King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou [art] with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.
Complete Jewish Bible:
The angel of ADONAI said to her, "Look, you are pregnant, and you will give birth to a son. You are to call him Yishma'el [God pays attention] because ADONAI has paid attention to your misery.
Berean Standard Bible:
The angel of the LORD proceeded: “Behold, you have conceived and will bear a son. And you shall name him Ishmael, for the LORD has heard your cry of affliction.
American Standard Version:
And the angel of Jehovah said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son; and thou shalt call his name Ishmael, because Jehovah hath heard thy affliction.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And the angel{H4397} of the LORD{H3068} said{H559} unto her, Behold{H2009}, thou art with child{H2030}, and shalt bear{H3205} a son{H1121}, and shalt call{H7121} his name{H8034} Ishmael{H3458}; because the LORD{H3068} hath heard{H8085} thy affliction{H6040}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Exodus 2:23
- ¶ And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.
Exodus 2:24
- And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
Exodus 3:7
- ¶ And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which [are] in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;
Isaiah 7:14
- Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Genesis 17:19
- And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, [and] with his seed after him.
Genesis 41:51
- And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, [said he], hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house.
Genesis 41:52
- And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Genesis 16:11
Genesis 16:11 is a verse set within the broader narrative of the patriarchal age, specifically focusing on the life of Abram (later named Abraham) and his wife Sarai (later named Sarah). At this point in the story, Sarai, being barren and desperate for an heir, gives her Egyptian handmaid Hagar to Abram to bear a child on her behalf, a common practice in the ancient Near East for infertile wives.
The verse captures a critical moment in the wilderness where Hagar, pregnant and fleeing from Sarai's harsh treatment, encounters the angel of the Lord. The angel addresses Hagar directly, confirming her pregnancy and foretelling the birth of a son whom she is to name Ishmael, meaning "God hears." This name is significant as it reflects the Lord's acknowledgment of Hagar's distress and His response to her situation. The angel's message reassures Hagar that she has not been forgotten by God, despite her status as a servant and the complex social dynamics of her time.
The themes present in this verse include divine providence, the acknowledgment of suffering, and the promise of progeny. It also touches on the themes of social hierarchy and the treatment of servants, as well as the lengths to which individuals would go to secure an heir, which was of immense importance in the ancient world. This encounter is one of the first detailed interactions between God and an individual in the Bible, highlighting God's concern for the marginalized and His active role in human affairs, particularly within the unfolding lineage of Abraham, which is central to the biblical narrative. Historically, this verse sets the stage for the complex relationship between Ishmael and Isaac, Abraham's son with Sarah, and by extension, the relationship between their descendants, which has had significant theological and geopolitical implications throughout history.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H4397
There are 197 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מֲלְאָךְ
Transliteration: mălʼâk
Pronunciation: mal-awk'
Description: from an unused root meaning to despatch as a deputy; a messenger; specifically, of God, i.e. an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher); ambassador, angel, king, messenger. - Strong's Number: H3068
There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהֹוָה
Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה. - Strong's Number: H559
There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָמַר
Transliteration: ʼâmar
Pronunciation: aw-mar'
Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. - Strong's Number: H2009
There are 16 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: הִנֵּה
Transliteration: hinnêh
Pronunciation: hin-nay'
Description: prolongation for הֵן; lo!; behold, lo, see. - Strong's Number: H2030
There are 16 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: הָרֶה
Transliteration: hâreh
Pronunciation: haw-reh'
Description: or הָרִי; (Hosea 14:1), from הָרָה; pregnant; (be, woman) with child, conceive, [idiom] great. - Strong's Number: H3205
There are 403 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָלַד
Transliteration: yâlad
Pronunciation: yaw-lad'
Description: a primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage; bear, beget, birth(-day), born, (make to) bring forth (children, young), bring up, calve, child, come, be delivered (of a child), time of delivery, gender, hatch, labour, (do the office of a) midwife, declare pedigrees, be the son of, (woman in, woman that) travail(-eth, -ing woman). - Strong's Number: H1121
There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֵּן
Transliteration: bên
Pronunciation: bane
Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. - Strong's Number: H7121
There are 689 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קָרָא
Transliteration: qârâʼ
Pronunciation: kaw-raw'
Description: a primitive root (rather identical with קָרָא through the idea of accosting a person met); to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications); bewray (self), that are bidden, call (for, forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite, mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim(-ation), pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say. - Strong's Number: H8034
There are 771 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שֵׁם
Transliteration: shêm
Pronunciation: shame
Description: a primitive word (perhaps rather from through the idea of definite and conspicuous position; compare שָׁמַיִם); an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character; [phrase] base, (in-) fame(-ous), named(-d), renown, report. - Strong's Number: H3458
There are 44 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יִשְׁמָעֵאל
Transliteration: Yishmâʻêʼl
Pronunciation: yish-maw-ale'
Description: from שָׁמַע and אֵל; God will hear; Jishmael, the name of Abraham's oldest son, and of five Israelites; Ishmael. - Strong's Number: H8085
There are 1072 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁמַע
Transliteration: shâmaʻ
Pronunciation: shaw-mah'
Description: a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.); [idiom] attentively, call (gather) together, [idiom] carefully, [idiom] certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, [idiom] diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), [idiom] indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be) obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish, regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, [idiom] surely, tell, understand, whosoever (heareth), witness. - Strong's Number: H6040
There are 37 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֳנִי
Transliteration: ʻŏnîy
Pronunciation: on-ee'
Description: from עָנָה; depression, i.e. misery; afflicted(-ion), trouble.