Genesis 21:2-12

2 and she became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham when he was old. The boy was born at the time God had said he would be born. ¹

3 Abraham named him Isaac,

4 and when Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God had commanded. ²

5 Abraham was a hundred years old when Isaac was born.

6 Sarah said, "God has brought me joy and laughter. Everyone who hears about it will laugh with me."

7 Then she added, "Who 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 on the day that he was weaned, Abraham gave a great feast.

9 One day Ishmael, whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham, was playing with Sarah's son Isaac.

10 Sarah saw them and said to Abraham, "Send this slave and her son away. The son of this woman must not get any part of your wealth, which my son Isaac should inherit." ³

11 This troubled Abraham very much, because Ishmael also was his son.

12 But God said to Abraham, "Don't be worried about the boy and your slave Hagar. Do whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that you will have the descendants I have promised. ⁴

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.

Cross References

• 1. 21.2Hebrews 11.11.
• 2. 21.4Genesis 17.12;Acts 7.8.
• 3. 21.10Galatians 4.29, 30.
• 4. 21.12Romans 9.7;Hebrews 11.18.

Footnotes

• [a]. laughter: [The name Isaac in Hebrew means "he laughs" (see also 17.17-19).]
• [b]. playing with; [or] making fun of.
• [c]. [Some ancient translations] with Sarah's son Isaac; [Hebrew does not have these words.]