Genesis 21:5-15

5 Now Abraham was 1one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.
6 Sarah said, "God has made 2laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me."
7 And she said, "3Who 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 4the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, 5mocking.
10 Therefore she said to Abraham, "6Drive out this maid and her son, for the son of this maid shall not be an heir with my son Isaac."
11 7The 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 8through Isaac your descendants shall be named.
13 "And of 9the son of the maid I will make a nation also, because he is your descendant."
14 So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar, putting them on her shoulder, and gave her the boy, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered about in the wilderness of Beersheba.
15 When the water in the skin was used up, she left the boy under one of the bushes.

Genesis 21:5-15 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.

Cross References 9

  • 1. Genesis 17:17
  • 2. Genesis 18:13; Psalms 126:2; Isaiah 54:1
  • 3. Genesis 18:11, 13
  • 4. Gen 16:1, 4, 15
  • 5. Galatians 4:29
  • 6. Galatians 4:30
  • 7. Genesis 17:18
  • 8. Romans 9:7; Hebrews 11:18
  • 9. Genesis 16:10; Genesis 21:18; Genesis 25:12-18

Footnotes 9

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