Genesis 21:1-11

The Birth of Isaac

1 The LORD ¹visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did to Sarah ²as he had promised.

2 And Sarah ³conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age ⁴at the time of which God had spoken to him.

3 Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore him, ⁵Isaac.^[a]

4 And Abraham ⁶circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, ⁷as God had commanded him.

5 ⁸Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.

6 And Sarah said, ⁹"God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me."

7 And she said, "Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? ¹⁰Yet I have borne him a son in his old age."

God Protects Hagar and Ishmael

8 And the child grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.

9 But Sarah ¹¹saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, ¹²laughing.^[b]

10 So she said to Abraham, ¹³"Cast out this slave woman with her son, for the son of this slave woman shall not be heir with my son Isaac."

11 And the thing was very displeasing to Abraham on account of his son.

Genesis 21:1-11 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. 1 Samuel 2:21
• 2. Genesis 17:19; Genesis 18:10, 14
• 3. Hebrews 11:11; [Galatians 4:22]
• 4. Genesis 17:21
• 5. Genesis 17:19
• 6. Acts 7:8
• 7. Genesis 17:10, 12
• 8. Genesis 17:1, 17; Romans 4:19
• 9. [Isaiah 54:1; Galatians 4:27]
• 10. Genesis 18:11, 12
• 11. Genesis 16:1, 15
• 12. [Galatians 4:29]
• 13. Cited Galatians 4:30

Footnotes

• [a]. Isaac means he laughs
• [b]. Possibly laughing in mockery