Genesis 16:3

And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.

And Sarai {H8297} Abram's {H87} wife {H802} took {H3947} Hagar {H1904} her maid {H8198} the Egyptian {H4713}, after {H7093} Abram {H87} had dwelt {H3427} ten {H6235} years {H8141} in the land {H776} of Canaan {H3667}, and gave {H5414} her to her husband {H376} Abram {H87} to be his wife {H802}.

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.

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.

And Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her handmaid, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to Abram her husband to be his wife.

Commentary

Context of Genesis 16:3

Genesis 16:3 describes a pivotal moment in the life of Abram and Sarai, detailing their attempt to fulfill God's promise of a multitude of descendants through their own human means. This verse occurs after God had solemnly promised Abram an heir from his own body, despite Sarai's advanced age and barrenness. Ten years had passed since Abram had settled in the land of Canaan, and Sarai remained childless. In ancient Near Eastern culture, it was a common, though not ideal, practice for a barren wife to give her maidservant to her husband to bear children on her behalf, with those children legally considered the wife's own. Sarai, acting on this cultural custom rather than waiting on God's miraculous intervention, took her Egyptian maidservant, Hagar, and presented her to Abram.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Human Initiative vs. Divine Timing: This verse powerfully illustrates the human tendency to try and "help" God fulfill His promises, especially when His timing seems slow or His methods unclear. Sarai's action, while culturally permissible, was a step outside of God's perfect plan for the covenant line.
  • Consequences of Impatience: The decision to involve Hagar, born out of impatience and a lack of faith in God's unconventional methods, immediately led to strife within Abram's household (Genesis 16:4-6) and ultimately resulted in generations of conflict through the birth of Ishmael.
  • Trusting God's Faithfulness: The narrative implicitly challenges readers to consider the importance of unwavering faith in God's ability to fulfill His word, even when circumstances seem to contradict it. It highlights that God's promises do not require human manipulation or shortcuts to come to fruition.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife" signifies Hagar's elevated status from a mere maidservant to a secondary wife or concubine (Hebrew: pilgesh). This was a legally recognized arrangement in many ancient Near Eastern societies, where the children born to the concubine were legally attributed to the primary wife. However, it was distinct from the status of a primary wife like Sarai, and it was not the divine method God intended for the continuation of the covenant promise.

Practical Application

Genesis 16:3 serves as a timeless cautionary tale for believers today. It reminds us that God's plans are perfect and do not require our human ingenuity or shortcuts to be accomplished. When faced with delays, challenges, or seemingly impossible situations, our response should be continued faith and patient waiting on the Lord, rather than resorting to schemes born of anxiety or impatience. Trusting God's perfect timing, even when it is uncomfortable or defies logic, ultimately prevents unforeseen complications and aligns us with His ultimate will. This story encourages believers to truly wait on the Lord, knowing that those who wait on Him will renew their strength.

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Cross-References

  • Genesis 12:4 (3 votes)

    ¶ So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram [was] seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.

  • Genesis 12:5 (3 votes)

    And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.

  • Genesis 16:5 (3 votes)

    And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong [be] upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee.

  • Galatians 4:25 (2 votes)

    For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.

  • Genesis 30:4 (2 votes)

    And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her.

  • Genesis 28:9 (2 votes)

    Then went Esau unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham's son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife.

  • Genesis 30:9 (2 votes)

    When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob to wife.