Genesis16
New Living Translation
1Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not been able to bear children for him. But she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar.
2So Sarai said to Abram, “The Lord has prevented me from having children. Go and sleep with my servant. Perhaps I can have children through her.” And Abram agreed with Sarai’s proposal.
3So Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian servant and gave her to Abram as a wife. (This happened ten years after Abram had settled in the land of Canaan.)
4So Abram had sexual relations with Hagar, and she became pregnant. But when Hagar knew she was pregnant, she began to treat her mistress, Sarai, with contempt.
5Then Sarai said to Abram, “This is all your fault! I put my servant into your arms, but now that she’s pregnant she treats me with contempt. The Lord will show who’s wrong—you or me!”
6Abram replied, “Look, she is your servant, so deal with her as you see fit.” Then Sarai treated Hagar so harshly that she finally ran away.
7The angel of the Lord found Hagar beside a spring of water in the wilderness, along the road to Shur.
8The angel said to her, “Hagar, Sarai’s servant, where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I’m running away from my mistress, Sarai,” she replied.
9The angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit to her authority.”
10Then he added, “I will give you more descendants than you can count.”
11And the angel also said, “You are now pregnant and will give birth to a son. You are to name him Ishmael (which means ‘God hears’), for the Lord has heard your cry of distress.
12This son of yours will be a wild man, as untamed as a wild donkey! He will raise his fist against everyone, and everyone will be against him. Yes, he will live in open hostility against all his relatives.”
13Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the Lord, who had spoken to her. She said, “You are the God who sees me.” She also said, “Have I truly seen the One who sees me?”
14So that well was named Beer-lahai-roi (which means “well of the Living One who sees me”). It can still be found between Kadesh and Bered.
15So Hagar gave Abram a son, and Abram named him Ishmael.
16Abram was eighty-six years old when Ishmael was born.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Genesis 16.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Sarai gives Hagar to Abram. (1–3). Hagar's misbehaviour to Sarai. (4–6). The Angel commands Hagar to return, The promise to her Birth of Ishmael. (7–16).
vv1-3
Sarai, no longer expecting to have children herself, proposed to Abram to take another wife, whose children she might; her slave, whose children would be her property. This was done without asking counsel of the Lord. Unbelief worked, God's almighty power was forgotten. It was a bad example, and a source of manifold uneasiness. In every relation and situation in life there is some cross for us to bear: much of the exercise of faith consists in patiently submitting, in waiting the Lord's time, and using only those means which he appoints for the removal of the cross. Foul temptations may have very fair pretences, and be coloured with that which is very plausible. Fleshly wisdom puts us out of God's way. This would not be the case, if we would ask counsel of God by his word and by prayer, before we attempt that which is doubtful.
vv4-6
Abram's unhappy marriage to Hagar very soon made a great deal of mischief. We may thank ourselves for the guilt and grief that follow us, when we go out of the way of our duty. See it in this case, Passionate people often quarrel with others, for things of which they themselves must bear the blame. Sarai had given her maid to Abram, yet she cries out, My wrong be upon thee. That is never said wisely, which pride and anger put into our mouths. Those are not always in the right, who are most loud and forward in appealing to God: such rash and bold imprecations commonly speak guilt and a bad cause. Hagar forgot that she herself had first given the provocation, by despising her mistress. Those that suffer for their faults, ought to bear it patiently, 1Pe 2:20.
vv7-16
Hagar was out of her place, and out of the way of her duty, and going further astray, when the Angel found her. It is a great mercy to be stopped in a sinful way, either by conscience or by providence. Whence comest thou? Consider that thou art running from duty, and the privileges thou wast blest with in Abram's tent. It is good to live in a religious family, which those ought to consider who have this advantage. Whither wilt thou go? Thou art running into sin; if Hagar return to Egypt, she will return to idol gods, and into danger in the wilderness through which she must travel. Recollecting who we are, would often teach us our duty. Inquiring whence we came, would show us our sin and folly. Considering whither we shall go, discovers our danger and misery. And those who leave their space and duty, must hasten their return, how mortifying soever it be. The declaration of the Angel, “I will,” shows this Angel was the eternal Word and Son of God. Hagar could not but admire the Lord's mercy, and feel, Have I, who am so unworthy, been favoured with a gracious visit from the Lord? She was brought to a better temper, returned, and by her behaviour softened Sarai, and received more gentle treatment. Would that we were always suitably impressed with this thought, Thou God seest me!
Key Words
שָׂרַי: Sarai, the wife of Abraham
אַבְרָם: Abram, the original name of Abraham
אִשָּׁה: a woman
יָלַד: to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage
לֹא: not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
שִׁפְחָה: a female slave (as a member of the household)
מִצְרִי: a Mitsrite, or inhabitant of Mitsrajim
שֵׁם: an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character
הָגָר: Hagar, the mother of Ishmael
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
Cross References
Genesis 16New Testament theological exposition of Hagar the Egyptian handmaid representing the covenant of Sinai.
Paul uses Hagar and Sarah to allegorize the two covenants (law vs promise).
Supported by Matthew Poole
Direct parallel of obtaining children through a handmaid, repeated later by Rachel with Bilhah.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Exhortation for servants to submit to harsh masters, directly reflecting the angel's command to Hagar.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Legal background regarding the status and children of female servants/bond-women.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Verbal parallel: Abram 'hearkened to the voice of Sarai' as Adam did to Eve.
A proverb describing an odious thing: 'an handmaid that is heir to her mistress' insolence.
Parallel use of the phrase 'the Lord judge between me and thee' in interpersonal disputes.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The tragic outcome when Sarah sees the son of Hagar the Egyptian mocking.
Geographical and ancestral link to Shur where Ishmael's descendants eventually settled.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Identifies the speaking 'Angel of the Lord' as the uncreated Messenger of the Covenant.
Supported by Matthew Poole
God's explicit promise to Abraham to multiply Ishmael exceedingly, fulfilling the angel's promise.
Poetic amplification of Hagar's confession: 'Thou God seest me' in the wilderness.
Identifies the location of Shur, confirming it is on the border of Egypt.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Comparing wild men to the wild ass, illustrating the prophecy concerning Ishmael.
Subsequent narrative use of Beer-lahai-roi, the well named by Hagar.