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Genesis 16

Sarai, unable to conceive, gives her servant Hagar to Abram as a wife. Hagar becomes pregnant and despises Sarai, leading to conflict. Hagar flees but the angel of the Lord finds her and tells her to return, promising her son Ishmael will become a great nation.

GenesisChapter 16 of 5016 versesBerean Standard Bible

In this passage: AbrahamHagarSarahEgyptCanaan

Read Genesis 16 and keep notes on it in Doxa's Daily Faith Steps.

1

Now Abram’s wife Sarai had borne him no children, but she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar.

Hagar and Sarah — two covenants, one from Sinai bearing children for slavery

“These things serve as illustrations, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery: This is Hagar.”

Read Galatians 4:24›
2

So Sarai said to Abram, “Look now, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Please go to my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.

3

So after he had lived in Canaan for ten years, his wife Sarai took her Egyptian maidservant Hagar and gave her to Abram to be his wife.

4

And he slept with Hagar, and she conceived. But when Hagar realized that she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress.

5

Then Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be upon you! I delivered my servant into your arms, and ever since she saw that she was pregnant, she has treated me with contempt. May the LORD judge between you and me.”

6

“Here,” said Abram, “your servant is in your hands. Do whatever you want with her.” Then Sarai treated Hagar so harshly that she fled from her.

Quoted in the Daily Lift, day 28: Hagar: The Runaway Slave Who Named God (Genesis 16)

7

Now the angel of the LORD found Hagar by a spring of water in the desert—the spring along the road to Shur.

Quoted in the Daily Lift, day 48: Who were the twelve sons of Ishmael?

8

“Hagar, servant of Sarai,” he said, “where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I am running away from my mistress Sarai,” she replied.

9

So the angel of the LORD told her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her authority.”

10

Then the angel added, “I will greatly multiply your offspring so that they will be too numerous to count.”

Quoted in the Daily Lift, day 48: Why does Genesis list Ishmael's sons?

11

The angel of the LORD proceeded: “Behold, you have conceived and will bear a son. And you shall name him Ishmael, for the LORD has heard your cry of affliction.

Quoted in the Deeper Dive, day 30: What does Ishmael's name have to do with God's answer?

Quoted in the Daily Lift, day 38: Why did God hear the boy?

Quoted in the Deeper Dive, day 38: Why is the boy never named in Genesis 21?

Quoted in the Daily Lift, day 48: What does Ishmael's family show about knowing God?

12

He will be a wild donkey of a man, and his hand will be against everyone, and everyone’s hand against him; he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.”

Quoted in the Daily Lift, day 48: Why does Genesis list Ishmael's sons?

13

So Hagar gave this name to the LORD who had spoken to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “Here I have seen the One who sees me!”

Quoted in the Daily Lift, day 38: Why did God hear the boy?

Quoted in the Deeper Dive, day 40: Why does provide mean see in Genesis 22?

Quoted in the Deeper Dive, day 46: What was Isaac doing in the field?

Quoted in the Daily Lift, day 48: What does Ishmael's family show about knowing God?

14

Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi. It is located between Kadesh and Bered.

15

And Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram gave the name Ishmael to the son she had borne.

16

Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to him.

How to Hear God’s Voice: A Practical Guide for BelieversScripture is the record of a God who speaks. This guide covers how to hear Him today and keep what He says.

Cross-references for Genesis 16

  • Genesis 16:1Galatians 4:24

    “These things serve as illustrations, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery: This is Hagar.”

  • Genesis 16:11Exodus 2:23

    “After a long time, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned and cried out under their burden of slavery, and their cry for deliverance from bondage ascended to God.”

  • Genesis 16:11Exodus 3:7

    “The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the affliction of My people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their oppressors, and I am aware of their sufferings.”

  • Genesis 16:13Psalm 139:1

    “O LORD, You have searched me and known me.”

  • Genesis 16:13Genesis 32:30

    “So Jacob named the place Peniel, saying, “Indeed, I have seen God face to face, and yet my life was spared.””

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, licensed CC BY.

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