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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0;"/><title>Topical Bible: Agar</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/topical/a/agar.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/newtopical.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-LR4HSKRP2H"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-LR4HSKRP2H'); </script><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/topical/vmenus/galatians/4-24.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmcde/a/agar.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/topical/">Topical</a> > Agar</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/topical/a/agape_love.htm" title="Agape Love">◄</a> Agar <a href="/topical/a/agarenes.htm" title="Agarenes">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse">Jump to: <a href="#hit" title="Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary">Hitchcock's</a> • <a href="#smi" title="Smith's Bible Dictionary">Smith's</a> • <a href="#isb" title="International Standard Bible Encyclopedia">ISBE</a> • <a href="#cnc" title="Multiversion Concordance">Concordance</a> • <a href="#thes" title="Bible Thesaurus">Thesaurus</a> • <a href="#grk" title="Strong's Greek Concordance">Greek</a> • <a href="#heb" title="Strong's Hebrew Concordance">Hebrew</a> • <a href="#lib" title="Library">Library</a> • <a href="#sub" title="Subtopics">Subtopics</a> • <a href="#rel" title="Related Terms">Terms</a></div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><a name="te" id="te"></a><div class="vheading2">Topical Encyclopedia</div>Agar, more commonly known as Hagar in most English translations of the Bible, is a significant figure in the Old Testament. She is primarily mentioned in the Book of Genesis and is recognized as the Egyptian maidservant of Sarai (later Sarah), the wife of Abram (later Abraham). Her account is pivotal in understanding the lineage and the unfolding of God's promises to Abraham.<br><br><b>Biblical Account</b><br><br>Hagar's narrative begins in <a href="/bsb/genesis/16.htm">Genesis 16</a>. Sarai, who was barren, gave Hagar to Abram as a concubine to bear a child on her behalf. This decision was made in accordance with the customs of the time, where a servant could bear children for a barren mistress. <a href="/genesis/16.htm">Genesis 16:1-2</a> states, "Now Abram’s wife Sarai had borne him no children, but she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar. So Sarai said to Abram, 'Look now, the LORD has prevented me from having children. Please go to my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family by her.'"<br><br>Hagar conceived and, as a result, tension arose between her and Sarai. Feeling despised, Sarai dealt harshly with Hagar, leading her to flee into the wilderness. It was there that the Angel of the LORD appeared to Hagar, instructing her to return to Sarai and submit to her. The Angel also delivered a promise concerning her offspring, saying, "I will greatly multiply your offspring so that they will be too numerous to count" (<a href="/genesis/16-10.htm">Genesis 16:10</a>). Hagar was told to name her son Ishmael, meaning "God hears," because the LORD had heard her affliction.<br><br>Hagar's encounter with the divine is notable as she is one of the few individuals in the Bible to receive a direct promise from God. She referred to the LORD as "El Roi," meaning "the God who sees me," acknowledging God's awareness and care for her plight (<a href="/genesis/16-13.htm">Genesis 16:13</a>).<br><br><b>Later Life and Legacy</b><br><br>Hagar's account continues in <a href="/bsb/genesis/21.htm">Genesis 21</a>. After the birth of Isaac, the son of Abraham and Sarah, tensions resurfaced. Sarah saw Ishmael mocking Isaac and urged Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away. God instructed Abraham to heed Sarah's request, reassuring him that Ishmael would also become a great nation because he was Abraham's offspring (<a href="/genesis/21-12.htm">Genesis 21:12-13</a>).<br><br>Hagar and Ishmael wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba, where they faced the threat of death due to lack of water. God heard the boy's cries and provided a well of water, ensuring their survival. Ishmael grew up in the wilderness and became an archer. He is traditionally considered the ancestor of several Arab tribes, fulfilling God's promise that he would be the father of a great nation.<br><br><b>Theological Significance</b><br><br>Hagar's account is rich with theological implications. It highlights themes of God's providence, the complexity of human relationships, and the fulfillment of divine promises. Hagar's experience underscores God's compassion and care for the marginalized and oppressed. Her account also serves as a precursor to the New Testament teachings on faith and the fulfillment of God's promises through Isaac, as discussed in <a href="/galatians/4-21.htm">Galatians 4:21-31</a>, where Paul uses Hagar and Sarah allegorically to contrast the old and new covenants.<br><br><b>Cultural and Historical Context</b><br><br>Hagar's Egyptian origin is significant, as it reflects the cultural and ethnic diversity present in the patriarchal narratives. Her status as a servant and a foreigner adds layers to her account, illustrating the social hierarchies and customs of the ancient Near East. Despite her marginalized position, Hagar's interactions with God reveal a profound theological truth: God's concern extends beyond the chosen lineage of Israel to include all peoples.<br><br>In summary, Hagar, or Agar, is a complex and compelling figure whose account is integral to the biblical narrative. Her life and experiences offer insights into God's character and the unfolding of His redemptive plan for humanity.<a name="hit" id="hit"></a><div class="vheading2">Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary</div><span class="encheading">Agar</span><p>or Hagar, a stranger; one that fears<a name="isb" id="isb"></a><div class="vheading2">International Standard Bible Encyclopedia</div><span class="encheading">AGAR</span><p>a'-gar (Agar). Found once in the Apocrypha in the Greek (Baruch 3:23) probably for the Old Testament Hagar, mother of Ishmael, whose children are mentioned with the merchants of Meran (Midian) and Teman. In <a href="/1_chronicles/5-10.htm">1 Chronicles 5:10</a> the "Hagarites" the King James Version, are located East of Gilead, and In the days of Saul were at war with the tribe of Reuben. See also <a href="/1_chronicles/5-19.htm">1 Chronicles 5:19, 20</a> and <a href="/1_chronicles/27-31.htm">1 Chronicles 27:31</a>. In <a href="/psalms/83-6.htm">Psalm 83:6</a> the name of the same people is Hagarenes.<p><a name="grk" id="grk"></a><div class="vheading2">Greek</div><a href="/greek/28.htm"><span class="l">28. Hagar -- Hagar, a concubine of Abraham</span></a> <br><b>...</b> Hagar. Of Hebrew origin (Hagar); Hagar, the concubine of Abraham -- Hagar. see HEBREW<br> Hagar. (<b>agar</b>) -- 2 Occurrences. 27, 28. Hagar. 29 . Strong's Numbers. <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/28.htm</font><font color="#ff6600" size="-1"> - 6k</font><a name="heb" id="heb"></a><div class="vheading2">Strong's Hebrew</div><a href="/hebrew/103.htm"><span class="l">103. <b>agar</b> -- to gather</span></a><br><b>...</b> 102, 103. <b>agar</b>. 104 . to gather. Transliteration: <b>agar</b> Phonetic Spelling:<br> (aw-gar') Short Definition: gathers. Word Origin a prim. <b>...</b> 102, 103. <b>agar</b>. 104 <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/hebrew/103.htm</font><font color="#ff6600" size="-1"> - 5k</font><p> <a href="/hebrew/94.htm"><span class="l">94. Agur -- "hired," an author of proverbs</span></a><br><b>...</b> Agur. Passive participle of '<b>agar</b>; gathered (ie Received among the sages); Agur,<br> a fanciful name for Solomon -- Agur. see HEBREW '<b>agar</b>. 93, 94. Agur. 95 . <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/hebrew/94.htm</font><font color="#ff6600" size="-1"> - 6k</font><a name="lib" id="lib"></a><div class="vheading2">Library</div><p><a href="/library/francis/treatise_on_the_love_of_god/chapter_vii_explanation_of_the.htm"><span class="l">Explanation of the Preceding Chapter.</span></a> <br><b>...</b> Abraham loved Sarai and <b>Agar</b>, and until <b>Agar</b> began to despise her mistress it<br> could not well have been discerned which he loved the better. <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter vii explanation of the.htm</font><p><a href="/library/augustine/city_of_god/chapter_2_of_the_children_of.htm"><span class="l">Of the Children of the Flesh and the Children of the Promise.</span></a> <br><b>...</b> Which things are an allegory: [770] for these are the two covenants; the one from<br> the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is <b>Agar</b>. <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 2 of the children of.htm</font><p><a href="/library/francis/treatise_on_the_love_of_god/chapter_xi_how_human_actions.htm"><span class="l">How Human Actions are Without Worth when they are done Without <b>...</b></span></a> <br><b>...</b> great friend of God, Abraham, had by Sara his chief wife a most dear only son, Isaac,<br> who also was his sole heir: and though he had Ismael by <b>Agar</b>, and several <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xi how human actions.htm</font><p><a href="/library/francis/treatise_on_the_love_of_god/chapter_iv_of_the_loving.htm"><span class="l">Of the Loving Condolence by which the Complacency of Love is Still <b>...</b></span></a> <br><b>...</b> How great was the sorrow of <b>Agar's</b> heart upon the pains of her Ismael,<br> whom she saw well-nigh perish with thirst in the desert! <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter iv of the loving.htm</font><p><a href="/library/augustine/anti-pelagian_writings/chapter_9_who_are_the_children.htm"><span class="l">Who are the Children of the Old Covenant.</span></a> <br><b>...</b> But those belong to the old testament, "which gendereth from Mount Sinai to bondage,"<br> which is <b>Agar</b>, who, when they have received a law which is holy and just <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 9 who are the children.htm</font><p><a href="/library/aquinas/summa_theologica/whether_it_was_ever_lawful_2.htm"><span class="l">Whether it was ever Lawful to have a Concubine?</span></a> <br><b>...</b> the inheritance. Yet Abraham sent <b>Agar</b> away, and her son was not his heir<br> (Gn.21:14). Therefore she was not Abraham's wife. On the <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether it was ever lawful 2.htm</font><p><a href="/library/augustine/on_the_profit_of_believing_/section_8_for_that_both.htm"><span class="l">For that Both History of the Old Testament...</span></a> <br><b>...</b> [1712] For these are the two Testaments, one of Mount Sinai gendering unto bondage,<br> which is <b>Agar</b>: for Sinai is a mount in Arabia, which bordereth [1713] upon <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../augustine/on the profit of believing /section 8 for that both.htm</font><p><a href="/library/murray/holy_in_christ/note_a_holiness_as_proprietorship.htm"><span class="l">Note A. Holiness as Proprietorship.</span></a> <br><b>...</b> In a little book"Holiness, as understood by the Writers of the Bible; A Bible Study<br> by Joseph <b>Agar</b> Beet"the thought that by Holiness is meant our relation <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../murray/holy in christ/note a holiness as proprietorship.htm</font><p><a href="/library/francis/treatise_on_the_love_of_god/chapter_xxi_that_sadness_is.htm"><span class="l">That Sadness is Almost Always Useless, Yea Contrary to the Service <b>...</b></span></a> <br><b>...</b> For David, S. Peter, Magdalen, wept for their sins; <b>Agar</b> wept when she saw her son<br> almost dead of thirst; Jeremias over the ruin of Jerusalem; Our Saviour over <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xxi that sadness is.htm</font><p><a href="/library/francis/treatise_on_the_love_of_god/chapter_iv_that_heavenly_love.htm"><span class="l">That Heavenly Love is Lost in a Moment.</span></a> <br><b>...</b> And if <b>Agar</b>, who was but an Egyptian, seeing her son in danger of death had not<br> the heart to stay by him, but would have left him, saying: Ah! <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter iv that heavenly love.htm</font><a name="thes" id="thes"></a><div class="vheading2">Thesaurus</div><a href="/topical/a/agar.htm"><span class="l"><b>Agar</b> (2 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia <b>AGAR</b>. a'-gar (<b>Agar</b>). <b>...</b> In Psalm 83:6 the name of the<br> same people is Hagarenes. Multi-Version Concordance <b>Agar</b> (2 Occurrences). <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/a/agar.htm - 7k</font><p><a href="/topical/a/agape.htm"><span class="l">Agape</span></a><br><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/a/agape.htm - 15k</font><p><a href="/topical/g/gendereth.htm"><span class="l">Gendereth (2 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> Galatians 4:24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the<br> one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is <b>Agar</b>. <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/g/gendereth.htm - 6k</font><p><a href="/topical/a/answereth.htm"><span class="l">Answereth (144 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> (ASV). Galatians 4:25 For this <b>Agar</b> is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to<br> Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. (KJV ASV WBS). <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/a/answereth.htm - 36k</font><p><a href="/topical/a/agarenes.htm"><span class="l">Agarenes</span></a><br><b>...</b> Standard Bible Encyclopedia AGARENES. ag-a-renz': Baruch 3:23 the King James Version.<br> In the Old Testament the word is HAGARENES (which see). See also <b>AGAR</b>. <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/a/agarenes.htm - 6k</font><p><a href="/topical/h/hagar.htm"><span class="l">Hagar (15 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> HAGAR. ha'-gar (haghar, "emigration," "flight"; Hagar, <b>Agar</b>): An Egyptian woman,<br> the handmaid or slave of Sarai; a present, perhaps, from Pharaoh when Abram <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/h/hagar.htm - 22k</font><p><a name="res" id="res"></a><div class="vheading2">Resources</div><a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/Hagar-in-the-Bible.html">Who was Hagar in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/Sarah-Hagar.html">What is the story of Sarah and Hagar? | GotQuestions.org</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/Ishmael-in-the-Bible.html">Who was Ishmael in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org</a><br /><br /><a href="https://clyx.com/term/agar.htm">Agar: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com</a><br /><br /><a href="/concordance/">Bible Concordance</a> • <a href="/dictionary/">Bible Dictionary</a> • <a href="/encyclopedia/">Bible Encyclopedia</a> • <a href="/topical/">Topical Bible</a> • <a href="/thesaurus/">Bible Thesuarus</a></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="cnc" id="cnc"></a><div class="vheading2">Concordance</div><span class="encheading">Agar (2 Occurrences)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/galatians/4-24.htm">Galatians 4:24</a></span><br />These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar.<br /><span class="source">(Root in WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/galatians/4-25.htm">Galatians 4:25</a></span><br />For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children.<br /><span class="source">(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)</span><a name="sub" id="sub"></a><div class="vheading2">Subtopics</div><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/a/agar.htm">Agar</a></p><a name="rel" id="rel"></a><div class="vheading2">Related Terms</div><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/agate.htm">Agate (4 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/agar.htm">Agar (2 Occurrences)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/topical/a/agape_love.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Agape Love"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Agape Love" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/topical/a/agarenes.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Agarenes"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Agarenes" /></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="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><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <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> <br /><br /> <div align="center"> <div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>