Genesis 16:1-6

Sarai and Hagar

1 1Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. She had a female Egyptian servant whose name was 2Hagar.
2 And Sarai said to Abram, "Behold now, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children[a] by her." And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.
3 So, after Abram 3had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant, and gave her to Abram her husband as a wife.
4 And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, 4she looked with contempt on her mistress.[b]
5 And Sarai said to Abram, "May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my servant to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May 5the LORD judge between you and me!"
6 But Abram said to Sarai, "Behold, your servant is in your power; do to her as you please." Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her.

Genesis 16:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 16

This chapter gives an account of Abram's marrying his maid, at the instance of his wife Sarai, Ge 16:1-3, who, upon conceiving, despised her mistress; of which complaint is made to Abram, who leaving his maid to his wife, to deal with her as she pleased, dealt harshly by her, and therefore fled from her, Ge 16:4-6; when she was met by an angel, who advised her to return and submit herself to her mistress, and told her her seed would be greatly multiplied, gave a name to the child she went with, and described his temper and disposition, Ge 16:7-12; and then we have the name of God that spoke to her, and of the place where the discourse passed between them, Ge 16:13,14; and the chapter is concluded with the birth of Ishmael, and the age of Abram at his birth, Ge 16:15,16.

Cross References 5

  • 1. Genesis 15:2, 3
  • 2. Genesis 21:9; Galatians 4:24
  • 3. Genesis 12:5
  • 4. [1 Samuel 1:6, 7]
  • 5. Genesis 31:53; 1 Samuel 24:12

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Hebrew be built up, which sounds like the Hebrew for children
  • [b]. Hebrew her mistress was dishonorable in her eyes; similarly in verse 5
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.