1Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not been able to have children. Since she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar, 2Sarai said to Abram, “The LORD has kept me from giving birth, so go to my servant. Maybe she will provide me with children.” Abram did just as Sarai said. 3After Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Abram’s wife Sarai took her Egyptian servant Hagar and gave her to her husband Abram as his wife. 4He slept with Hagar, and she became pregnant. But when she realized that she was pregnant, she no longer respected her mistress. 5Sarai said to Abram, “This harassment is your fault. I allowed you to embrace my servant, but when she realized she was pregnant, I lost her respect. Let the LORD decide who is right, you or me.”

6Abram said to Sarai, “Since she’s your servant, do whatever you wish to her.” So Sarai treated her harshly, and she ran away from Sarai.

7The LORD’s messenger found Hagar at a spring in the desert, the spring on the road to Shur, 8and said, “Hagar! Sarai’s servant! Where did you come from and where are you going?”

She said, “From Sarai my mistress. I’m running away.”

9The LORD’s messenger said to her, “Go back to your mistress. Put up with her harsh treatment of you.” 10The LORD’s messenger also said to her,

“I will give you many children,

so many they can’t be counted!”

11The LORD’s messenger said to her,

“You are now pregnant and will give birth to a son.

You will name him Ishmael#16.11 Or God hears

because the LORD has heard about your harsh treatment.

12He will be a wild mule of a man;

he will fight everyone, and they will fight him.

He will live at odds with all his relatives.”#16.12 Or He will reside near all his relatives.

13Hagar named the LORD who spoke to her, “You are El Roi”#16.13 Or God who sees or God whom I’ve seen because she said, “Can I still see after he saw me?”#16.13 Heb uncertain; or Have I really seen God and survived? 14Therefore, that well is called Beer-lahai-roi;#16.14 Or the Well of the Living One who sees me or whom I’ve seen it’s the well between Kadesh and Bered. 15Hagar gave birth to a son for Abram, and Abram named him Ishmael. 16Abram was 86 years old when Hagar gave birth to Ishmael for Abram.

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Genesis 16

Hagar and Ishmael

1Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, #Gen. 11:30; 15:2, 3had borne him no children. And she had #Gen. 12:16; 21:9an Egyptian maidservant whose name was #Gal. 4:24Hagar. 2#Gen. 30:3So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the Lord #Gen. 20:18has restrained me from bearing children. Please, #Gen. 30:3, 9go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram #Gen. 3:17heeded the voice of Sarai. 3Then Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar her maid, the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife, after Abram #Gen. 12:4, 5had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan. 4So he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress became #1 Sam. 1:6, 7; (Prov. 30:21, 23)despised in her eyes.

5Then Sarai said to Abram, “My wrong be upon you! I gave my maid into your embrace; and when she saw that she had conceived, I became despised in her eyes. #Gen. 31:53; Ex. 5:21The Lord judge between you and me.”

6#1 Pet. 3:7So Abram said to Sarai, “Indeed your maid is in your hand; do to her as you please.” And when Sarai dealt harshly with her, #Gen. 16:9; Ex. 2:15she fled from her presence.

7Now the #Gen. 21:17, 18; 22:11, 15; 31:11Angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, #Gen. 20:1; 25:18by the spring on the way to #Ex. 15:22Shur. 8And He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where have you come from, and where are you going?”

She said, “I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai.”

9The Angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and #(Titus 2:9)submit yourself under her hand.” 10Then the Angel of the Lord said to her, #Gen. 17:20“I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be counted for multitude.” 11And the Angel of the Lord said to her:

“Behold, you are with child,

#Luke 1:13, 31And you shall bear a son.

You shall call his name Ishmael,

Because the Lord has heard your affliction.

12#Gen. 21:20; Job 24:5; 39:5–8He shall be a wild man;

His hand shall be against every man,

And every man’s hand against him.

#Gen. 25:18And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.”

13Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, “Have I also here seen Him #Gen. 31:42who sees me?” 14Therefore the well was called #Gen. 24:62Beer Lahai Roi; observe, it is #Gen. 14:7; Num. 13:26between Kadesh and Bered.

15So #Gal. 4:22Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram named his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. 16Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.

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Genesis 16

Genesis 16