Genesis 21:19

19 Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the skin with water, and gave the lad a drink.

Genesis 21:19 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 21:19

And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water
Which she saw not before; not that she was really blind and had her eyes opened, or her sight restored, but they might be holden or restrained by the providence of God, that she should not see it before; or, through inattention and distraction of mind, might not observe it; or her eyes might be swelled with weeping and crying, that she saw it not; though it is not improbable that this well was not in being before, but was immediately produced by the power of God, who when he pleases can open mountains in the midst of the valleys, and make the wilderness a pool of water, ( Isaiah 41:18 ) : the Jewish writers F11 say, it was created between the two evenings, that is, on the evening of the seventh day of the creation. Happy are those whose eyes are opened, by the Spirit and grace of God, to see the well of living water, the fountain and fulness of grace that is in Christ, where thirsty souls may come and drink and take their fill.

And she went and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad to
drink;
with which he was refreshed and recovered from his fainting, and was restored to health again.


FOOTNOTES:

F11 Pirke Eliezer, ut supra. (c. 30.)

Genesis 21:19 In-Context

17 And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, and said to her, "What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not; for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is.
18 Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him fast with your hand; for I will make him a great nation."
19 Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the skin with water, and gave the lad a drink.
20 And God was with the lad, and he grew up; he lived in the wilderness, and became an expert with the bow.
21 He lived in the wilderness of Paran; and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.