Genesis16

Sarai, being barren, gave her Egyptian handmaid Hagar to Abram to bear children. Hagar conceived, but then despised Sarai, leading Sarai to deal harshly with her, causing Hagar to flee into the wilderness. The Angel of the LORD found Hagar, commanded her to return and submit, and promised her a numerous seed through a son named Ishmael. Hagar then bore Ishmael to Abram when he was eighty-six years old.
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Sarai Gives Hagar to Abram

1
Now Abram’s wife Sarai had borne him no children, but she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar. ​
2
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. ​
3
So after he had lived in Canaan for ten years, his wife Sarai took her Egyptian maidservant Hagar and gave her to Abram to be his wife. ​
4
And he slept with Hagar, and she conceived. But when Hagar realized that she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress.

Conflict and Hagar’s Flight

5
Then Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be upon you! I delivered my servant into your arms, and ever since she saw that she was pregnant, she has treated me with contempt. May the LORD judge between you and me.” ​
6
“Here,” said Abram, “your servant is in your hands. Do whatever you want with her.” Then Sarai treated Hagar so harshly that she fled from her. ​

The Angel of the LORD Appears to Hagar

7
Now the angel of the LORD found Hagar by a spring of water in the desert—the spring along the road to Shur. ​
8
“Hagar, servant of Sarai,” he said, “where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I am running away from my mistress Sarai,” she replied.
9
So the angel of the LORD told her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her authority.” ​
10
Then the angel added, “I will greatly multiply your offspring so that they will be too numerous to count.”
11
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. ​
12
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.” ​
13
So Hagar gave this name to the LORD who had spoken to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “Here I have seen the One who sees me!” ​
14
Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi. It is located between Kadesh and Bered.

The Birth of Ishmael

15
And Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram gave the name Ishmael to the son she had borne.
16
Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to him. ​

Study Notes for Genesis 16

Verse 1

Hagar was an Egyptian slave, likely acquired during Abram’s stay in Egypt (Gen 12:16). Sarai's barrenness leads to this attempt to secure an heir outside of God’s direct promise, reflecting a lack of faith.

Verse 2

Sarai employs the common ancient Near Eastern practice of using a slave (a 'seed-bearer') to provide a surrogate heir. Abram’s compliance indicates a reliance on cultural custom rather than the unique, miraculous promise of God.

Verse 3

Ten years had passed since Abram entered Canaan (Gen 12:4). This delay tested their faith, prompting them to seek a human solution to fulfill the covenant promise.

Verse 5

Sarai shifts the blame to Abram for the consequence of her own plan, requesting divine judgment. This highlights how attempts to shortcut God’s timing often lead to internal conflict and relational damage.

Verse 6

Abram abdicates his responsibility by returning Hagar entirely to Sarai's control. Sarai's 'dealing hardly' (likely abusive treatment) causes Hagar to flee into the dangerous wilderness, risking death.

Verse 7

This is the first appearance of the 'Angel of the LORD,' often interpreted by scholars as a pre-incarnate appearance of God (a Christophany), due to the authority he exercises and the divine names Hagar later attributes to him.

Verse 9

The command to 'return and submit' emphasizes the divine ordering of relationships, even in difficult circumstances. Hagar is instructed to return to the covenant household, despite the abuse she endured.

Verse 11

The name Ishmael (Hebrew: Yishma'el) means 'God hears.' This signifies that God is attentive to the plight of the marginalized and afflicted, even those outside the immediate covenant line of promise.

Verse 12

This prophecy describes the characteristics of the nomadic Ishmaelites: fiercely independent ('wild donkey of a man') and often in conflict. Yet, he will 'dwell in the presence' of his kin, establishing a sovereign territory.

Verse 13

Hagar names God El-Roi ('God Who Sees Me'). She is the only person in Genesis to give God a personal name based on her experience, recognizing His intimate knowledge and care for her while alone.

Verse 16

Abram was 86 years old. Thirteen years passed between Ishmael’s birth and the covenant renewal in Genesis 17, during which time Ishmael was presumably viewed as the sole heir.

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