King James Version

What Does Genesis 16:5 Mean?

Genesis 16:5 in the King James Version says “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 con...” — study this verse from Genesis chapter 16 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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.”

Genesis 16:5 · KJV

Context

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. as: Heb. that which is good in thine eyes dealt: Heb. afflicted her

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.

Read Genesis 16 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she ... 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.

Central themes include God's unconditional covenant promises (land, descendants, blessing to nations), the call to faith and obedience, the testing of faith through delays and impossibilities, the contrast between divine promises and human schemes, and God's gracious persistence despite human failures. Abraham emerges as the father of faith whose trust in God's promises becomes the model for all believers (Romans 4, Galatians 3, Hebrews 11).

Theologically, these narratives establish: (1) salvation by grace through faith rather than works; (2) covenant as God's gracious initiative binding Himself to His people; (3) the necessity of patient trust when promises seem impossible; (4) the consequences of attempting to fulfill God's promises through human effort; (5) the pattern of divine testing producing mature faith. The Abraham cycle foreshadows Christ as the ultimate seed through whom blessing extends to all nations (Galatians 3:16).

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Historical & Cultural Context

The patriarchal narratives (Genesis 12-50) reflect the cultural, social, and legal customs of the ancient Near East during the Middle Bronze Age (2000-1500 BCE). Archaeological discoveries including the Mari tablets, Nuzi tablets, and Egyptian records confirm many details: nomadic pastoralism, covenant-making ceremonies, marriage customs, property laws, and international travel patterns described in Genesis.

The cultural practices reflected include: treaty/covenant forms (Genesis 15), bride-price customs (Genesis 24, 29), inheritance laws favoring firstborn sons (Genesis 25, 27), adoption practices (Genesis 15, 30), levirate-type arrangements (Genesis 38), and Egyptian administrative systems (Genesis 41, 47). These parallels confirm Genesis's historical reliability while showing how God worked within ancient cultural frameworks to accomplish His purposes.

For later Israelites, these narratives established their identity as Abraham's descendants, explained their claim to Canaan, justified their possession of Joseph's bones (Exodus 13:19), and provided models of faith despite imperfection. The patriarchs' failures and God's faithfulness encouraged Israel that covenant relationship depended on God's grace rather than human merit. The movement from Mesopotamia to Canaan to Egypt set the stage for the Exodus and conquest narratives.

Reflection Questions

  1. What theological truths about Hagar and Ishmael emerge from this passage?
  2. How should this truth about Divine Compassion shape our daily decisions and priorities?
  3. In what ways does this narrative foreshadow or typify aspects of Christ's redemptive work?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 19 words
וַתֹּ֨אמֶר1 of 19

“said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

שָׂרַ֣י2 of 19

“And Sarai”

H8297

sarai, the wife of abraham

אֶל3 of 19
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

אַבְרָם֮4 of 19

“unto Abram”

H87

abram, the original name of abraham

חֲמָסִ֣י5 of 19

“My wrong”

H2555

violence; by implication, wrong; by metonymy unjust gain

עָלֶיךָ֒6 of 19
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

אָֽנֹכִ֗י7 of 19
H595

i

נָתַ֤תִּי8 of 19

“be upon thee I have given”

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

שִׁפְחָתִי֙9 of 19

“my maid”

H8198

a female slave (as a member of the household)

בְּחֵיקֶ֔ךָ10 of 19

“into thy bosom”

H2436

the bosom (literally or figuratively)

וַתֵּ֙רֶא֙11 of 19

“and when she saw”

H7200

to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)

כִּ֣י12 of 19
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

הָרָ֔תָה13 of 19

“that she had conceived”

H2029

to be (or become) pregnant, conceive (literally or figuratively)

וָֽאֵקַ֖ל14 of 19

“I was despised”

H7043

to be (causatively, make) light, literally (swift, small, sharp, etc.) or figuratively (easy, trifling, vile, etc.)

בְּעֵינֶ֑יהָ15 of 19

“in her eyes”

H5869

an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)

יִשְׁפֹּ֥ט16 of 19

“judge”

H8199

to judge, i.e., pronounce sentence (for or against); by implication, to vindicate or punish; by extenssion, to govern; passively, to litigate (literal

יְהוָ֖ה17 of 19

“the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

בֵּינִ֥י18 of 19
H996

between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction, either...or

וּבֵינֶֽיׄךָ׃19 of 19
H996

between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction, either...or

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Genesis. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Genesis 16:5 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Genesis 16:5 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Genesis 31:53Exodus 5:212 Chronicles 24:22Psalms 35:23Luke 10:40-411 Samuel 24:12-15

Test Your Knowledge

Genesis 16 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterGenesis Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

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