Genesis 16

Abram's wife Sarai is unable to have children, so she gives him her maidservant Hagar to be his wife. Hagar gives birth to Ishmael, but God later tells Abram that Sarai will also have a son, whom they will name Isaac.

Genesis, 16

16
verses
2
min

Bible version

Abraham's Son Ishmael

1 Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.
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.
4 And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.
5 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.
6 But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.
7 And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.
8 And he said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.
9 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.
10 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.
11 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.
12 And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.
13 And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?
14 Wherefore the well was called Beerlahairoi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.
15 And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son's name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael.
16 And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.

Commentary

Genesis 16 is the story of Sarai, the wife of Abram, and her decision to give her Egyptian maidservant, Hagar, to Abram as a wife. Sarai was barren and believed that if she gave her maidservant to Abram, she would be able to have a child through her. Sarai's plan worked, and Hagar became pregnant with Abram's child. The story of Sarai and Hagar is a powerful one. Sarai's decision to give her maidservant to Abram was a desperate attempt to have a child, and it was a decision that would have far-reaching consequences. Hagar's pregnancy caused tension between Sarai and Abram, and Sarai eventually drove Hagar away. The story of Sarai and Hagar is a reminder of the power of desperation and the consequences of our decisions. Sarai's decision to give her maidservant to Abram was a desperate attempt to have a child, and it had far-reaching consequences. The story of Sarai and Hagar is a reminder that our decisions can have far-reaching consequences, and that we should be careful and thoughtful when making decisions.

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FAQ

Assuming a reader with an average reading speed of 300 WPM reads the Genesis, chapter 16 it would take approximately 2 minutes to finish.

There are 16 verses in Genesis, chapter 16.