Genesis 16:1-3

Hagar and Ishmael

1 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar;
2 so she said to Abram, “The LORD has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.” Abram agreed to what Sarai said.
3 So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife.

Genesis 16:1-3 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 8

  • 1. S Genesis 11:29
  • 2. S Genesis 11:30; Luke 1:7,36; Galatians 4:24-25
  • 3. Genesis 21:9; Genesis 24:61; Genesis 29:24,29; Genesis 31:33; Genesis 46:18
  • 4. ver 3-4,8,15; Genesis 21:14; Genesis 25:12
  • 5. Genesis 29:31; Genesis 30:2
  • 6. Genesis 19:32; Genesis 30:3-4,9-10
  • 7. S Genesis 12:5
  • 8. S Genesis 12:4
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