Genesis 21:2-12

2 ¹So Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at ²the appointed time of which God had spoken to him.

3 Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore to him, ³Isaac.

4 Then Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was ⁴eight days old, as God had commanded him.

5 Now Abraham was ⁵one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.

6 Sarah said, "God has made ⁶laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me."

7 And she said, "⁷Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age."

8 The child grew and was weaned, and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.

Sarah Turns against Hagar

9 Now Sarah saw ⁸the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, ⁹mocking.

10 Therefore she said to Abraham, "¹⁰Drive out this maid and her son, for the son of this maid shall not be an heir with my son Isaac."

11 ¹¹The matter distressed Abraham greatly because * of his son.

12 But God said to Abraham, "Do not be distressed because of the lad and your maid; whatever * Sarah tells you, listen to her, for ¹²through Isaac your descendants shall be named.

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Genesis 21:2-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 21

This chapter gives an account of the conception, birth, circumcision, and weaning of Isaac, Ge 21:1-8; of the mocking of Ishmael, and of the casting out of him and his mother from Abraham's house, at the request of Sarah, which, though grievous to Abraham, he complied with at the direction of God, Ge 21:9-13; of the provision Abraham made for their departure, and of the supply they met with in the wilderness from God, where Ishmael was brought up, and where he married, Ge 21:14-21; and of a covenant between Abraham and Abimelech, king of Gerar, Ge 21:22-32; and of Abraham's planting a grove, and calling on the name of the Lord, Ge 21:33; and the chapter is closed with this observation, that Abraham sojourned in the land of the Philistines many days, Ge 21:34.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 12

1. Acts 7:8; Galatians 4:22; Hebrews 11:11
2. Genesis 17:21; Genesis 18:10, 14
3. Genesis 17:19, 21
4. Genesis 17:12; Acts 7:8
5. Genesis 17:17
6. Genesis 18:13; Psalms 126:2; Isaiah 54:1
7. Genesis 18:11, 13
8. Gen 16:1, 4, 15
9. Galatians 4:29
10. Galatians 4:30
11. Genesis 17:18
12. Romans 9:7; Hebrews 11:18

Footnotes 6

[a]. Lit "for"
[b]. Or "playing"
[c]. Lit "with Isaac"
[d]. Lit "was very grievous in Abraham's sight"
[e]. Lit "Do not let it be grievous in your sight"
[f]. Lit "your seed will be called"