Genesis 21:18

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

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}.

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

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

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

Commentary

Genesis 21:18 presents a pivotal moment of divine intervention and renewed promise in the life of Hagar and her son, Ishmael. After being sent away from Abraham's household, Hagar and Ishmael find themselves stranded in the wilderness of Beersheba, facing certain death from thirst. This verse captures God's compassionate response to their distress.

Context

This verse follows a deeply emotional scene where Hagar, seeing her son Ishmael on the brink of death, lays him under a shrub and moves away, unable to watch him die. She lifts her voice and weeps. The preceding verse, Genesis 21:17, tells us that "God heard the voice of the lad." It is in response to this cry that the angel of God calls to Hagar from heaven, instructing her to "Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation." This divine intervention immediately precedes God opening Hagar's eyes to see a well of water, saving their lives.

The promise to make Ishmael a "great nation" echoes earlier divine assurances. God had previously promised Abraham that Ishmael would live and be blessed, with twelve princes coming from him, and that He would make him a great nation (see Genesis 17:20). Even before Ishmael's birth, an angel had told Hagar that her son would have innumerable descendants (see Genesis 16:10).

Key Themes

  • Divine Compassion and Providence: God hears the cries of the distressed and intervenes directly in their desperate circumstances. Even though Ishmael was not the child of promise through whom the covenant would be established (that was Isaac), God demonstrated His faithfulness to Hagar and Ishmael.
  • God's Unwavering Promises: Despite the difficult circumstances and human failings that led to Hagar and Ishmael's expulsion, God reaffirms His specific promise to make Ishmael a "great nation." This highlights God's sovereignty and His commitment to His word, even to those outside the primary covenant line.
  • Hope in Despair: The command "Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand" is a call to action and a beacon of hope in a moment of profound despair. It assures Hagar that her son's life is not over and that God has a future for him.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "great nation" in Hebrew is goy gadol (ื’ึผื•ึนื™ ื’ึธึผื“ื•ึนืœ). This exact phrase is used elsewhere in the Old Testament, most notably in God's initial promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:2, where God promises to make Abraham himself a "great nation." The repetition here underscores 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.

Practical Application

Genesis 21:18 offers powerful encouragement for believers today. It reminds us that:

  • God Hears: Even when we feel abandoned or forgotten, God is attentive to our cries and the cries of those around us. He sees our suffering and knows our needs.
  • God Provides: In our deepest moments of need, God often provides a way forward, sometimes in unexpected ways. We are called to trust in His providence.
  • God's Promises Endure: God's character is faithful, and His promises are true. Even when circumstances seem to contradict them, we can rely on His word for our future and the future of those we care about.
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Cross-References

  • Genesis 21:13 (6 votes)

    And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he [is] thy seed.

  • Genesis 16:10 (5 votes)

    ยถ And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.

  • 1 Chronicles 1:29 (3 votes)

    These [are] their generations: The firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth; then Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,

  • 1 Chronicles 1:31 (3 votes)

    Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These are the sons of Ishmael.

  • Genesis 17:20 (3 votes)

    And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.

  • Genesis 25:12 (2 votes)

    Now these [are] the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid, bare unto Abraham:

  • Genesis 25:18 (2 votes)

    And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that [is] before Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyria: [and] he died in the presence of all his brethren.