King James Version

What Does Genesis 21:14 Mean?

Genesis 21:14 in the King James Version says “And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on h...” — study this verse from Genesis chapter 21 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.”

Genesis 21:14 · KJV

Context

12

And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.

13

And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.

14

And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.

15

And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.

16

And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot : for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept.

Read Genesis 21 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Ha... 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 Isaac's Birth emerge from this passage?
  2. What specific changes in thinking or behavior does this verse call us to make?
  3. In what ways does this narrative foreshadow or typify aspects of Christ's redemptive work?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 21 words
וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֣ם1 of 21

“rose up early”

H7925

literally, to load up (on the back of man or beast), i.e., to start early in the morning

אַבְרָהָ֣ם׀2 of 21

“And Abraham”

H85

abraham, the later name of abram

בַּבֹּ֡קֶר3 of 21

“in the morning”

H1242

properly, dawn (as the break of day); generally, morning

וַיִּֽקַּֽח4 of 21

“and took”

H3947

to take (in the widest variety of applications)

לֶחֶם֩5 of 21

“bread”

H3899

food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it)

וְחֵ֨מַת6 of 21

“and a bottle”

H2573

a skin bottle (as tied up)

מַ֜יִם7 of 21

“of water”

H4325

water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen

וַיִּתֵּ֣ן8 of 21

“and gave”

H5414

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

אֶל9 of 21
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

הָ֠גָר10 of 21

“it unto Hagar”

H1904

hagar, the mother of ishmael

שָׂ֧ם11 of 21

“putting”

H7760

to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)

עַל12 of 21
H5921

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

שִׁכְמָ֛הּ13 of 21

“it on her shoulder”

H7926

the neck (between the shoulders) as the place of burdens; figuratively, the spur of a hill

וְאֶת14 of 21
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

הַיֶּ֖לֶד15 of 21

“and the child”

H3206

something born, i.e., a lad or offspring

וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֶ֑הָ16 of 21

“and sent her away”

H7971

to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)

וַתֵּ֣לֶךְ17 of 21
H1980

to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)

וַתֵּ֔תַע18 of 21

“and wandered”

H8582

to vacillate, i.e., reel or stray (literally or figuratively); also causative of both

בְּמִדְבַּ֖ר19 of 21

“in the wilderness”

H4057

a pasture (i.e., open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert

בְּאֵ֥ר20 of 21
H0
שָֽׁבַע׃21 of 21

“of Beersheba”

H884

beer-sheba, a place in palestine

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 21:14 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 21:14 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ecclesiastes 9:10Genesis 25:6Genesis 21:31John 8:35Genesis 26:31Psalms 119:60

Places in This Verse

Beersheba 2Settlement · Modern: Tel Beer Sheva · 31.24°N, 34.84°E10 verses across 1 book
View all places in Genesis 21 →

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