Genesis - Chapter 16

Plot of Genesis 16

The chapter of Genesis 16 tells the story of Sarai, Abram's wife, and her maidservant Hagar. Sarai believes she is unable to have children and so she suggests that Abram take Hagar as a second wife. Hagar soon conceives a son whom Abram names Ishmael. Sarai is jealous of Hagar and her son and so she treats Hagar harshly, leading Hagar to flee from Sarai's presence.

The angel of the Lord finds Hagar by a spring of water in the wilderness and tells her that she will have a son who will be a wild man. He also tells her to return to Sarai and submit herself to her. Hagar names the angel of the Lord "You are the God who sees me" and so the well is called Beer-Lahai-Roi (the Well of the Living One who Sees Me).

Hagar gives birth to Ishmael and Abram is eighty-six years old when she does. Ishmael is known to be a wild man, whose hand is against every man, and every man's hand is against him. He lives in the presence of all his brothers.

Hagar's Arrogance

¹ Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no [children.] And she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar.

² So Sarai said to Abram, "See now, the LORD has restrained me from bearing [children.] Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her." And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai.

³ Then Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar her maid, the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan.

⁴ So he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress became despised in her eyes.

⁵ Then Sarai said to Abram, "My wrong [be] upon you! I gave my maid into your embrace; and when she saw that she had conceived, I became despised in her eyes. The LORD judge between you and me."

⁶ So Abram said to Sarai, "Indeed your maid [is] in your hand; do to her as you please." And when Sarai dealt harshly with her, she fled from her presence.

Birth of Ishmael

⁷ Now the Angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur.

⁸ And He said, "Hagar, Sarai's maid, where have you come from, and where are you going?" She said, "I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai."

⁹ The Angel of the LORD said to her, "Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hand."

¹⁰ Then the Angel of the LORD said to her, "I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be counted for multitude."

¹¹ And the Angel of the LORD said to her: "Behold, you [are] with child, And you shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, Because the LORD has heard your affliction.

¹² He shall be a wild man; His hand [shall be] against every man, And every man's hand against him. And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren."

¹³ Then she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, "Have I also here seen Him who sees me?"

¹⁴ Therefore the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; observe, [it is] between Kadesh and Bered.

¹⁵ So Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram named his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael.

¹⁶ Abram [was] eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.