King James Version
Genesis 16
16 verses with commentary
Hagar and Ishmael
Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Ha...</strong> This passage is part of the Abrahamic narratives which shift from universal human history to God's particular covenant people. The Abraham cycle (Genesis 12-25) demonstrates God's sovereign election, covenant faithfulness, and the development of faith through testing and promise...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
XVI.
THE SON OF THE BONDWOMAN.
(1) **Now Sarai.**—The history of Abram is given in a succession of brief narratives, written possibly by the patriarch himself; and though papyrus was known at Ur (*Trans. Soc. Bibl. Arch., *i. 343, ii. 430), yet the absence of any convenient writing material for ordinary use would oblige men in those ancient days to content themselves with short inscriptions, like ...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**4. This shall not be thine heir--**To the first part of his address no reply was given; but having renewed it in a spirit of more becoming submission, "whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it" [Ge 15:8], he was delighted by a most explicit promise of Canaan, which was immediately confirmed by a remarkable ceremony.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 16
Chapter Outline
Sarai gives Hagar to Abram.(1-3)
Hagar's misbehaviour to Sarai.(4-6)
The Angel commands Hagar to return, The promise to her Birth of Ishmael.(7-16)
**Verses 1-3**
Sarai, no longer expecting to have children herself, proposed to Abram to take another wife, whose children she might; her slave, whose children would be her property. This was done withou...
Read full commentary →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. obtain: Heb. be built by her
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in ...</strong> This passage is part of the Abrahamic narratives which shift from universal human history to God's particular covenant people. The Abraham cycle (Genesis 12-25) demonstrates God's sovereign election, covenant faithfulness, and the development of faith through testing and promise...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(2) **That I may obtain children by her.**—Heb., *that I may be builded by her. *The words, *ben=*a son, *bath *(originally *banth*)*=*a daughter, *baith *(*banith*) =a house, and *bânâh=*to build, all belong to the same root in Hebrew, the idea being that the children build the house, and give a man the pledge of continuance. Until late times the tent was the habitation, while the house was the f...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 16
Chapter Outline
Sarai gives Hagar to Abram.(1-3)
Hagar's misbehaviour to Sarai.(4-6)
The Angel commands Hagar to return, The promise to her Birth of Ishmael.(7-16)
**Verses 1-3**
Sarai, no longer expecting to have children herself, proposed to Abram to take another wife, whose children she might; her slave, whose children would be her property. This was done withou...
Read full commentary →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.
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land...</strong> This passage is part of the Abrahamic narratives which shift from universal human history to God's particular covenant people. The Abraham cycle (Genesis 12-25) demonstrates God's sovereign election, covenant faithfulness, and the development of faith through testing and promise...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(3) **Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan.**—He was now, therefore, eighty-five years of age (see Genesis 16:16 and Genesis 12:4), and this long delay had not only tried his faith, but brought him and Sarai to the conclusion that the promised seed was to be obtained by other means.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 16
Chapter Outline
Sarai gives Hagar to Abram.(1-3)
Hagar's misbehaviour to Sarai.(4-6)
The Angel commands Hagar to return, The promise to her Birth of Ishmael.(7-16)
**Verses 1-3**
Sarai, no longer expecting to have children herself, proposed to Abram to take another wife, whose children she might; her slave, whose children would be her property. This was done withou...
Read full commentary →And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress ...</strong> This passage is part of the Abrahamic narratives which shift from universal human history to God's particular covenant people. The Abraham cycle (Genesis 12-25) demonstrates God's sovereign election, covenant faithfulness, and the development of faith through testing and promise...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(4) **Her mistress was despised.**—Hagar, we are told in Genesis 16:3, was to be, not Abram’s concubine, but his wife. She was to be Sarai’s representative, and though now she would hold the highest place in the household next to Sarai, because of this relation to Abram, yet she would continue to be Sarai’s maid. But no sooner had she conceived, than, proud of her superiority over her mistress, sh...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 4-6**
Abram's unhappy marriage to Hagar very soon made a great deal of mischief. We may thank ourselves for the guilt and grief that follow us, when we go out of the way of our duty. See it in this case, Passionate people often quarrel with others, for things of which they themselves must bear the blame. Sarai had given her maid to Abram, yet she cries out, My wrong be upon thee. That...
Read full commentary →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.
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she ...</strong> This passage is part of the Abrahamic narratives which shift from universal human history to God's particular covenant people. The Abraham cycle (Genesis 12-25) demonstrates God's sovereign election, covenant faithfulness, and the development of faith through testing and promise...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(5) **My wrong be upon thee.**—That is, *May the wrong done to me be avenged upon thee. *Sarai’s act had been one of self-denial for Abram’s sake, and now that it has led to her being treated insolently she makes Abram answerable for it.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 4-6**
Abram's unhappy marriage to Hagar very soon made a great deal of mischief. We may thank ourselves for the guilt and grief that follow us, when we go out of the way of our duty. See it in this case, Passionate people often quarrel with others, for things of which they themselves must bear the blame. Sarai had given her maid to Abram, yet she cries out, My wrong be upon thee. That...
Read full commentary →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. as: Heb. that which is good in thine eyes dealt: Heb. afflicted her
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when ...</strong> This passage is part of the Abrahamic narratives which shift from universal human history to God's particular covenant people. The Abraham cycle (Genesis 12-25) demonstrates God's sovereign election, covenant faithfulness, and the development of faith through testing and promise...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(6) **Sarai dealt hardly with her.**—The verb is translated *afflicted *in Exodus 1:11 and Isaiah 60:14; its more exact meaning is, *Sarai humbled her, *that is, reduced her to her original condition. It was quite right that as Hagar had abused her elevation, Abram should make her yield to Sarai all due respect and submission; but in making her resume her old position as a slave, Sarai was possibl...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**9-21. Take me an heifer, &c.--**On occasions of great importance, when two or more parties join in a compact, they either observe precisely the same rites as Abram did, or, where they do not, they invoke the lamp as their witness. According to these ideas, which have been from time immemorial engraven on the minds of Eastern people, the Lord Himself condescended to enter into covenant with A...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 4-6**
Abram's unhappy marriage to Hagar very soon made a great deal of mischief. We may thank ourselves for the guilt and grief that follow us, when we go out of the way of our duty. See it in this case, Passionate people often quarrel with others, for things of which they themselves must bear the blame. Sarai had given her maid to Abram, yet she cries out, My wrong be upon thee. That...
Read full commentary →And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the...</strong> This passage is part of the Abrahamic narratives which shift from universal human history to God's particular covenant people. The Abraham cycle (Genesis 12-25) demonstrates God's sovereign election, covenant faithfulness, and the development of faith through testing and promise...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(7) **The angel of the Lord.**—Heb., *of Jehovah. *(See Excursus at end of Book.)
**In the way to Shur.**—Hagar evidently fled by the usual route leading from Hebron past Beer-sheba to Egypt. The wilderness was that of Paran, in which Kadesh was situated. The fountain by which Hagar was sitting was on the road to Shur, which is a desert on the eastern side of Egypt, forming the boundary of the ter...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**9-21. Take me an heifer, &c.--**On occasions of great importance, when two or more parties join in a compact, they either observe precisely the same rites as Abram did, or, where they do not, they invoke the lamp as their witness. According to these ideas, which have been from time immemorial engraven on the minds of Eastern people, the Lord Himself condescended to enter into covenant with A...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 7-16**
Hagar was out of her place, and out of the way of her duty, and going further astray, when the Angel found her. It is a great mercy to be stopped in a sinful way, either by conscience or by providence. Whence comest thou? Consider that thou art running from duty, and the privileges thou wast blest with in Abram's tent. It is good to live in a religious family, which those ought...
Read full commentary →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.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And he said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee...</strong> This passage is part of the Abrahamic narratives which shift from universal human history to God's particular covenant people. The Abraham cycle (Genesis 12-25) demonstrates God's sovereign election, covenant faithfulness, and the development of faith through testing and promise...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(8) **Whence camest thou?**—It is noteworthy that in these Divine communications God’s knowledge of all the circumstances is not presumed, but the person visited is led on to tell them. This adds very much to the freshness and poetry of the narrative. Here, however, in the address, *Hagar, Sarai’s maid, *the angel, at least, shows that he is aware who she is, and also reminds her of what she had f...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**9-21. Take me an heifer, &c.--**On occasions of great importance, when two or more parties join in a compact, they either observe precisely the same rites as Abram did, or, where they do not, they invoke the lamp as their witness. According to these ideas, which have been from time immemorial engraven on the minds of Eastern people, the Lord Himself condescended to enter into covenant with A...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 7-16**
Hagar was out of her place, and out of the way of her duty, and going further astray, when the Angel found her. It is a great mercy to be stopped in a sinful way, either by conscience or by providence. Whence comest thou? Consider that thou art running from duty, and the privileges thou wast blest with in Abram's tent. It is good to live in a religious family, which those ought...
Read full commentary →And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands....</strong> This passage is part of the Abrahamic narratives which shift from universal human history to God's particular covenant people. The Abraham cycle (Genesis 12-25) demonstrates God's sovereign election, covenant faithfulness, and the development of faith through testing and promise...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(9) **Submit thyself.**—Heb., *humble thyself. *It is the verb translated *dealt hardly *in Genesis 16:6. The angel therefore commands her to take the position which Sarai was forcing upon her; and by so doing proves to us that there had been no personal maltreatment. Commentators have taken this notion, not from the Hebrew, but from the English Version.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**9-21. Take me an heifer, &c.--**On occasions of great importance, when two or more parties join in a compact, they either observe precisely the same rites as Abram did, or, where they do not, they invoke the lamp as their witness. According to these ideas, which have been from time immemorial engraven on the minds of Eastern people, the Lord Himself condescended to enter into covenant with A...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 7-16**
Hagar was out of her place, and out of the way of her duty, and going further astray, when the Angel found her. It is a great mercy to be stopped in a sinful way, either by conscience or by providence. Whence comest thou? Consider that thou art running from duty, and the privileges thou wast blest with in Abram's tent. It is good to live in a religious family, which those ought...
Read full commentary →And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be ...</strong> This passage is part of the Abrahamic narratives which shift from universal human history to God's particular covenant people. The Abraham cycle (Genesis 12-25) demonstrates God's sovereign election, covenant faithfulness, and the development of faith through testing and promise...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(10) **I will multiply thy seed.**—We have here the purpose of the Divine manifestation. Abram’s son must not be mixed up with and lost among the debased population of Egypt, but must be the father of a free people; and Hagar will now submit to her lot as a slave, that she may secure liberty for her offspring.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**9-21. Take me an heifer, &c.--**On occasions of great importance, when two or more parties join in a compact, they either observe precisely the same rites as Abram did, or, where they do not, they invoke the lamp as their witness. According to these ideas, which have been from time immemorial engraven on the minds of Eastern people, the Lord Himself condescended to enter into covenant with A...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 7-16**
Hagar was out of her place, and out of the way of her duty, and going further astray, when the Angel found her. It is a great mercy to be stopped in a sinful way, either by conscience or by providence. Whence comest thou? Consider that thou art running from duty, and the privileges thou wast blest with in Abram's tent. It is good to live in a religious family, which those ought...
Read full commentary →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. Ishmael: that is, God shall hear
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shal...</strong> This passage is part of the Abrahamic narratives which shift from universal human history to God's particular covenant people. The Abraham cycle (Genesis 12-25) demonstrates God's sovereign election, covenant faithfulness, and the development of faith through testing and promise...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(11) **Ishmael.**—That is, *God heareth. *Like Samuel, Ishmael received his name from the events of his mother’s life, and not from anything in his own. There was, however, no rule in this matter, and the naming of children in the Book of Genesis is very diversified.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**9-21. Take me an heifer, &c.--**On occasions of great importance, when two or more parties join in a compact, they either observe precisely the same rites as Abram did, or, where they do not, they invoke the lamp as their witness. According to these ideas, which have been from time immemorial engraven on the minds of Eastern people, the Lord Himself condescended to enter into covenant with A...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 7-16**
Hagar was out of her place, and out of the way of her duty, and going further astray, when the Angel found her. It is a great mercy to be stopped in a sinful way, either by conscience or by providence. Whence comest thou? Consider that thou art running from duty, and the privileges thou wast blest with in Abram's tent. It is good to live in a religious family, which those ought...
Read full commentary →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.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and...</strong> This passage is part of the Abrahamic narratives which shift from universal human history to God's particular covenant people. The Abraham cycle (Genesis 12-25) demonstrates God's sovereign election, covenant faithfulness, and the development of faith through testing and promise...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(12) **He will be a wild man.**—Heb., *he will be a wild-ass man. *The wild ass of the Arabian deserts is a very noble creature, and is one of the animals selected in the Book of Job as especially exemplifying the greatness of God (Job 39:5-8). Its characteristics are great speed, love of solitude, and an untamable fondness of liberty. It is thus the very type of the Bedaween Arabs, whose delight ...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**9-21. Take me an heifer, &c.--**On occasions of great importance, when two or more parties join in a compact, they either observe precisely the same rites as Abram did, or, where they do not, they invoke the lamp as their witness. According to these ideas, which have been from time immemorial engraven on the minds of Eastern people, the Lord Himself condescended to enter into covenant with A...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 7-16**
Hagar was out of her place, and out of the way of her duty, and going further astray, when the Angel found her. It is a great mercy to be stopped in a sinful way, either by conscience or by providence. Whence comest thou? Consider that thou art running from duty, and the privileges thou wast blest with in Abram's tent. It is good to live in a religious family, which those ought...
Read full commentary →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?
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I als...</strong> This passage is part of the Abrahamic narratives which shift from universal human history to God's particular covenant people. The Abraham cycle (Genesis 12-25) demonstrates God's sovereign election, covenant faithfulness, and the development of faith through testing and promise...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(13) **Thou God seest me.**—Heb., *Thou art El Boi, *that is, a God of seeing. Not as Onkelos paraphrases it, “Thou art a God that sees all things,” but “Thou art a God that permits Himself to be seen.” For so Hagar proceeds herself to explain the name, *Do not I still see after seeing? *With all the love of an Oriental for dark sayings, Hagar plays upon the word “*roï,” *but her meaning is plain:...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**9-21. Take me an heifer, &c.--**On occasions of great importance, when two or more parties join in a compact, they either observe precisely the same rites as Abram did, or, where they do not, they invoke the lamp as their witness. According to these ideas, which have been from time immemorial engraven on the minds of Eastern people, the Lord Himself condescended to enter into covenant with A...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 7-16**
Hagar was out of her place, and out of the way of her duty, and going further astray, when the Angel found her. It is a great mercy to be stopped in a sinful way, either by conscience or by providence. Whence comest thou? Consider that thou art running from duty, and the privileges thou wast blest with in Abram's tent. It is good to live in a religious family, which those ought...
Read full commentary →Wherefore the well was called Beerlahairoi ; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered. Beerlahairoi: that is, The well of him that liveth and seeth me
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Wherefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered....</strong> This passage is part of the Abrahamic narratives which shift from universal human history to God's particular covenant people. The Abraham cycle (Genesis 12-25) demonstrates God's sovereign election, covenant faithfulness, and the development of faith through testing and promise fulfillment.<b...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(14) **Beer-lahai-roi.**—That is, *Well of the living-seeing *(of God), the well where God has been seen, and the beholder still lives. It became afterwards a favourite dwelling-place of Isaac (Genesis 25:11), and was probably, therefore, surrounded by pastures, but its site has not been identified. For Kadesh see Genesis 14:7. Bered is absolutely unknown.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Rea...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**9-21. Take me an heifer, &c.--**On occasions of great importance, when two or more parties join in a compact, they either observe precisely the same rites as Abram did, or, where they do not, they invoke the lamp as their witness. According to these ideas, which have been from time immemorial engraven on the minds of Eastern people, the Lord Himself condescended to enter into covenant with A...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 7-16**
Hagar was out of her place, and out of the way of her duty, and going further astray, when the Angel found her. It is a great mercy to be stopped in a sinful way, either by conscience or by providence. Whence comest thou? Consider that thou art running from duty, and the privileges thou wast blest with in Abram's tent. It is good to live in a religious family, which those ought...
Read full commentary →And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son's name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael.
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son's name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael....</strong> This passage is part of the Abrahamic narratives which shift from universal human history to God's particular covenant people. The Abraham cycle (Genesis 12-25) demonstrates God's sovereign election, covenant faithfulness, and the development of faith through testing and promise fulfillment....
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**9-21. Take me an heifer, &c.--**On occasions of great importance, when two or more parties join in a compact, they either observe precisely the same rites as Abram did, or, where they do not, they invoke the lamp as their witness. According to these ideas, which have been from time immemorial engraven on the minds of Eastern people, the Lord Himself condescended to enter into covenant with A...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 7-16**
Hagar was out of her place, and out of the way of her duty, and going further astray, when the Angel found her. It is a great mercy to be stopped in a sinful way, either by conscience or by providence. Whence comest thou? Consider that thou art running from duty, and the privileges thou wast blest with in Abram's tent. It is good to live in a religious family, which those ought...
Read full commentary →And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram....</strong> This passage is part of the Abrahamic narratives which shift from universal human history to God's particular covenant people. The Abraham cycle (Genesis 12-25) demonstrates God's sovereign election, covenant faithfulness, and the development of faith through testing and promise fulfillment.<br><br>Cen...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**9-21. Take me an heifer, &c.--**On occasions of great importance, when two or more parties join in a compact, they either observe precisely the same rites as Abram did, or, where they do not, they invoke the lamp as their witness. According to these ideas, which have been from time immemorial engraven on the minds of Eastern people, the Lord Himself condescended to enter into covenant with A...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 7-16**
Hagar was out of her place, and out of the way of her duty, and going further astray, when the Angel found her. It is a great mercy to be stopped in a sinful way, either by conscience or by providence. Whence comest thou? Consider that thou art running from duty, and the privileges thou wast blest with in Abram's tent. It is good to live in a religious family, which those ought...
Read full commentary →