King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And he will be a wild man; his hand [will be] against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.
Complete Jewish Bible:
He will be a wild donkey of a man, with his hand against everyone and everyone's hand against him, living his life at odds with all his kinsmen."
Berean Standard Bible:
He will be a wild donkey of a man, and his hand will be against everyone, and everyone’s hand against him; he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.”
American Standard Version:
And he shall be as a wild ass among men; his hand shall be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell over against all his brethren.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And he will be a wild{H6501} man{H120}; his hand{H3027} will be against every man, and every man's hand{H3027} against him; and he shall dwell{H7931} in the presence{H6440} of all his brethren{H251}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Genesis 25:18
- And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that [is] before Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyria: [and] he died in the presence of all his brethren.
Genesis 21:20
- And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.
Job 39:5
- Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass?
Job 39:8
- The range of the mountains [is] his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing.
Genesis 27:40
- And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.
Job 11:12
- For vain man would be wise, though man be born [like] a wild ass's colt.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Genesis 16:12
Genesis 16:12 is part of the narrative concerning Hagar, the Egyptian maidservant of Sarah, and her son Ishmael, fathered by Abraham. The verse contains a prophecy about Ishmael's future, given by an angel of the Lord to Hagar when she flees from Sarah's harsh treatment.
**Themes:**
1. **Divine Promise and Prediction:** The verse reflects the theme of divine foreknowledge and promise, as the angel foretells Ishmael's character and lifestyle.
2. **Isolation and Conflict:** Ishmael is described as being contentious, living a life filled with strife, symbolized by his hand being against others and theirs against him.
3. **Survival and Coexistence:** Despite the conflict, Ishmael will live in the presence of his brethren, indicating a complex relationship with his relatives, likely a reference to the descendants of Isaac.
**Historical Context:**
The historical context of this verse is set in the patriarchal era, around the 2nd millennium BCE. Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar are central figures in a narrative that deals with family dynamics, the struggle with infertility, and the establishment of God's covenant. The birth of Ishmael and the subsequent birth of Isaac to Sarah set the stage for the unfolding drama between the siblings and their descendants, which will have significant implications for the Middle East and the religious traditions that will emerge from these lineages.
Ishmael is considered the progenitor of the Ishmaelites, and by extension, some Islamic traditions trace the Arab peoples back to him. The verse's prophecy is often interpreted as reflecting the nomadic and sometimes contentious lifestyle of the Arab tribes in the ancient Near East.
In summary, Genesis 16:12 encapsulates themes of divine intervention, family conflict, and the foreshadowing of the complex relationships between the descendants of Abraham, which will have lasting effects on the region's history and the interrelated religious narratives of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
*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: H6501
There are 10 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פֶּרֶא
Transliteration: pereʼ
Pronunciation: peh'-reh
Description: or פֶּרֶה; (Jeremiah 2:24), from פָּרָא in the secondary sense of running wild; the onager; wild (ass). - Strong's Number: H120
There are 581 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָדָם
Transliteration: ʼâdâm
Pronunciation: aw-dawm'
Description: from אָדַם; ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.); [idiom] another, [phrase] hypocrite, [phrase] common sort, [idiom] low, man (mean, of low degree), person. - Strong's Number: H3027
There are 1447 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָד
Transliteration: yâd
Pronunciation: yawd
Description: a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows); a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),; ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves. - Strong's Number: H7931
There are 123 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁכַן
Transliteration: shâkan
Pronunciation: shaw-kan'
Description: a primitive root (apparently akin (by transmission) to שָׁכַב through the idea of lodging; compare סִכְלוּת, שָׁכַם); to reside or permanently stay (literally or figuratively); abide, continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-er), have habitation, inhabit, lay, place, (cause to) remain, rest, set (up). - Strong's Number: H6440
There are 1890 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פָּנִים
Transliteration: pânîym
Pronunciation: paw-neem'
Description: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from פָּנָה); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.); [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you. - Strong's Number: H251
There are 636 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָח
Transliteration: ʼâch
Pronunciation: awkh
Description: a primitive word; a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance (like father)); another, brother(-ly); kindred, like, other. Compare also the proper names beginning with 'Ah-' or 'Ahi-'.