Genesis 21:16

KJV

And she went, and sat her down over against [him] a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against [him], and lift up her voice, and wept.

KJV (with Strong's)

And she went {H3212}, and sat her down {H3427} over against {H5048} him a good way off {H7368}, as it were a bowshot {H2909}{H7198}: for she said {H559}, Let me not see {H7200} the death {H4194} of the child {H3206}. And she sat {H3427} over against him, and lift up {H5375} her voice {H6963}, and wept {H1058}.

Complete Jewish Bible

and went and sat down, looking the other way, about a bow-shot's distance from him; because she said, "I can't bear to watch my child die." So she sat there, looking the other way, crying out and weeping.

Berean Standard Bible

Then she went off and sat down nearby, about a bowshot away, for she said, “I cannot bear to watch the boy die!” And as she sat nearby, she lifted up her voice and wept.

American Standard Version

And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not look upon the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lifted up her voice, and wept.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Genesis 21:16 powerfully depicts Hagar's profound maternal anguish and utter helplessness as she separates herself from her son, Ishmael, in the desolate wilderness. Unable to endure the sight of his imminent death from thirst, she retreats a short distance, expressing her overwhelming grief and despair through a heart-wrenching cry and deep weeping, a poignant testament to the agonizing reality of her dire circumstances.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated at a critical juncture in the patriarchal narrative of Abraham's family. Following the miraculous birth of Isaac, the son of promise, tensions between Sarah and Hagar, and by extension, their sons, Ishmael and Isaac, escalate. Sarah demands Hagar and Ishmael's expulsion, a demand Abraham finds distressing until God explicitly instructs him to comply, assuring him that Ishmael will also become a great nation because he is Abraham's offspring (cf. [Genesis 21:9-13](/genesis/21-9-13 "Sarah's demand and God's instruction")). Thus, Hagar and Ishmael are sent into the wilderness of Beer-sheba, equipped with only bread and a skin of water. Verse 16 captures the nadir of their journey, as their provisions are exhausted, and Ishmael is on the brink of death, setting the stage for divine intervention in the subsequent verses (cf. [Genesis 21:17-19](/genesis/21-17-19 "God hears Ishmael and provides for Hagar")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The scene reflects the harsh realities of desert travel and survival in the ancient Near East. Water was a precious commodity, and its depletion meant almost certain death. The "wilderness of Beer-sheba" was a semi-arid region, prone to extreme heat and scarcity of resources, making survival dependent on knowledge of water sources or divine provision. Hagar's status as an Egyptian maidservant, though she bore Abraham's first son, placed her and Ishmael in a vulnerable position within the patriarchal household, ultimately leading to their banishment. The act of moving "a bowshot" away signifies a culturally understood distance for a specific purpose, in this case, to avoid a traumatic sight, yet remain within earshot or visual range, indicating a desperate clinging to proximity even in despair.
* **Key Themes:** Genesis 21:16 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the book of Genesis and the broader biblical narrative. It highlights the theme of **human suffering and vulnerability** in the face of overwhelming circumstances, particularly for the marginalized. It also implicitly underscores the theme of **divine providence and compassion**, as Hagar's despair ultimately precedes God's timely intervention, demonstrating His attentiveness to the cries of the afflicted, even those outside the immediate covenant line (cf. [Genesis 16:7-13](/genesis/16-7-13 "God's first encounter with Hagar in the wilderness")). Furthermore, the narrative of Ishmael's preservation reinforces God's faithfulness to His promise to Abraham that Ishmael would also become a great nation (cf. [Genesis 17:20](/genesis/17-20 "God's promise regarding Ishmael")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Genesis 21:16 is a deeply emotional verse, portraying Hagar's profound anguish and desperate attempt to cope with the imminent death of her son, Ishmael. Her actions are not of abandonment, but of a mother's overwhelming love and helplessness in the face of an unbearable tragedy.

#### Key Word Analysis
* **sat (Hebrew, _yâshab'_):** From H3427, meaning "to sit down," specifically "to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain." In this context, Hagar's act of sitting down "over against him" suggests a posture of resignation and quiet despair, a final resting place before the inevitable, yet still within a proximity that underscores her inability to truly leave him.
* **death (Hebrew, _mâveth'_):** From H4194, meaning "death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead, their place or state (hades); figuratively, pestilence, ruin." Hagar's plea, "Let me not see the death of the child," reveals the raw horror she anticipates. It's not just the physical cessation of life, but the complete and utter ruin of her son, a sight too grievous for a mother to bear.
* **wept (Hebrew, _bâkâh'_):** From H1058, a primitive root meaning "to weep; generally to bemoan; [idiom] at all, bewail, complain, make lamentation, [idiom] more, mourn, [idiom] sore, [idiom] with tears, weep." This word describes a deep, uncontrolled, and profound expression of sorrow. Hagar's weeping is not a quiet shedding of tears but a loud, unrestrained lament, signifying the complete breakdown of her composure in the face of overwhelming grief and powerlessness.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And she went, and sat her down over against [him] a good way off, as it were a bowshot:"** Hagar's initial action is a deliberate physical separation from her dying son. The phrase "a good way off, as it were a bowshot" (approximately 100-200 yards) indicates a calculated distance – far enough to avoid the direct sight of his death throes, yet close enough to remain connected to his presence. This act is born not of abandonment, but of an instinctual desire to shield herself from an unbearable trauma, highlighting her profound emotional distress and helplessness.
* **"for she said, Let me not see the death of the child."** This parenthetical explanation reveals Hagar's inner turmoil and the rationale behind her action. Her spoken words articulate the depth of her maternal love and the excruciating pain of watching her son perish. It is a desperate plea to herself, a final attempt to exert some control over an uncontrollable and devastating situation by avoiding the ultimate sight of his demise.
* **"And she sat over against [him], and lift up her voice, and wept."** The repetition of "she sat over against him" emphasizes her continued proximity despite her desire for distance, underscoring her inability to truly leave him. The culmination of her despair is expressed through a loud, unrestrained outburst of grief. The phrase "lift up her voice, and wept" signifies a deep, uncontrolled lament, a raw and uninhibited expression of profound sorrow, distress, and utter hopelessness in the face of her son's imminent death.

#### Literary Devices
The verse powerfully employs **Pathos**, evoking deep sympathy and sorrow for Hagar's plight. Her actions—moving away to avoid seeing her son die, her desperate plea, and her unrestrained weeping—are designed to elicit a strong emotional response from the reader, highlighting the universal pain of maternal grief and helplessness. The **Setting** of the desolate wilderness functions as a potent **Symbol** of extreme vulnerability, isolation, and testing, emphasizing the dire circumstances and the complete lack of human resources. This stark backdrop intensifies the emotional impact of Hagar's despair. Furthermore, the narrative implicitly uses **Foreshadowing**, as Hagar's desperate cries and Ishmael's silent suffering set the stage for the miraculous divine intervention that immediately follows, hinting at God's compassionate attentiveness even in the most desolate moments.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Genesis 21:16 is a poignant testament to the depths of human despair and the reality of suffering, yet it also subtly prepares the reader for the unfolding of divine compassion. Hagar's raw grief and powerlessness underscore humanity's inherent vulnerability and absolute dependence on a higher power when all earthly resources are exhausted. Her cries, though seemingly unheard by humans, implicitly reach the divine ear, setting the stage for God's providential care. This narrative affirms that God is attentive to the cries of the afflicted, regardless of their social standing or covenantal relationship, demonstrating His universal compassion and commitment to His promises.

* [Genesis 16:13](/genesis/16-13 "Hagar's encounter with the God Who Sees")
* [Psalm 34:17-18](/psalms/34-17-18 "The Lord hears the cries of the righteous and is near to the brokenhearted")
* [Isaiah 41:17](/isaiah/41-17 "God provides for the poor and needy who seek water")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Genesis 21:16 offers a profound and deeply human reflection on the experience of overwhelming grief and helplessness. Hagar's desperate act of distancing herself from her dying son, coupled with her heart-wrenching lament, resonates with anyone who has faced circumstances beyond their control, particularly when a loved one is suffering. This verse reminds us that it is natural to feel immense pain, despair, and powerlessness in the face of such trials. It validates the raw, uninhibited expression of sorrow as a legitimate human response to loss. While Hagar's situation appears utterly hopeless from a human perspective, the narrative implicitly points to the truth that even in our deepest valleys, when we feel completely abandoned and our resources are depleted, God is often drawing near. Her weeping, though born of despair, is a cry that God hears, inviting us to bring our own brokenness and cries to Him, trusting in His compassionate presence and providential care, even when we cannot see a way forward.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do you typically respond when faced with situations where you feel utterly helpless or powerless to change a difficult outcome?**
* **In what ways does Hagar's raw expression of grief encourage or challenge your own understanding of lament and sorrow in the face of suffering?**
* **How does the knowledge that God hears the cries of the distressed, even when human hope is exhausted, impact your perspective on personal trials?**

### FAQ
**Why did Hagar choose to move away from Ishmael?**

Answer: Hagar moved away from Ishmael because she could not bear the excruciating pain of witnessing his death from thirst. Her desperate plea, "Let me not see the death of the child," reveals her profound maternal love and her attempt to shield herself from the unbearable trauma of his final moments. It was an act born of overwhelming anguish, not abandonment.

**Does Hagar's despair indicate a lack of faith?**

Answer: Hagar's despair is portrayed as a raw, authentic human response to an overwhelming and seemingly hopeless situation. While it highlights her immediate emotional state and lack of visible hope, the narrative does not necessarily frame it as a deficiency in faith. Instead, it serves to emphasize the depths of human need, thereby magnifying the subsequent divine intervention and God's compassionate response to the cries of the afflicted, even when human hope is exhausted (cf. [Genesis 21:17](/genesis/21-17 "God hears Ishmael's cry")).

**What is the significance of the wilderness in this narrative?**

Answer: In biblical narratives, the wilderness often serves as a powerful **symbol** of testing, purification, and absolute dependence on God. For Hagar and Ishmael, it represents extreme vulnerability, isolation, and the stripping away of all human resources, pushing them to the brink of survival. It is in this desolate and seemingly God-forsaken place that divine intervention becomes most evident, highlighting God's ability to provide and sustain even in the most dire circumstances (cf. [Deuteronomy 8:2-3](/deuteronomy/8-2-3 "God tests Israel in the wilderness")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Genesis 21:16 depicts Hagar's profound human despair in the face of physical death, it powerfully foreshadows humanity's deeper spiritual thirst and the ultimate provision found in Jesus Christ. Hagar and Ishmael's desperate need for water in the wilderness mirrors the spiritual desolation of a world parched by sin, longing for true life. Jesus, the ultimate "living water" (cf. [John 4:10-14](/john/4-10-14 "Jesus offers living water to the Samaritan woman")), offers eternal sustenance to those who are spiritually dying. He is the "bread of life" (cf. [John 6:35](/john/6-35 "Jesus is the bread of life")) who satisfies the deepest hunger, rescuing us from the spiritual wilderness of sin and death. Furthermore, Hagar's experience of abandonment and subsequent divine rescue reflects God's compassionate heart for the marginalized and suffering, a compassion perfectly embodied in Jesus, who came "to seek and to save the lost" (cf. [Luke 19:10](/luke/19-10 "Jesus came to seek and save the lost")) and invites all who are "weary and heavy-laden" to find rest in Him (cf. [Matthew 11:28](/matthew/11-28 "Come to me, all who are weary")). Her desperate cry for life, met by God's intervention, prefigures the ultimate hope and new life offered through Christ's redemptive work on the cross, where He bore the ultimate abandonment so that we might never be forsaken.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Esther 8:6

For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?

Isaiah 49:15

Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.

1 Kings 3:26

Then spake the woman whose the living child [was] unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, [but] divide [it].

Judges 2:4

And it came to pass, when the angel of the LORD spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept.

1 Samuel 24:16

¶ And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, [Is] this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.

Genesis 27:38

And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, [even] me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept.

1 Samuel 30:4

Then David and the people that [were] with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.