King James Version

What Does Genesis 21:17 Mean?

Genesis 21:17 in the King James Version says “And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth t... — study this verse from Genesis chapter 21 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.

Genesis 21:17 · KJV


Context

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.

17

And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.

18

Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.

19

And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unt... 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 obstacles prevent us from living out the truths presented in this verse?
  3. In what ways does this narrative foreshadow or typify aspects of Christ's redemptive work?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 28 words
שָׁמַ֧ע1 of 28

hath heard

H8085

to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)

אֱלֹהִ֛ים2 of 28

And God

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

אֶת3 of 28
H853

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

ק֥וֹל4 of 28

the voice

H6963

a voice or sound

הַנַּ֖עַר5 of 28

of the lad

H5288

(concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a servant; also (by interch. of sex), a girl (of similar latit

וַיִּקְרָא֩6 of 28

called

H7121

to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)

מַלְאַ֨ךְ7 of 28

and the angel

H4397

a messenger; specifically, of god, i.e., an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher)

אֱלֹהִ֛ים8 of 28

And God

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

אֶל9 of 28
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

הָגָ֑ר10 of 28

to Hagar

H1904

hagar, the mother of ishmael

מִן11 of 28
H4480

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם12 of 28

out of heaven

H8064

the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר13 of 28

and said

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

לָ֖הּ14 of 28
H0
מַה15 of 28
H4100

properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and

לָּ֣ךְ16 of 28
H0
הָגָ֑ר17 of 28

to Hagar

H1904

hagar, the mother of ishmael

אַל18 of 28
H408

not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing

תִּ֣ירְאִ֔י19 of 28

fear

H3372

to fear; morally to revere; causatively to frighten

כִּֽי20 of 28
H3588

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

שָׁמַ֧ע21 of 28

hath heard

H8085

to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)

אֱלֹהִ֛ים22 of 28

And God

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

אֶל23 of 28
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

ק֥וֹל24 of 28

the voice

H6963

a voice or sound

הַנַּ֖עַר25 of 28

of the lad

H5288

(concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a servant; also (by interch. of sex), a girl (of similar latit

בַּֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר26 of 28
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

הוּא27 of 28
H1931

he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo

שָֽׁם׃28 of 28
H8033

there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence


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 21:17 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 21:17 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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