Genesis 21:5-15

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

6 Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.”

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

Hagar and Ishmael Sent Away

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

9 But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking,

10 and she said to Abraham, “Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.”

11 The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son.

12 But God said to him, “Do not be so distressed about the boy and your slave woman. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring^[a] will be reckoned.

13 I will make the son of the slave into a nation also, because he is your offspring.”

14 Early the next morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. He set them on her shoulders and then sent her off with the boy. She went on her way and wandered in the Desert of Beersheba.

15 When the water in the skin was gone, she put 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

• 1. S Genesis 12:4; Hebrews 6:15
• 2. Genesis 17:17; Job 8:21; Psalms 126:2; Isaiah 12:6; Isaiah 35:2; Isaiah 44:23; Isaiah 52:9; Isaiah 54:1
• 3. S Genesis 17:17
• 4. 1 Samuel 1:23
• 5. S Genesis 16:15
• 6. Genesis 39:14; Galatians 4:29
• 7. Genesis 39:17
• 8. Genesis 25:6; Galatians 4:30*
• 9. Genesis 17:18
• 10. Matthew 1:2; Romans 9:7*; Hebrews 11:18*
• 11. ver 18; S Genesis 13:16
• 12. S Genesis 16:1
• 13. ver 31,32; Genesis 22:19; Genesis 26:33; Genesis 28:10; Genesis 46:1,5; Joshua 15:28; Joshua 19:2; Judges 20:1; 1 Samuel 3:20; 1 Chronicles 4:28; Nehemiah 11:27

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "seed"