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And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept. <a href="/nkjv/genesis/21.htm">New King James Version</a> Then she went and sat down across from him at a distance of about a bowshot; for she said to herself, “Let me not see the death of the boy.” So she sat opposite him, and lifted her voice and wept. <a href="/nasb_/genesis/21.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> Then she went and sat down opposite him, about a bowshot away, for she said, “May I not see the boy die!” And she sat opposite him, and raised her voice and wept. <a href="/nasb/genesis/21.htm">NASB 1995</a> Then she went and sat down opposite him, about a bowshot away, for she said, &#8220Do not let me see the boy die.&#8221 And she sat opposite him, and lifted up her voice and wept. <a href="/nasb77/genesis/21.htm">NASB 1977 </a> Then she went and sat down opposite him, about a bowshot away, for she said, “Do not let me see the boy die.” And she sat opposite him, and lifted up her voice and wept. <a href="/lsb/genesis/21.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> Then she went and sat down opposite him, about a bowshot away, for she said, “Do not let me see when the child dies.” And she sat opposite him and lifted up her voice and wept. <a href="/amp/genesis/21.htm">Amplified Bible</a> Then she went and sat down opposite him, about a bowshot away, for she said, “Do not let me see the boy die.” And as she sat down opposite him, she raised her voice and wept. <a href="/csb/genesis/21.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> and went and sat at a distance, about a bowshot away, for she said, “I can’t bear to watch the boy die! ” While she sat at a distance, she wept loudly. <a href="/hcsb/genesis/21.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> Then she went and sat down nearby, about a bowshot away, for she said, &#8220I can&#8217t bear to watch the boy die!&#8221 So as she sat nearby, she wept loudly. <a href="/asv/genesis/21.htm">American Standard Version</a> 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 look upon the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lifted up her voice, and wept. <a href="/cev/genesis/21.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> Then she sat down a long way off, because she could not bear to watch him die. And she cried bitterly. <a href="/erv/genesis/21.htm">English Revised Version</a> 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 look upon the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept. <a href="/gwt/genesis/21.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> Then she went about as far away as an arrow can be shot and sat down. She said to herself, "I don't want to watch the boy die." So she sat down and sobbed loudly. <a href="/gnt/genesis/21.htm">Good News Translation</a> and sat down about a hundred yards away. She said to herself, "I can't bear to see my child die." While she was sitting there, she began to cry. <a href="/isv/genesis/21.htm">International Standard Version</a> Then she went and sat by herself about a distance of a bowshot away, because she kept saying to herself, "I can't bear to watch the child die!" That's why she sat a short distance away, crying aloud and weeping. <a href="/msb/genesis/21.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> Then she went off and sat down nearby, about a bowshot away, for she said, ?I cannot bear to watch the boy die!? And as she sat nearby, she lifted up her voice and wept. <a href="/net/genesis/21.htm">NET Bible</a> Then she went and sat down by herself across from him at quite a distance, about a bowshot away; for she thought, "I refuse to watch the child die." So she sat across from him and wept uncontrollably. <a href="/nheb/genesis/21.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> She went and sat down opposite him, a good way off, about a bow shot away. For she said, "Do not let me see the death of the boy." So she sat across from him, and he wept loudly. <a href="/wbt/genesis/21.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And she went, and sat her down over against him, a good way off, as it were a bow-shot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and raised her voice, and wept. <a href="/web/genesis/21.htm">World English Bible</a> She went and sat down opposite him, a good way off, about a bow shot away. For she said, “Don’t let me see the death of the child.” She sat opposite him, and lifted up her voice, and wept. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/genesis/21.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And she goes and sits by herself opposite [him], far off, about a bow-shot, for she said, “Do not let me look on the death of the boy”; and she sits opposite [him], and lifts up her voice, and weeps. <a href="/ylt/genesis/21.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> And she goeth and sitteth by herself over-against, afar off, about a bow-shot, for she said, 'Let me not look on the death of the lad;' and she sitteth over-against, and lifteth up her voice, and weepeth. <a href="/slt/genesis/21.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And she will go and seat herself from over against, being far off as the bending of a bow: for she said, I will not see the death of the child. And she will seat herself from over against, and she will lift up her voice and weep.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/genesis/21.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> And she went her way, and sat over against him a great way off as far as a bow can carry, for she said: I will not see the boy die: and sitting over against, she lifted up her voice and wept. <a href="/cpdv/genesis/21.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> And she moved away and sat in a distant area, as far as a bow can reach. For she said, “I shall not see the boy die.” And so, sitting opposite her, he lifted up his voice and wept. <a href="/nabre/genesis/21.htm">New American Bible</a> and then went and sat down opposite him, about a bowshot away; for she said to herself, “I cannot watch the child die.” As she sat opposite him, she wept aloud. <a href="/nrsvce/genesis/21.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> Then she went and sat down opposite him a good way off, about the distance of a bowshot; for she said, “Do not let me look on the death of the child.” And as she sat opposite him, she lifted up her voice and wept.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/genesis/21.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And she went and sat down opposite him about the distance of a bowshot; for she said, Let me not see the death of the boy. And she sat down opposite him and lifted up her voice and wept. <a href="/hpbt/genesis/21.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> And she went and she sat far off; she removed about the shot of a bow because she said, “I will not see the death of the boy”, and she sat far off and she lifted her voice and she wept.<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/genesis/21.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bow-shot; for she said: 'Let me not look upon the death of the child.' And she sat over against him, and lifted up her voice, and wept. <a href="/sep/genesis/21.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> And she departed and sat down opposite him at a distance, as it were a bow-shot, for she said, Surely I cannot see the death of my child: and she sat opposite him, and the child cried aloud and wept. <a href="/parallel/genesis/21-16.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7ehevn8iSgc?start=4652" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/genesis/21.htm">Sarah Turns Against Hagar</a> …15When the water in the skin was gone, she left the boy under one of the bushes. 16<a href="/hebrew/1980.htm" title="1980: wat·tê·leḵ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs) -- To go, come, walk. Akin to yalak; a primitive root; to walk.">Then she went off</a> <a href="/hebrew/3427.htm" title="3427: wat·tê·šeḇ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs) -- A primitive root; properly, to sit down; by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry.">and sat down</a> <a href="/hebrew/lāh (Prep:: 3fs) -- "></a> <a href="/hebrew/5048.htm" title="5048: min·ne·ḡeḏ (Prep-m) -- From nagad; a front, i.e. Part opposite; specifically a counterpart, or mate; usually over against or before.">nearby,</a> <a href="/hebrew/2909.htm" title="2909: kim·ṭa·ḥă·wê (Prep-k:: V-Piel-Prtcpl-mpc) -- To hurl, shoot. A primitive root; to stretch a bow, as an archer.">about a bowshot</a> <a href="/hebrew/7198.htm" title="7198: qe·šeṯ (N-fs) -- A bow. From qashah in the original sense of bending: a bow, for shooting or the iris."></a> <a href="/hebrew/7368.htm" title="7368: har·ḥêq (V-Hifil-InfAbs) -- To be or become far or distant. A primitive root; to widen, i.e. recede or remove.">away,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">for</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: ’ā·mə·rāh (V-Qal-Perf-3fs) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">she said,</a> <a href="/hebrew/408.htm" title="408: ’al- (Adv) -- Not (a subjective neg.). A negative particle; not; once as a noun, nothing.">“I cannot</a> <a href="/hebrew/7200.htm" title="7200: ’er·’eh (V-Qal-Imperf.h-1cs) -- To see. A primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively.">bear to watch</a> <a href="/hebrew/3206.htm" title="3206: hay·yā·leḏ (Art:: N-ms) -- Child, son, boy, youth. From yalad; something born, i.e. A lad or offspring.">the boy</a> <a href="/hebrew/4194.htm" title="4194: bə·mō·wṯ (Prep-b:: N-msc) -- Death. From muwth; death; concretely, the dead, their place or state; figuratively, pestilence, ruin.">die!”</a> <a href="/hebrew/3427.htm" title="3427: wat·tê·šeḇ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs) -- A primitive root; properly, to sit down; by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry.">And as she sat</a> <a href="/hebrew/5048.htm" title="5048: min·ne·ḡeḏ (Prep-m) -- From nagad; a front, i.e. Part opposite; specifically a counterpart, or mate; usually over against or before.">nearby,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5375.htm" title="5375: wat·tiś·śā (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs) -- Or nacah ('abad); a primitive root; to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absol. And rel.">she lifted up</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/6963.htm" title="6963: qō·lāh (N-msc:: 3fs) -- Sound, voice. Or qol; from an unused root meaning to call aloud; a voice or sound.">her voice</a> <a href="/hebrew/1058.htm" title="1058: wat·tê·ḇək (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs) -- To weep, bewail. A primitive root; to weep; generally to bemoan.">and wept.</a> 17Then God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, “What is wrong, Hagar? Do not be afraid, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he lies.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/exodus/2-3.htm">Exodus 2:3-6</a> But when she could no longer hide him, she got him a papyrus basket and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in the basket and set it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. / And his sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him. / Soon the daughter of Pharaoh went down to bathe in the Nile, and her attendants were walking along the riverbank. And when she saw the basket among the reeds, she sent her maidservant to retrieve it. ... <a href="/1_kings/17-20.htm">1 Kings 17:20-22</a> Then he cried out to the LORD, “O LORD my God, have You also brought tragedy on this widow who has opened her home to me, by causing her son to die?” / Then he stretched himself out over the child three times and cried out to the LORD, “O LORD my God, please let this boy’s life return to him!” / And the LORD listened to the voice of Elijah, and the child’s life returned to him, and he lived. <a href="/2_kings/4-32.htm">2 Kings 4:32-35</a> When Elisha reached the house, there was the boy lying dead on his bed. / So he went in, closed the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the LORD. / Then Elisha got on the bed and lay on the boy, mouth to mouth, eye to eye, and hand to hand. As he stretched himself out over him, the boy’s body became warm. ... <a href="/psalms/34-17.htm">Psalm 34:17-18</a> The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears; He delivers them from all their troubles. / The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit. <a href="/psalms/56-8.htm">Psalm 56:8</a> You have taken account of my wanderings. Put my tears in Your bottle—are they not in Your book? <a href="/psalms/116-1.htm">Psalm 116:1-2</a> I love the LORD, for He has heard my voice—my appeal for mercy. / Because He has inclined His ear to me, I will call on Him as long as I live. <a href="/isaiah/25-8.htm">Isaiah 25:8</a> He will swallow up death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from every face and remove the disgrace of His people from the whole earth. For the LORD has spoken. <a href="/isaiah/49-15.htm">Isaiah 49:15</a> “Can a woman forget her nursing child, or lack compassion for the son of her womb? Even if she could forget, I will not forget you! <a href="/jeremiah/31-15.htm">Jeremiah 31:15-17</a> This is what the LORD says: “A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.” / This is what the LORD says: “Keep your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for the reward for your work will come, declares the LORD. Then your children will return from the land of the enemy. / So there is hope for your future, declares the LORD, and your children will return to their own land. <a href="/lamentations/3-49.htm">Lamentations 3:49-50</a> My eyes overflow unceasingly, without relief, / until the LORD looks down from heaven and sees. <a href="/matthew/15-22.htm">Matthew 15:22-28</a> And a Canaanite woman from that region came to Him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is miserably possessed by a demon.” / But Jesus did not answer a word. So His disciples came and urged Him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” / He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” ... <a href="/matthew/26-39.htm">Matthew 26:39</a> Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.” <a href="/mark/5-22.htm">Mark 5:22-24</a> A synagogue leader named Jairus arrived, and seeing Jesus, he fell at His feet / and pleaded with Him urgently, “My little daughter is near death. Please come and place Your hands on her, so that she will be healed and live.” / So Jesus went with him, and a large crowd followed and pressed around Him. <a href="/luke/7-12.htm">Luke 7:12-15</a> As He approached the town gate, He saw a dead man being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. / When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said, “Do not weep.” / Then He went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. “Young man,” He said, “I tell you, get up!” ... <a href="/luke/18-1.htm">Luke 18:1-8</a> Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart: / “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected men. / And there was a widow in that town who kept appealing to him, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ ...</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bow shot: 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.Let.<a href="/genesis/44-34.htm">Genesis 44:34</a> For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father.<a href="/1_kings/3-26.htm">1 Kings 3:26</a> Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it.<a href="/esther/8-6.htm">Esther 8:6</a> For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?lift.<a href="/genesis/27-38.htm">Genesis 27:38</a> And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept.<a href="/genesis/29-11.htm">Genesis 29:11</a> And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.<a href="/judges/2-4.htm">Judges 2:4</a> And it came to pass, when the angel of the LORD spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/genesis/9-16.htm">Bow</a> <a href="/genesis/21-15.htm">Boy</a> <a href="/genesis/21-15.htm">Child</a> <a href="/genesis/20-11.htm">Death</a> <a href="/genesis/20-7.htm">Die</a> <a href="/revelation/18-15.htm">Distance</a> <a href="/genesis/20-15.htm">Good</a> <a href="/genesis/18-2.htm">Lifted</a> <a href="/genesis/18-2.htm">Nearby</a> <a href="/genesis/18-2.htm">Opposite</a> <a href="/genesis/14-22.htm">Raised</a> <a href="/genesis/19-1.htm">Sat</a> <a href="/luke/21-30.htm">Shot</a> <a href="/genesis/20-11.htm">Thought</a> <a href="/genesis/21-12.htm">Voice</a> <a href="/revelation/3-3.htm">Watch</a> <a href="/genesis/20-1.htm">Way</a> <a href="/revelation/5-4.htm">Wept</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/genesis/21-20.htm">Bow</a> <a href="/genesis/21-17.htm">Boy</a> <a href="/genesis/21-18.htm">Child</a> <a href="/genesis/22-10.htm">Death</a> <a href="/genesis/25-32.htm">Die</a> <a href="/genesis/22-4.htm">Distance</a> <a href="/genesis/21-23.htm">Good</a> <a href="/genesis/22-4.htm">Lifted</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/20-15.htm">Nearby</a> <a href="/genesis/23-19.htm">Opposite</a> <a href="/genesis/22-4.htm">Raised</a> <a href="/genesis/31-34.htm">Sat</a> <a href="/genesis/40-10.htm">Shot</a> <a href="/genesis/26-7.htm">Thought</a> <a href="/genesis/21-17.htm">Voice</a> <a href="/genesis/28-15.htm">Watch</a> <a href="/genesis/22-4.htm">Way</a> <a href="/genesis/27-38.htm">Wept</a><div class="vheading2">Genesis 21</div>1. <a href="/genesis/21-1.htm">Isaac is born, and circumcised.</a> 6. <a href="/genesis/21-6.htm">Sarah's joy.</a> 8. <a href="/genesis/21-8.htm">Isaac is weaned.</a> 9. <a href="/genesis/21-9.htm">Hagar and Ishmael sent away.</a> 15. <a href="/genesis/21-15.htm">Hagar in distress.</a> 17. <a href="/genesis/21-17.htm">The angel relieves and comforts her.</a> 23. <a href="/genesis/21-23.htm">Abimelech's covenant with Abraham at Beersheba.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/genesis/21.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/genesis/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/genesis/21.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>Then she went off and sat down nearby Hagar, the mother of Ishmael, finds herself in a desperate situation in the wilderness. This act of moving away signifies her emotional turmoil and helplessness. In the cultural context, a mother distancing herself from her child in distress is a profound expression of grief and despair. This moment reflects the human tendency to withdraw in times of overwhelming sorrow.about a bowshot away The term "bowshot" is a measure of distance, roughly equivalent to several hundred yards. This detail not only provides a vivid image of the scene but also emphasizes the separation between Hagar and Ishmael. The use of "bowshot" connects to the future of Ishmael, who is described as an archer in <a href="/genesis/21-20.htm">Genesis 21:20</a>, highlighting his destiny and survival skills.for she said, “I cannot bear to watch the boy die!” Hagar's words reveal her deep maternal love and anguish. The fear of witnessing her son's death is unbearable, showcasing the depth of her despair. This moment parallels other biblical instances where individuals face seemingly insurmountable trials, such as Elijah in <a href="/1_kings/19-4.htm">1 Kings 19:4</a>. It underscores the theme of human vulnerability and the need for divine intervention.And as she sat nearby, she lifted up her voice and wept. Hagar's weeping is a poignant expression of her sorrow and helplessness. In biblical narratives, crying out often precedes divine intervention, as seen in the stories of the Israelites in <a href="/exodus/2-23.htm">Exodus 2:23-25</a>. Her tears and cries are a form of prayer, even if unspoken, demonstrating the power of lament in seeking God's mercy. This moment foreshadows God's response and provision, highlighting His compassion and faithfulness to those in distress.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/h/hagar.htm">Hagar</a> An Egyptian maidservant of Sarah, who became the mother of Abraham's first son, Ishmael. In <a href="/genesis/21-16.htm">Genesis 21:16</a>, she finds herself in a desperate situation in the wilderness. 2. <a href="/topical/i/ishmael.htm">Ishmael</a> The son of Abraham and Hagar. At this point in the account, he is a young boy facing the threat of death due to lack of water. 3. <a href="/topical/b/beersheba.htm">Beersheba</a> The location where Hagar and Ishmael are wandering. It is a desert area, emphasizing the dire circumstances they face. 4. <a href="/topical/t/the_wilderness.htm">The Wilderness</a> Represents a place of testing and trial, where Hagar and Ishmael are left to fend for themselves after being sent away by Abraham. 5. <a href="/topical/g/god's_provision.htm">God's Provision</a> Although not a person or place, the event of God's intervention is crucial. It highlights God's faithfulness and care for Hagar and Ishmael even in their distress.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/g/god_hears_our_cries.htm">God Hears Our Cries</a> Just as God heard Hagar's cries, He hears us in our moments of desperation. We can trust that He is attentive to our needs. <a href="/topical/f/faith_in_god's_provision.htm">Faith in God's Provision</a> Hagar's account encourages us to have faith that God will provide for us, even when circumstances seem dire. <a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_trusting_god's_promises.htm">The Importance of Trusting God's Promises</a> God's promise to Hagar about Ishmael's future was fulfilled, reminding us to trust in His promises for our lives. <a href="/topical/g/god's_care_for_the_marginalized.htm">God's Care for the Marginalized</a> Hagar, a servant and foreigner, was not forgotten by God. This teaches us about God's heart for the marginalized and encourages us to reflect His compassion. <a href="/topical/h/hope_in_the_wilderness.htm">Hope in the Wilderness</a> The wilderness is often a place of testing, but also of divine encounter and provision. We can find hope knowing that God meets us in our wilderness experiences.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_genesis_21.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Genesis 21</a> <a href="/q/bible's_view_on_single_mothers.htm">What does the Bible say about single mothers?</a> <a href="/q/what's_abraham_and_ishmael's_story.htm">What is the story of Abraham and Ishmael?</a> <a href="/q/why_did_an_angel_tell_hagar_to_return.htm">Why would an angel instruct Hagar to return to an abusive situation (Genesis 16:9)? </a> <a href="/q/why_is_ishmael_depicted_as_a_child.htm">Why does Genesis 21:14-18 seem to portray Ishmael as a small child when he would have been a teenager?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/genesis/21.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(16) Let me not see the death of the child.--The whole story is most touching. Day after day the mother, with her child, had wandered in the wilderness, using the water in the skin sparingly, ever hoping to come to some spring, but with too little knowledge of the locality to guide her steps wisely. At last the water is spent, and the young life withers first, and the mother knows that soon they both must die. They had made their last effort, and with that hopelessness which travellers have so often described as stealing over the lost wanderer in the desert, they yield themselves to their doom. The boy is entirely passive; but not so the mother. A softer nature would have remained with him to soothe him, but the agony of the wild Egyptian will grant her no rest. She casts his fainting body almost angrily under a shrub, and withdraws to a bowshot distance, because she cannot bear to see him die. She there gives way not to tears only, but to unrestrained outcries of grief. But it is not her loud lamentation, but the mute prayer of Ishmael that is heard, and an angel of God comes to her relief.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/genesis/21.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 16. - And she went, and sat her down - וַתֵּשֶׁב לָהּ, the pronoun being added to the verb, as an ethical dative, to indicate that the action was of special importance to her, meaning, "she, for herself, or for her part, sat down" (vide Ewald's 'Hebrews Synt. ,' § 315, a.; and Glass, 'Phil Tract.,' 1. 3. tr. 2. c. 6; and cf. <a href="/genesis/12-1.htm">Genesis 12:1</a>; <a href="/genesis/22-5.htm">Genesis 22:5</a>) - over against him a good way off. The hiph. inf. of רָחַק, to go far away, to recede from any one, is here used adverbially, as in <a href="/joshua/3-16.htm">Joshua 3:16</a> (Gesenius, Furst, Kalisch), though by others it is understood as explaining the action of the previous verbs, and as equivalent to a gerund in do, or a participle, elon-gando se (Rosenmüller), or simply" removing to a distance" (Ewald; vide 'Hebrews Synt., § 280 a.). As it were a bowshot. Literally, as those who draw the bow, i.e. as far off as archers are accustomed to place the target (Keil). The sense is correctly given by the LXX.: μακρόθεν ὡσεὶ τόξου βολήν. For she said, Let me not see - i.e. look upon with anguish (cf. <a href="/numbers/11-15.htm">Numbers 11:15</a>) - the death of the child - τοῦ παιδίου μου (LXX.). And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept. The verbs, being feminine, indicate that it is Hagar's grief which is here described, and that the rendering, "and the child lifted up his voice and wept" (LXX.), is incorrect; although the next verse may suggest that Ishmael, like his mother, was also dissolved in tears. <a href="/commentaries/genesis/21-16.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>Then she went off וַתֵּלֶךְ֩ (wat·tê·leḵ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1980.htm">Strong's 1980: </a> To go, come, walk and sat down וַתֵּ֨שֶׁב (wat·tê·šeḇ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3427.htm">Strong's 3427: </a> To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry nearby, מִנֶּ֗גֶד (min·ne·ḡeḏ) Preposition-m <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5048.htm">Strong's 5048: </a> A front, part opposite, a counterpart, mate, over against, before about a bowshot כִּמְטַחֲוֵ֣י (kim·ṭa·ḥă·wê) Preposition-k | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2909.htm">Strong's 2909: </a> To stretch a, bow, as an archer away, הַרְחֵק֙ (har·ḥêq) Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7368.htm">Strong's 7368: </a> To be or become far or distant for כִּ֣י (kî) Conjunction <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> A relative conjunction she said, אָֽמְרָ֔ה (’ā·mə·rāh) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> To utter, say “I cannot אַל־ (’al-) Adverb <a href="/hebrew/strongs_408.htm">Strong's 408: </a> Not bear to watch אֶרְאֶ֖ה (’er·’eh) Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7200.htm">Strong's 7200: </a> To see the boy הַיָּ֑לֶד (hay·yā·leḏ) Article | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3206.htm">Strong's 3206: </a> Something born, a lad, offspring die!” בְּמ֣וֹת (bə·mō·wṯ) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4194.htm">Strong's 4194: </a> Death, the dead, their place, state, pestilence, ruin And as she sat וַתֵּ֣שֶׁב (wat·tê·šeḇ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3427.htm">Strong's 3427: </a> To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry nearby, מִנֶּ֔גֶד (min·ne·ḡeḏ) Preposition-m <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5048.htm">Strong's 5048: </a> A front, part opposite, a counterpart, mate, over against, before she lifted up וַתִּשָּׂ֥א (wat·tiś·śā) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5375.htm">Strong's 5375: </a> To lift, carry, take her voice קֹלָ֖הּ (qō·lāh) Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6963.htm">Strong's 6963: </a> A voice, sound and wept. וַתֵּֽבְךְּ׃ (wat·tê·ḇək) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1058.htm">Strong's 1058: </a> To weep, to bemoan <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/genesis/21-16.htm">Genesis 21:16 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/genesis/21-16.htm">Genesis 21:16 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/genesis/21-16.htm">Genesis 21:16 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/genesis/21-16.htm">Genesis 21:16 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/genesis/21-16.htm">Genesis 21:16 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/genesis/21-16.htm">Genesis 21:16 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/genesis/21-16.htm">Genesis 21:16 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/genesis/21-16.htm">Genesis 21:16 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/genesis/21-16.htm">Genesis 21:16 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/genesis/21-16.htm">Genesis 21:16 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/genesis/21-16.htm">OT Law: Genesis 21:16 She went and sat down opposite him (Gen. Ge Gn)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/genesis/21-15.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Genesis 21:15"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Genesis 21:15" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/genesis/21-17.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Genesis 21:17"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Genesis 21:17" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>