Genesis 16:2

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.

Complete Jewish Bible:

so Sarai said to Avram, "Here now, ADONAI has kept me from having children; so go in and sleep with my slave-girl. Maybe I'll be able to have children through her."Avram listened to what Sarai said.

Berean Standard Bible:

So Sarai said to Abram, “Look now, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Please go to my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.

American Standard Version:

And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, Jehovah hath restrained me from bearing; go in, I pray thee, unto my handmaid; it may be that I shall obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And Sarai^{H8297} said^{H559} unto Abram^{H87}, Behold now, the LORD^{H3068} hath restrained me^{H6113} from bearing^{H3205}: I pray thee, go in^{H935} unto my maid^{H8198}; it may^{H194} be that I may obtain children^{H1129} by her. And Abram^{H87} hearkened^{H8085} to the voice^{H6963} of Sarai^{H8297}.

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Commentary for Genesis 16:2

**Themes:**

1. **Infertility and Desperation:** Sarai (later known as Sarah) is unable to conceive, which is a source of deep anguish in the ancient world where fertility is equated with divine favor and barrenness is seen as a curse or shame.
2. **Surrogate Motherhood:** Sarai proposes the use of her Egyptian maid, Hagar, as a surrogate to bear a child for her and Abram (later called Abraham), reflecting the cultural practices of the time regarding infertility and the use of servants or slaves as a means to produce an heir.
3. **Faith and Human Initiative:** The verse highlights the complex interplay between faith in God's promises and human attempts to fulfill those promises through their own actions.
4. **Social Hierarchy and Power Dynamics:** The relationship between Sarai, Hagar, and Abram reflects the patriarchal and hierarchical social structure of the time, where women, especially servants, had limited autonomy and were subject to the decisions of their male relatives or owners.

**Historical Context:**

- **Cultural Norms:** In ancient Near Eastern societies, it was common for a barren wife to provide her husband with a concubine or servant to bear children on her behalf. This practice was a means to ensure familial continuity and inheritance.
- **God's Covenant:** Abram has received a promise from God that he would father a great nation (Genesis 12:2-3), but neither he nor Sarai have seen the fulfillment of this promise due to Sarai's barrenness. This situation leads to the tension culminating in Sarai's proposal.
- **Egyptian Servant:** Hagar's presence in Abram's household likely stems from the time Abram and Sarai spent in Egypt (Genesis 12:10-20), where Abram presented Sarai as his sister to protect himself, and she was taken into Pharaoh's house. In return, Abram received livestock and servants, including Hagar.
- **Patriarchal Society:** The decision-making power rested with Abram, and to a lesser extent with Sarai, over Hagar, who would have had little to no say in the matter.

In summary, Genesis 16:2 reflects the themes of infertility, surrogacy, and human initiative in response to divine promises within the patriarchal and hierarchical context of the ancient Near East. It also sets the stage for the complex dynamics that will unfold between Sarai, Hagar, and Abram, as well as their descendants.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H8297
   There are 13 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׂרַי
   Transliteration: Sâray
   Pronunciation: saw-rah'-ee
   Description: from שַׂר; dominative; Sarai, the wife of Abraham; Sarai.
   
2. 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.
   
3. Strong's Number: H87
   There are 17014 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אַבְרָם
   Transliteration: ʼAbrâm
   Pronunciation: ab-rawm'
   Description: contracted from אֲבִירָם; high father; Abram, the original name of Abraham; Abram.
   
4. 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.
   
5. Strong's Number: H6113
   There are 45 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָצָר
   Transliteration: ʻâtsâr
   Pronunciation: aw-tsar'
   Description: a primitive root; to inclose; by analogy, to hold back; also to maintain, rule, assemble; [idiom] be able, close up, detain, fast, keep (self close, still), prevail, recover, refrain, [idiom] reign, restrain, retain, shut (up), slack, stay, stop, withhold (self).
   
6. 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).
   
7. Strong's Number: H935
   There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בּוֹא
   Transliteration: bôwʼ
   Pronunciation: bo
   Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way.
   
8. Strong's Number: H8198
   There are 58 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שִׁפְחָה
   Transliteration: shiphchâh
   Pronunciation: shif-khaw'
   Description: feminine from an unused root meaning to spread out (as a family; see מִשְׁפָּחָה); a female slave (as a member of the household); (bond-, hand-) maid(-en, -servant), wench, bondwoman, womanservant.
   
9. Strong's Number: H194
   There are 98 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אוּלַי
   Transliteration: ʼûwlay
   Pronunciation: oo-lah'ee
   Description: or (shortened) אֻלַי; from אוֹ; if not; hence perhaps; if so be, may be, peradventure, unless.
   
10. Strong's Number: H1129
    There are 345 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בָּנָה
    Transliteration: bânâh
    Pronunciation: baw-naw'
    Description: a primitive root; to build (literally and figuratively); (begin to) build(-er), obtain children, make, repair, set (up), [idiom] surely.
    
11. 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.
    
12. Strong's Number: H6963
    There are 436 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: קוֹל
    Transliteration: qôwl
    Pronunciation: kole
    Description: or קֹל; from an unused root meaning to call aloud; a voice or sound; [phrase] aloud, bleating, crackling, cry ([phrase] out), fame, lightness, lowing, noise, [phrase] hold peace, (pro-) claim, proclamation, [phrase] sing, sound, [phrase] spark, thunder(-ing), voice, [phrase] yell.