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.

Sarai Gives Hagar to Abram

1
Now Sarai Avram's wife had not borne him a child. But she had an Egyptian slave-girl named Hagar; ​
2
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. ​
3
It was after Avram had lived ten years in the land of Kena'an that Sarai Avram's wife took Hagar the Egyptian, her slave-girl, and gave her to Avram her husband to be his wife. ​
4
Avram had sexual relations with Hagar, and she conceived. But when she became aware that she was pregnant, she looked on her mistress with contempt.

Conflict and Hagar’s Flight

5
Sarai said to Avram, "This outrage being done to me is your fault! True, I gave my slave-girl to you to sleep with; but when she saw that she was pregnant, she began holding me in contempt. May ADONAI decide who is right - I or you!" ​
6
However, Avram answered Sarai, "Look, she's your slave-girl. Deal with her as you think fit."Then Sarai treated her so harshly that she ran away from her. ​

The Angel of the LORD Appears to Hagar

7
The angel of ADONAI found her by a spring in the desert, the spring on the road to Shur, ​
8
and said, "Hagar! Sarai's slave-girl! Where have you come from, and where are you going?" She answered, "I'm running away from my mistress Sarai."
9
The angel of ADONAI said to her, "Go back to your mistress, and submit to her authority." ​
10
The angel of ADONAI said to her, "I will greatly increase your descendants; there will be so many that it will be impossible to count them."
11
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. ​
12
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." ​
13
So she named ADONAI who had spoken with her El Ro'i [God of seeing], because she said, "Have I really seen the One who sees me [and stayed alive]?" ​
14
This is why the well has been called Be'er-Lachai-Ro'i [well of the one who lives and sees]; it lies between Kadesh and Bered.

The Birth of Ishmael

15
Hagar bore Avram a son, and Avram called the son whom Hagar had borne Yishma'el.
16
Avram was 86 years old when Hagar bore Yishma'el to Avram. ​

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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