Genesis 21:18

KJV

Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.

KJV (with Strong's)

Arise {H6965}, lift up {H5375} the lad {H5288}, and hold {H2388} him in thine hand {H3027}; for I will make {H7760} him a great {H1419} nation {H1471}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Get up, lift the boy up, and hold him tightly in your hand, because I am going to make him a great nation."

Berean Standard Bible

Get up, lift up the boy, and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.”

American Standard Version

Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thy hand; for I will make him a great nation.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
[Genesis 21:18](/genesis/21-18 "Divine Promise to Ishmael") marks a pivotal moment of divine intervention, where God responds to the desperate cries of Hagar and Ishmael in the wilderness of Beersheba. Facing certain death from thirst, Hagar is commanded by an angel of God to "Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation," reaffirming a prior promise and demonstrating God's compassion and unwavering providence even outside the primary covenant line.

### CONTEXT
This verse immediately follows a deeply emotional scene where Hagar, believing her son Ishmael to be on the brink of death, lays him under a shrub and moves away, unable to watch him perish. Her profound despair is met by her own and Ishmael’s cries, which God hears, as detailed in [Genesis 21:17](/genesis/21-17 "God hears Ishmael's cry"). It is in direct response to these cries that the angel of God calls to Hagar from heaven, delivering the life-saving instruction and renewed promise found in [Genesis 21:18](/genesis/21-18 "God's command and promise to Hagar"). This divine intervention precedes God opening Hagar's eyes to a well of water, which ultimately saves their lives. The promise to make Ishmael a "great nation" echoes earlier divine assurances made to Abraham in [Genesis 17:20](/genesis/17-20 "God's blessing and promise for Ishmael"), where God promised that Ishmael would live, be blessed, and become the father of twelve princes and indeed a "great nation." Furthermore, even before Ishmael's birth, an angel had told Hagar that her descendants would be innumerable, as recorded in [Genesis 16:10](/genesis/16-10 "Angel's promise of numerous descendants to Hagar").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
[Genesis 21:18](/genesis/21-18 "God's command and promise to Hagar") captures God's direct and compassionate response to Hagar's and Ishmael's distress. The command "Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand" is not merely an instruction but an empowering call to action. It signifies an end to despair and the beginning of renewed hope, urging Hagar to take physical hold of her son, symbolizing her active participation in God's provision. The subsequent declaration, "for I will make him a great nation," serves as the divine basis for this renewed hope, shifting the focus from immediate survival to a grand future. This promise, while distinct from the Abrahamic covenant established through Isaac, underscores God's faithfulness to His word, even concerning those outside the primary covenant lineage.

* **Divine Compassion and Providence:** God's intervention highlights His universal compassion. Despite Ishmael not being the child of the covenant through whom the Abrahamic lineage would continue, God demonstrates His attentiveness to the cries of the distressed and His commitment to provide for all His creation. This act showcases God’s sovereign care extending beyond the immediate covenant family.
* **God's Unwavering Promises:** The reaffirmation of the promise to make Ishmael a "great nation" (Hebrew: *goy gadol*) demonstrates God's steadfastness. This exact phrase is notably used in God's initial promise to Abraham in [Genesis 12:2](/genesis/12-2 "God's promise to make Abraham a great nation"), emphasizing that while Ishmael's lineage would be distinct from Isaac's, God still had a significant plan and future for his descendants, fulfilling a divine decree previously given to Abraham and Hagar.
* **Hope in Despair:** The command to "Arise" and "lift up the lad" is a powerful message of hope. In a moment of profound despair, when Hagar had resigned herself to her son's death, God intervenes to assure her that life is not over and that a future, indeed a significant one, awaits Ishmael. This divine assurance transforms a scene of imminent death into one of renewed purpose and provision.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
* **God's Universal Sovereignty and Compassion:** This passage illustrates that God's care extends beyond the chosen covenant line to all humanity, demonstrating His compassion for the vulnerable and His sovereign power to intervene in desperate situations.
* **Faithfulness to All Promises:** God's reaffirmation of the promise to Ishmael, despite the complex human circumstances, underscores His unwavering faithfulness to every word He speaks, even those not directly tied to the primary redemptive covenant.
* **Divine Hearing and Response:** The narrative emphasizes God's attentiveness to the cries of the afflicted, serving as a theological truth that God hears and responds to human suffering, often providing in unexpected ways.
* **Hope Amidst Despair:** The command to "Arise" and the subsequent provision of water signify that God can bring hope and life to the most desperate circumstances, transforming sorrow into a future.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
[Genesis 21:18](/genesis/21-18 "God's command and promise to Hagar") offers profound encouragement for believers today, reminding us of God's active involvement in our lives. It assures us that even when we feel abandoned or forgotten, God is attentive to our cries and the cries of those around us, seeing our suffering and knowing our deepest needs. In our moments of greatest despair, God often provides a way forward, sometimes through unexpected means, calling us to trust in His providence and to "arise" in faith. This passage reinforces the enduring truth that God's character is faithful, and His promises are true; we can rely on His word for our future and the future of those we care about, even when circumstances seem to contradict His loving intentions.

### FAQ
**Why did God save Ishmael if the covenant was through Isaac?**

Answer: God's salvation of Ishmael demonstrates His universal compassion and faithfulness to all His promises, not just those concerning the primary covenant line. While the covenant of redemption and the lineage of the Messiah would come through Isaac, God had previously made specific promises to Abraham and Hagar regarding Ishmael's descendants (e.g., [Genesis 17:20](/genesis/17-20 "God's blessing and promise for Ishmael")), and God is faithful to every word He speaks. His mercy extends beyond the chosen people to all who cry out to Him.

**What is the significance of the phrase "great nation" for Ishmael?**

Answer: The phrase "great nation" (Hebrew: *goy gadol*) signifies that Ishmael would indeed have a significant lineage and future, fulfilling God's earlier promise. While distinct from the covenant nation of Israel, Ishmael's descendants would form powerful and numerous peoples, acknowledging God's sovereign plan for diverse nations. This echoes the same language used for Abraham in [Genesis 12:2](/genesis/12-2 "God's promise to make Abraham a great nation"), highlighting God's grand design for humanity.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While [Genesis 21:18](/genesis/21-18 "God's command and promise to Hagar") directly concerns God's promise to Ishmael, it points to Christ in its demonstration of divine compassion, provision, and faithfulness. Christ is the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises, the one who hears the cries of all humanity in their distress, offering not just physical water but the living water that quenches spiritual thirst (John 4:10-14). Just as God brought hope and life to Hagar and Ishmael in the wilderness, Christ brings eternal life and hope to a world lost in spiritual barrenness. Through Him, the promise of blessing to "all the families of the earth" (Genesis 12:3) finds its ultimate realization, extending God's compassionate salvation to all nations, including the descendants of Ishmael, who can find redemption and true belonging in the family of God through faith in Jesus Christ.

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.