New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Genesis 16
1
Abram's wife Sarai had never had any children by him. But she had a female servant from Egypt named Hagar.
Reference
People
Parallel theme
Galatians 4:24
Genesis 12:16
Genesis 21:12
Genesis 11:30
Genesis 25:21
Luke 1:7
Luke 1:36
Judges 13:2
References Egypt
Genesis 21:21
2
So she said to Abram, "The Lord has kept me from having children. Go and make love to my servant. Maybe I can have a family through her." Abram agreed to what Sarai had said.
Reference
3
After he had been living in Canaan for ten years, his wife Sarai gave him her servant Hagar to be his wife.
Reference
Parallel theme
Genesis 16:5
4
He made love to Hagar. And she became pregnant. When Hagar knew she was pregnant, she began to look down on the woman who owned her.
Reference
Parallel theme
Proverbs 30:23
5
Then Sarai said to Abram, "It's your fault that I'm suffering like this. I put my servant in your arms. Now that she knows she's pregnant, she looks down on me. May the Lord judge between you and me. May he decide which of us is right."
Reference
6
"Your servant belongs to you," Abram said. "Do with her what you think is best." Then Sarai treated Hagar badly. So Hagar ran away from her.
Reference
Parallel theme
Jeremiah 38:5
7
The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring of water in the desert. The spring was beside the road to Shur.
Reference
📍 Shur
People
Parallel theme
Exodus 15:22
Genesis 25:18
Genesis 21:17
Genesis 31:11
Genesis 20:1
1 Samuel 15:7
References Lord
Proverbs 15:3
Genesis 22:15
Genesis 22:11
8
He said, "Hagar, you are the servant of Sarai. Where have you come from? Where are you going?" "I'm running away from my owner Sarai," she answered.
Reference
9
Then the angel of the Lord told her, "Go back to the woman who owns you. Obey her."
10
The angel continued, "I will greatly increase the number of your children after you. You will have more of them than anyone can count."
Reference
11
The angel of the Lord also said to her, "You are now pregnant. You will have a son. You will name him Ishmael. That is because the Lord has heard about your suffering.
Reference
Parallel theme
Psalm 22:24
Genesis 17:19
Job 38:41
Exodus 3:9
Luke 1:63
Luke 1:13
Luke 1:31
References Lord
Exodus 3:7
Isaiah 7:14
1 Samuel 1:20
12
He will be like a wild donkey. He will use his power against everyone. And everyone will be against him. He will not be friendly toward any of his relatives."
Reference
13
She gave a name to the Lord who spoke to her. She called him "You are the God who sees me." That's because she said, "I have now seen the One who sees me."
Reference
References God
Genesis 32:30
Genesis 31:42
References Lord
Proverbs 5:21
Proverbs 15:3
Genesis 16:7
Genesis 22:14
14
That's why the well was named Beer Lahai Roi. It's still there, between Kadesh and Bered.
Reference
📍 Bered
15
So Hagar had a son by Abram. And Abram gave the name Ishmael to the son she had by him.
Reference
People
Parallel theme
Genesis 25:12
16
Abram was 86 years old when Hagar had Ishmael by him.
Chapter Summary
Genesis chapter sixteen resumes the saga that was left hanging at the end of chapter fifteen: Abram and Sarai still do not have a child together, even though God has promised to bless them with one. This time, however, the situation provokes actions with consequences far beyond the family.
The chapter opens with a reminder that Sarai has not been able to bear children forAbram, but she does have an Egyptian servant, Hagar (Genesis 16:1). Sarai proposes a solution to the problem: "The Lord hath withholden me from children: go in, I pray thee, unto my maid, that she may bear children unto thee" (Genesis 16:2). This suggestion was not unusual in those days, as the practice was socially acceptable. Nevertheless, the reason for it was impatience, and Abram accepted the offer. Hagar became pregnant.
Everything went well until Hagar discovered that she was pregnant; her attitude towards Sarai soon began to change. It seems that she considered herself on a level with her mistress, and this prompted Sarai to treat Hagar even more harshly than before. When Sarai complained to Abram about Hagar, he responded that the matter was her responsibility: "thy maid-servant, keep her under thine hand" (Genesis 16:6). Sarai harassed Hagar, who soon fled into the desert near a well on the road toShur.
There, Hagar meets with theangel of the Lord, who speaks to her and asks her where she is going and where she came from. She tells the angel that she is running away from her mistress, Sarai (Genesis 16:8). The angel tells her to return to Sarai and submit to her. At first glance, this may seem like an unreasonable order since Hagar has every reason to resent her mistress. However, the angel assured Hagar that God would bless her with many descendants, so that she could notcount them (Genesis 16:10). In addition, the angel of the Lord tells Hagar that she will have a son, and she shall call him Ishmael, because the Lord has heard thy complaint (Genesis 16:11).
The name Ishmael means God has heard, and this message carries a special meaning for Hagar because it is connected with her flight. The angel predicts that Ishmael will be a wild man: "And he shall be a wild man; his hand shall be against every man, and every man's hand against him" (Genesis 16:12). Nevertheless, the Lord has destined him to become the ancestor of a mighty nation.
Hagar praises theLord for His mercy: "And she called the name of the Lord, Who spake unto her, Thou art a God of sight" (Genesis 16:13). And she named the wellBeer-lahai-roi, which means "Well of the Living God" (Genesis 16:14). Perhaps this is one of the most remarkable examples of how God looks after his servants. Despite the hardships and harassment, Hagar remained faithful to God, and He rewarded her with eternal glory and gave her a son.
Hagar returned to Sarai, who treated her with less hostility. Hagar soon gave birth to Abram's son, whom he named Ishmael. The last verse in the chapter tells us that Abram was eighty-six years old when Ishmael was born.
There is much drama and intrigue in this chapter of the Bible, as jealousy and anger lead to grievous sins. Sarai, unable to have a child, suggests to Abram that he take her maid-servant Hagar for his wife. From a human point of view, this suggestion was not unreasonable, but it shows how impulsive Sarai was. It also shows us that human actions are often influenced by emotions, not reason. This episode demonstrates that God cares not only about His chosen people, Abram, but also about all people in general. That is why Hagar, a humble servant, was also heard by God and promised that her son would be great.
It is also noteworthy that the Bible devotes several verses to the fate of Hagar. A person treated with dignity and respect can expect some reward from the Lord. However, even ordinary people who have earned the scorn and hatred of other people can receive special mercy from God.
The chapter opens with a reminder that Sarai has not been able to bear children forAbram, but she does have an Egyptian servant, Hagar (Genesis 16:1). Sarai proposes a solution to the problem: "The Lord hath withholden me from children: go in, I pray thee, unto my maid, that she may bear children unto thee" (Genesis 16:2). This suggestion was not unusual in those days, as the practice was socially acceptable. Nevertheless, the reason for it was impatience, and Abram accepted the offer. Hagar became pregnant.
Everything went well until Hagar discovered that she was pregnant; her attitude towards Sarai soon began to change. It seems that she considered herself on a level with her mistress, and this prompted Sarai to treat Hagar even more harshly than before. When Sarai complained to Abram about Hagar, he responded that the matter was her responsibility: "thy maid-servant, keep her under thine hand" (Genesis 16:6). Sarai harassed Hagar, who soon fled into the desert near a well on the road toShur.
There, Hagar meets with theangel of the Lord, who speaks to her and asks her where she is going and where she came from. She tells the angel that she is running away from her mistress, Sarai (Genesis 16:8). The angel tells her to return to Sarai and submit to her. At first glance, this may seem like an unreasonable order since Hagar has every reason to resent her mistress. However, the angel assured Hagar that God would bless her with many descendants, so that she could notcount them (Genesis 16:10). In addition, the angel of the Lord tells Hagar that she will have a son, and she shall call him Ishmael, because the Lord has heard thy complaint (Genesis 16:11).
The name Ishmael means God has heard, and this message carries a special meaning for Hagar because it is connected with her flight. The angel predicts that Ishmael will be a wild man: "And he shall be a wild man; his hand shall be against every man, and every man's hand against him" (Genesis 16:12). Nevertheless, the Lord has destined him to become the ancestor of a mighty nation.
Hagar praises theLord for His mercy: "And she called the name of the Lord, Who spake unto her, Thou art a God of sight" (Genesis 16:13). And she named the wellBeer-lahai-roi, which means "Well of the Living God" (Genesis 16:14). Perhaps this is one of the most remarkable examples of how God looks after his servants. Despite the hardships and harassment, Hagar remained faithful to God, and He rewarded her with eternal glory and gave her a son.
Hagar returned to Sarai, who treated her with less hostility. Hagar soon gave birth to Abram's son, whom he named Ishmael. The last verse in the chapter tells us that Abram was eighty-six years old when Ishmael was born.
There is much drama and intrigue in this chapter of the Bible, as jealousy and anger lead to grievous sins. Sarai, unable to have a child, suggests to Abram that he take her maid-servant Hagar for his wife. From a human point of view, this suggestion was not unreasonable, but it shows how impulsive Sarai was. It also shows us that human actions are often influenced by emotions, not reason. This episode demonstrates that God cares not only about His chosen people, Abram, but also about all people in general. That is why Hagar, a humble servant, was also heard by God and promised that her son would be great.
It is also noteworthy that the Bible devotes several verses to the fate of Hagar. A person treated with dignity and respect can expect some reward from the Lord. However, even ordinary people who have earned the scorn and hatred of other people can receive special mercy from God.