21 And he dwelt in the wilderness, and his mother took him a wife out of Pharan of Egypt.

Footnotes 1

The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.