Genesis 21
21
Birth of Isaac
1Yahweh visited Sarah, # 21:1 We are not told if the Lord appeared to Sarah or visited her in a dream, but it is clear that Yahweh came to her to confirm his promise. just as he said he would, and fulfilled his promise to her. 2And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the exact time God had promised them. 3Abraham named his son Isaac, the miracle son, whom Sarah bore him. 4When Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God had commanded him. 5Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born. 6Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh # 21:6 This verse contains a double allusion to the name Isaac, which means “he laughed.” Every time Abraham and Sarah spoke Isaac’s name, they acknowledged the miracle of God. The name Yitzhak (Isaac) is the word for “laughter” but in the past tense. It could be translated “delayed laughter.” If you had a baby after turning one hundred, you might laugh too! Notice the details of Isaac’s birth and how they foreshadow the birth of our Lord Jesus: (1) Both sons were the promised seed—Gen. 17:6; Isa. 7:14. (2) Both were long awaited—Gen. 12:5–6; 21:1–3; Gal. 4:4. (3) Both had mothers who asked questions—Gen. 18:13–14; Luke 1:34–37. (4) Both had names given before birth—Gen. 17:19; Matt. 1:21. (5) Both births were miraculous—Gen. 21:2; Matt. 1:18. (6) Both sons were a delight to their father—Gen. 22:2; Matt. 3:17. with me.” 7And she added,
“Who would ever have told Abraham
that Sarah would one day nurse children!
Even though Abraham is an old man,
look—I have given him a son!”
Hagar and Ishmael Sent Away
8Isaac grew and was weaned; and on the day Sarah weaned him, Abraham prepared a great feast. 9But Sarah noticed the son of Hagar, the Egyptian, was mocking # 21:9 The Hebrew word used here is built on the root stem from the name Isaac. It is possible to translate it “jesting,” “playing,” or “making fun of [Isaac].” Regardless, Sarah saw it as a threat to her son. See Gal. 4:21–31. her son Isaac. # 21:9 The italicized words are found in both the Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate. 10So she said to Abraham, “Get rid of this slave woman and her son. Banish them, for the son of that slave woman must not become a coheir with my son Isaac!”
11Abraham was very upset over Sarah’s demand, for Ishmael was his son too. 12God spoke to Abraham, # 21:12 Perhaps God spoke to Abraham in a night vision or dream. God still speaks to his prophets today, as he spoke to Abraham. “Don’t be distressed over the slave woman and her son. Listen to every word Sarah says to you, and do it, for it will be through Isaac your promise of descendants will be fulfilled. # 21:12 Or “through Isaac your seed will be counted.” See Rom. 9:7; Gal. 3:16; Heb. 11:18. 13Rest assured, I will make the son of your slave woman into a nation too, because he is your son.”
14Abraham rose up early the next morning, bundled up some food and a skin of water, and strapped them to Hagar’s shoulders. Then he gave her his son and sent them away. So, Hagar and her son Ishmael departed and wandered off into the wilderness of Beersheba.
15When the water was gone, she grew desperate, so she left her son # 21:15 Ishmael was not an infant, for he had been circumcised at thirteen (see Gen. 17:25), and Isaac was born a year afterwards. It was common to wean children at the age of four or five, so Ishmael was at least a teenager when Hagar was sent away. under a bush. 16Then she walked about the distance of a bowshot and sat down, for she thought, “I can’t bear to watch my son die.” As she sat nearby, she broke into tears and sobbed uncontrollably.
17And God heard the voice of the boy. The angel of God called out to Hagar from the heavenly realm # 21:17 Both Ishmael and Isaac were saved by a voice from heaven (see Gen. 22:11). and said, “What’s the matter, Hagar? Don’t be afraid, for God has heard the voice of your son crying as he lies there. 18Get up! Help the boy up and hold him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” 19Then God opened her eyes to reveal a well of water. She went over to the well and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a long, cool drink.
20God was with Ishmael as he grew up in the wilderness of Paran. He became an expert archer, 21and his mother, Hagar, arranged a marriage for him with an Egyptian woman.
Abraham’s Oath to Abimelech
22At that time, King Abimelech and Phicol, # 21:22 Phicol means “strong.” his army commander, came to Abraham and said, “It is obvious that God is with you and blesses everything you do. # 21:22 It was not simply the wealth of Abraham that impressed them; it was also the supernatural healings that took place when Abraham prayed. 23Now swear to me here before God that you will not deceive me, my children, or my descendants, but as I have shown you loyal friendship, so you will treat me—and the land in which you live as a foreigner—with loyal friendship.”
24“I give you my oath,” Abraham answered.
25But Abraham voiced a complaint about a well of water which Abimelech’s servants had seized by force. 26Abimelech responded, “This is the first time I’ve heard about this; you never told me before now. I don’t know who has done this.” 27So Abraham took sheep and cattle, gave them to Abimelech, and the two men made a covenant.
28Then Abraham set apart from his flock seven ewe lambs, 29and Abimelech asked him, “What are you doing with these seven ewe lambs you have set apart?”
30He replied, “I am giving them to you, and by accepting these seven ewe lambs, you acknowledge the proof that I dug this well and it belongs to me.” 31That place was called Beersheba, # 21:31 Beersheba can be translated either “well of seven [lambs]” or “well of the oath.” because it was there that both men swore an oath to one another.
32After completing their pact at Beersheba, King Abimelech and Phicol, his army commander, departed and returned to Philistine country. 33Abraham planted a tamarisk tree # 21:33 A tamarisk tree is a type of evergreen that can grow up to fifty feet. Abraham did not plant the tamarisk tree for landscaping; it was a statement proclaiming his faith. Planting the tree revealed Abraham’s faith and endurance until the time of fruitfulness (see Isa. 65:21–22). in Beersheba, and there he worshiped Yahweh, the everlasting God. # 21:33 Or “El Olam,” which means “God Eternal,” “the Hidden God,” or “the Always God” (see Ps. 90:2). This name proclaims that God is God over Eternity and God over eternal things. Abraham’s heart and focus were turning to the God of Eternity. The things of the earth were growing meaningless to him (see 1 John 2:15–17). El Olam was preparing Abraham to yield his greatest treasure, his son. Only one whose heart is fixed on eternity can ever make sacrifices pleasing to God (see Rom. 12:1; Heb. 13:16). When we see the Eternal One, we can let go of temporary things. Abraham touched eternal life as he dwelt by the tamarisk tree and the well. This was his true preparation for giving up Isaac. 34And Abraham lived many years in peace as a foreigner in Philistine country.
Currently Selected:
Genesis 21: TPT
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
The Passion Translation® is a registered trademark of Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc.
Copyright © 2020 Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc.
Learn More About The Passion TranslationGenesis 21
21
The Birth of Isaac
1And Yahweh visited Sarah as he had said. And Yahweh did to Sarah as he had promised. 2And she conceived, and Sarah bore to Abraham a son in his old age at the appointed time that God had told him. 3And Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac. 4And Abraham circumcised Isaac his son when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. 5And Abraham was one hundred years old when Isaac his son was born to him. 6And Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; all who hear will laugh for me.” 7And she said, “Who would announce to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne a son to Abraham in his old age.”
Hagar and Ishmael
8And the child grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the day Isaac was weaned. 9And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne Abraham, mocking. 10Then she said to Abraham, “Drive out this slave woman and her son, for the son of this slave woman will not be heir with my son, with Isaac.” 11And the matter displeased Abraham very much#Literally “was very bad in the eyes of Abraham” on account of his son. 12Then God said to Abraham, “Do not be displeased#Literally “Do not let it be bad” on account of the boy and on account of the slave woman. Listen to everything that Sarah said to you,#Literally “Everything Sarah said to you, listen with respect to her voice” for through Isaac your offspring will be named. 13And I will also make the son of the slave woman into a nation, for he is your offspring.” 14Then Abraham rose up early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder. And he sent her away with the child, and she went, wandering about in the wilderness, in Beersheba. 15And when the water was finished from the skin, she put the child under one of the bushes. 16And she went and she sat a good distance away,#Literally “she sat with respect to her, opposite, far away, as the shooting of a bow” for she said, “Let me not see the child’s death.” So she sat away from him and lifted up her voice and wept. 17And God heard the cry#Or “voice” of the boy and the angel of God called to Hagar from the heavens and said to her, “What is the matter#Literally “What to you” Hagar? Do not be afraid, for God has heard the cry#Or “voice” of the boy from where he is.#Literally “in which he is there” 18Get up, take up the boy and take him with your hand, for I will make him a great nation.” 19And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water and gave a drink to the boy. 20And God was with the boy, and he grew and lived in the wilderness. And he became an expert with a bow.#Literally “an archer with the bow” 21And he lived in the wilderness of Paran. And his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.
The Covenant Between Abraham and Abimelech
22And it happened that at that time, Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, said to Abraham, “God is with you, in all that you do. 23So now, swear to me here by God that you will not deal with me falsely, or with my descendants, or my posterity. According to the kindness that I have done to you, you shall pledge to do with me and with the land where you have dwelled as an alien.” 24And Abraham said, “I swear.” 25Then Abraham complained to Abimelech on account of the well of water that servants of Abimelech had seized. 26And Abimelech said, “I do not know who did this thing, neither did you tell me, nor have I heard of it except for today.” 27And Abraham took sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelech. And the two of them made#Literally “cut” a covenant. 28Then Abraham set off seven ewe-lambs of the flock by themselves. 29And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What is the meaning of these seven ewe-lambs that you have set off by themselves?” 30And he said, “You shall take the seven ewe-lambs from my hand as proof on my behalf#Literally “for the sake that it shall be a witness for me” that I dug this well.” 31Therefore that place is called Beersheba, because there the two of them swore an oath. 32And they made#Literally “cut” a covenant at Beersheba. And Abimelech, and Phicol his army commander stood and returned to the land of the Philistines. 33And he#That is, Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called on the name of Yahweh, the everlasting God.#Literally “El-Olam” 34And Abraham dwelled as an alien in the land of the Philistines many days.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
2010 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software