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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//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" /><title>Genesis 16:1 Now Abram's wife Sarai had borne him no children, but she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/genesis/16-1.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/6/01_Gen_16_01.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Genesis 16:1 - The Birth of Ishmael" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Now Abram's wife Sarai had borne him no children, but she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar." /><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><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="/vmenus/genesis/16-1.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="/bmc/genesis/16-1.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="/genesis/">Genesis</a> > <a href="/genesis/16.htm">Chapter 16</a> > Verse 1</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><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad1.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/genesis/15-21.htm" title="Genesis 15:21">◄</a> Genesis 16:1 <a href="/genesis/16-2.htm" title="Genesis 16:2">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/genesis/16.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/genesis/16.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Now Sarai, Abram&#8217s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/genesis/16.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not been able to bear children for him. But she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/genesis/16.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. She had a female Egyptian servant whose name was Hagar.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/genesis/16.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now Abram’s wife Sarai had borne him no children, but she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/genesis/16.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name <i>was</i> Hagar.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/genesis/16.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no <i>children.</i> And she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/genesis/16.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not borne him a child, but she had an Egyptian slave woman whose name was Hagar.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/genesis/16.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Now Sarai, Abram&#8217s wife had borne him no children, and she had an Egyptian maid whose name was Hagar.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/genesis/16.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Now Sarai, Abram’s wife had borne him no <i>children,</i> and she had an Egyptian maid whose name was Hagar.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/genesis/16.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no <i>children</i>, and she had an Egyptian servant-woman whose name was Hagar.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/genesis/16.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not borne him any <i>children,</i> and she had an Egyptian maid whose name was Hagar.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/genesis/16.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Abram’s wife, Sarai, had not borne any children for him, but she owned an Egyptian slave named Hagar.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/genesis/16.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Abram&#8217s wife Sarai had not borne any children for him, but she owned an Egyptian slave named Hagar. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/genesis/16.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Now Sarai, Abram's wife, bare him no children: and she had a handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/genesis/16.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Abram's wife Sarai had not been able to have any children. But she owned a young Egyptian slave woman named Hagar, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/genesis/16.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/genesis/16.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Sarai, Abram's wife, was not able to have children. She owned an Egyptian slave named Hagar.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/genesis/16.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Abram's wife Sarai had not borne him any children. But she had an Egyptian slave woman named Hagar, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/genesis/16.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Now Abram's wife Sarai had not borne a child for him. She had an Egyptian servant girl whose name was Hagar. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/genesis/16.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now Abram?s wife Sarai had borne him no children, but she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/genesis/16.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had not given birth to any children, but she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/genesis/16.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Now Sarai, Abram's wife, bore him no children, but she had an Egyptian servant whose name was Hagar. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/genesis/16.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Now Sarai, Abram's wife, bore him no children: and she had a handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/genesis/16.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, bore him no children. She had a servant, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/genesis/16.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And Sarai, Abram’s wife, has not borne to him, and she has a handmaid, an Egyptian, and her name [is] Hagar;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/genesis/16.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And Sarai, Abram's wife, hath not borne to him, and she hath an handmaid, an Egyptian, and her name is Hagar;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/genesis/16.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And Sarai, Abram's wife, brought not forth to him; and to her a maid servant, an Egyptian, and her name Hagar.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/genesis/16.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Now Sarai the wife of Abram, had brought forth no children; having a handmaid, an Egyptian, named Agar, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/genesis/16.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Now Sarai, the wife of Abram, had not conceived children. But, having an Egyptian handmaid named Hagar,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/genesis/16.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Abram’s wife Sarai had borne him no children. Now she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/genesis/16.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, bore him no children. She had an Egyptian slave-girl whose name was Hagar,<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/genesis/16.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />NOW Sarai, Abram's wife, bore him no children; and she had an Egyptian handmaid, whose name was Hagar.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/genesis/16.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And Sarai the wife of Abram did not give birth for him and he had a female Egyptian Servant and her name was Hagar.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/genesis/16.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Now Sarai Abram's wife bore him no children; and she had a handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/genesis/16.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And Sara the wife of Abram bore him no children; and she had an Egyptian maid, whose name was Agar.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/genesis/16-1.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7ehevn8iSgc?start=3283" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/genesis/16.htm">The Birth of Ishmael</a></span><br> <span class="reftext">1</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/87.htm" title="87: ’aḇ·rām (N-proper-ms) -- Exalted father, the original name of Abraham. Contracted from 'Abiyram; high father; Abram, the original name of Abraham.">Now Abram’s</a> <a href="/hebrew/802.htm" title="802: ’ê·šeṯ (N-fsc) -- Woman, wife, female. Feminine of 'iysh or 'enowsh; irregular plural, nashiym; a woman.">wife</a> <a href="/hebrew/8297.htm" title="8297: wə·śā·ray (Conj-w:: N-proper-fs) -- A wife of Abram. From sar; dominative; Sarai, the wife of Abraham.">Sarai</a> <a href="/hebrew/3205.htm" title="3205: yā·lə·ḏāh (V-Qal-Perf-3fs) -- A primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage.">had borne</a> <a href="/hebrew/lōw (Prep:: 3ms) -- ">him</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">no children,</a> <a href="/hebrew/wə·lāh (Conj-w:: Prep:: 3fs) -- ">but</a> <a href="/hebrew/4713.htm" title="4713: miṣ·rîṯ (N-proper-fs) -- Inhab. of Eg. From Mitsrayim; a Mitsrite, or inhabitant of Mitsrajim.">she had an Egyptian</a> <a href="/hebrew/8198.htm" title="8198: šip̄·ḥāh (N-fs) -- Maid, maidservant. Feminine from an unused root meaning to spread out; a female slave.">maidservant</a> <a href="/hebrew/8034.htm" title="8034: ū·šə·māh (Conj-w:: N-msc:: 3fs) -- A primitive word; an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character.">named</a> <a href="/hebrew/1904.htm" title="1904: hā·ḡār (N-proper-fs) -- Sarah's Eg. maid, the mother of Ishmael. Of uncertain derivation; Hagar, the mother of Ishmael.">Hagar.</a> </span><span class="reftext">2</span>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.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/15-2.htm">Genesis 15:2-3</a></span><br />But Abram replied, “O Lord GOD, what can You give me, since I remain childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” / Abram continued, “Behold, You have given me no offspring, so a servant in my household will be my heir.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/21-9.htm">Genesis 21:9-13</a></span><br />But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking her son, / and she said to Abraham, “Expel the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac!” / Now this matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son Ishmael. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/30-1.htm">Genesis 30:1-3</a></span><br />When Rachel saw that she was not bearing any children for Jacob, she envied her sister. “Give me children, or I will die!” she said to Jacob. / Jacob became angry with Rachel and said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld children from you?” / Then she said, “Here is my maidservant Bilhah. Sleep with her, that she may bear children for me, so that through her I too can build a family.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/4-22.htm">Galatians 4:22-23</a></span><br />For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. / His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born through the promise.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/12-11.htm">Genesis 12:11-16</a></span><br />As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “Look, I know that you are a beautiful woman, / and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live. / Please say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake, and on account of you my life will be spared.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/25-21.htm">Genesis 25:21</a></span><br />Later, Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. And the LORD heard his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/29-31.htm">Genesis 29:31</a></span><br />When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/30-9.htm">Genesis 30:9-10</a></span><br />When Leah saw that she had stopped having children, she gave her servant Zilpah to Jacob as a wife. / And Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a son.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/1-5.htm">1 Samuel 1:5-6</a></span><br />But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved her even though the LORD had closed her womb. / Because the LORD had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival would provoke her viciously to taunt her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/9-7.htm">Romans 9:7-9</a></span><br />Nor because they are Abraham’s descendants are they all his children. On the contrary, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.” / So it is not the children of the flesh who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as offspring. / For this is what the promise stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/11-11.htm">Hebrews 11:11</a></span><br />By faith Sarah, even though she was barren and beyond the proper age, was enabled to conceive a child, because she considered Him faithful who had promised.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/17-15.htm">Genesis 17:15-16</a></span><br />Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, do not call her Sarai, for her name is to be Sarah. / And I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will descend from her.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/18-10.htm">Genesis 18:10-14</a></span><br />Then the LORD said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year, and your wife Sarah will have a son!” Now Sarah was behind him, listening at the entrance to the tent. / And Abraham and Sarah were already old and well along in years; Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. / So she laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/20-17.htm">Genesis 20:17-18</a></span><br />Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maidservants, so that they could again bear children— / for on account of Abraham’s wife Sarah, the LORD had completely closed all the wombs in Abimelech’s household.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/24-60.htm">Genesis 24:60</a></span><br />And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, “Our sister, may you become the mother of thousands upon thousands. May your offspring possess the gates of their enemies.”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Now Sarai Abram's wife bore him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.</p><p class="hdg">A.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/15-2.htm">Genesis 15:2,3</a></b></br> And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house <i>is</i> this Eliezer of Damascus? … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/21-10.htm">Genesis 21:10,12</a></b></br> Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, <i>even</i> with Isaac… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/25-21.htm">Genesis 25:21</a></b></br> And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she <i>was</i> barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.</p><p class="hdg">Egyptian.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/12-16.htm">Genesis 12:16</a></b></br> And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/21-9.htm">Genesis 21:9,21</a></b></br> And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking… </p><p class="hdg">name.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/galatians/4-24.htm">Galatians 4:24</a></b></br> Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.</p><p class="hdg">Agar.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/genesis/14-12.htm">Abram's</a> <a href="/genesis/7-17.htm">Bare</a> <a href="/genesis/13-6.htm">Bear</a> <a href="/genesis/7-17.htm">Bore</a> <a href="/genesis/4-13.htm">Borne</a> <a href="/genesis/15-3.htm">Children</a> <a href="/genesis/15-18.htm">Egypt</a> <a href="/acts/21-38.htm">Egyptian</a> <a href="/galatians/4-25.htm">Hagar</a> <a href="/galatians/4-31.htm">Handmaid</a> <a href="/galatians/4-31.htm">Maid</a> <a href="/acts/12-13.htm">Maidservant</a> <a href="/genesis/12-17.htm">Sarai</a> <a href="/genesis/12-17.htm">Sar'ai</a> <a href="/genesis/15-3.htm">Servant</a> <a href="/genesis/13-1.htm">Wife</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/genesis/16-3.htm">Abram's</a> <a href="/genesis/16-15.htm">Bare</a> <a href="/genesis/16-2.htm">Bear</a> <a href="/genesis/16-15.htm">Bore</a> <a href="/genesis/16-15.htm">Borne</a> <a href="/genesis/16-2.htm">Children</a> <a href="/genesis/21-21.htm">Egypt</a> <a href="/genesis/16-3.htm">Egyptian</a> <a href="/genesis/16-3.htm">Hagar</a> <a href="/genesis/16-2.htm">Handmaid</a> <a href="/genesis/16-2.htm">Maid</a> <a href="/genesis/16-2.htm">Maidservant</a> <a href="/genesis/16-2.htm">Sarai</a> <a href="/genesis/16-2.htm">Sar'ai</a> <a href="/genesis/16-2.htm">Servant</a> <a href="/genesis/16-3.htm">Wife</a><div class="vheading2">Genesis 16</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/16-1.htm">Sarai, being barren, gives Hagar to Abram.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">4. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/16-4.htm">Hagar, being afflicted for despising her mistress, runs away.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/16-7.htm">An angel commands her to return and submit herself, </a></span><br><span class="reftext">10. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/16-10.htm">promises her a numerous posterity, </a></span><br><span class="reftext">12. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/16-12.htm">and shows their character and condition.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/16-13.htm">Hagar names the place, and returns to Sarai.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">15. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/16-15.htm">Ishmael is born.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">16. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/16-16.htm">The age of Abram.</a></span><br></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><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> <br /><br /> </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/16.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/16.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Now Abram’s wife Sarai had borne him no children</b><br>This phrase highlights a significant issue in the narrative: Sarai's barrenness. In the ancient Near Eastern context, childbearing was crucial for a woman's status and security. The inability to have children was often seen as a source of shame and a sign of divine disfavor. This situation sets the stage for the unfolding drama and reflects the tension between God's promise to Abram of numerous descendants (<a href="/genesis/15-5.htm">Genesis 15:5</a>) and the current reality. The theme of barrenness is recurrent in the Bible, seen in the stories of Rebekah, Rachel, and Hannah, and often precedes a miraculous intervention by God.<p><b>but she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar</b><br>Hagar's introduction is significant for several reasons. As an Egyptian, she represents a connection to Abram's earlier journey to Egypt (<a href="/genesis/12-10.htm">Genesis 12:10-20</a>), where he acquired wealth and servants. This detail underscores the broader narrative of God's people interacting with surrounding nations. The mention of Hagar as a maidservant indicates her lower social status, yet she becomes a pivotal figure in the story. Her Egyptian origin also foreshadows future interactions between Israel and Egypt, including the eventual enslavement and exodus. Hagar's role in the narrative introduces themes of power dynamics, cultural intersections, and God's care for the marginalized, as later seen in her encounters with the angel of the Lord (<a href="/genesis/16-7.htm">Genesis 16:7-13</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/a/abram.htm">Abram</a></b><br>Later known as Abraham, he is a central figure in Genesis, called by God to be the father of many nations. At this point in the account, he is still waiting for the fulfillment of God's promise of offspring.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/s/sarai.htm">Sarai</a></b><br>Abram's wife, later known as Sarah. She is struggling with infertility, which is a significant theme in her account and a source of personal and relational tension.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/h/hagar.htm">Hagar</a></b><br>An Egyptian maidservant to Sarai. Her introduction sets the stage for the unfolding drama involving Abram, Sarai, and the birth of Ishmael.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/e/egypt.htm">Egypt</a></b><br>The origin of Hagar, which may imply a connection to previous events in Abram's life, such as his journey to Egypt during a famine.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/i/infertility.htm">Infertility</a></b><br>A central issue in this passage, highlighting the cultural and personal challenges faced by Sarai and Abram in their desire for an heir.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/trust_in_god's_timing.htm">Trust in God's Timing</a></b><br>Sarai's barrenness and the introduction of Hagar highlight the challenge of waiting on God's promises. Believers are encouraged to trust in God's perfect timing rather than taking matters into their own hands.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/cultural_pressures_vs._divine_promises.htm">Cultural Pressures vs. Divine Promises</a></b><br>The cultural practice of using a maidservant to bear children reflects societal norms that can conflict with divine promises. Christians are called to discern and prioritize God's will over cultural expectations.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/faith_and_patience.htm">Faith and Patience</a></b><br>Abram and Sarai's account is a reminder of the importance of faith and patience in the Christian walk. God's promises may not be fulfilled immediately, but they are sure.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/consequences_of_impatience.htm">Consequences of Impatience</a></b><br>The decision to involve Hagar leads to significant family strife and long-term consequences, illustrating the potential fallout from acting outside of God's plan.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_genesis_16.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Genesis 16</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/address_abram's_moral_dilemma_in_genesis.htm">How do we address the moral dilemma of Abram fathering a child with his wife's servant (Genesis 16:1–4)? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/bible's_view_on_polygamy.htm">What is the Bible's stance on polygamy?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/was_hagar_abraham's_wife_or_concubine.htm">Was Hagar a wife or concubine of Abraham?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_became_of_ishmael.htm">What became of Ishmael?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/genesis/16.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>XVI.<p>THE SON OF THE BONDWOMAN.</span><p>(1) <span class= "bld">Now Sarai.</span>--The history of Abram is given in a succession of brief narratives, written possibly by the patriarch himself; and though papyrus was known at Ur (<span class= "ital">Trans. Soc. Bibl. Arch., </span>i. 343, ii. 430), yet the absence of any convenient writing material for ordinary use would oblige men in those ancient days to content themselves with short inscriptions, like those tablets of clay brought from Ur, many of which now in the British. Museum are said to be considerably older than the time of Abram. The narrator would naturally make but few alterations in such precious-documents, and hence a certain amount of recapitulation, like that which we find in the Books of Samuel, where again we have not a narrative from one pen, but the arrangement of materials already ancient. As, however, the Divine object was the revealing to mankind of the way by which God would raise up man from the fall, the narrator would be guided by inspiration in his choice of materials, and in the omission of such things as did not fall in with this purpose; and the evident reverence with which he deals with these records is a warrant to us of their genuineness. Such additions as the remark that the "Valley of Shaveh" was many centuries later called "the King's Dale" (<a href="/genesis/14-17.htm" title="And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale.">Genesis 14:17</a>; <a href="/2_samuel/18-18.htm" title="Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king's dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called to this day, Absalom's place.">2Samuel 18:18</a>) are generally acknowledged to have been the work of Ezra and the men of the Great Synagogue, after the return from the exile.<p><span class= "bld">Hagar.</span>--As this word apparently comes from the Arabic verb <span class= "ital">to flee, </span>it cannot have been her original name, unless we suppose that she really was an Arab fugitive who had taken refuge in Egypt. More probably she was an Egyptian woman who had escaped to Abram when he was in the Negeb, and had then received this appellation, which virtually means <span class= "ital">run-away.</span><p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/genesis/16.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 1.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children</span> (literally, <span class="accented">bare not to him</span>, notwithstanding the promise; the barrenness of Sarai being introduced as the point of departure for the ensuing narrative, and emphasized as the cause or occasion of the subsequent transaction): <span class="cmt_word">and she had</span> - literally, <span class="accented">to her</span> (there was) - <span class="cmt_word">an handmaid, an Egyptian</span> (obtained probably while in the house of Pharaoh (<a href="/genesis/12-16.htm">Genesis 12:16</a>) - whose name was <span class="cmt_word">Hagar</span> <span class="accented">-</span> "<span class="accented">flight</span>," from <span class="accented">hagar</span>, to flee. Cf. Hegirah, the flight of Mahomet. Not her original designation, but given to her afterwards, either because of her flight from Egypt (Ambrose, Wordsworth), or because of her escape from her mistress (Michaelis, Bush, 'Speaker's Commentary'). Though not the imaginary or mythical (Bohlen), it is doubtful if she was the real (Ainsworth, Bush), ancestor of the Hagarenes (<a href="/1_chronicles/5-10.htm">1 Chronicles 5:10, 19, 20</a>; <a href="/1_chronicles/27-31.htm">1 Chronicles 27:31</a>; <a href="/psalms/83-6.htm">Psalm 83:6, 8</a>). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/genesis/16-1.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Now Abram’s</span><br /><span class="heb">אַבְרָ֔ם</span> <span class="translit">(’aḇ·rām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_87.htm">Strong's 87: </a> </span><span class="str2">Abram -- 'exalted father', the original name of Abraham</span><br /><br /><span class="word">wife</span><br /><span class="heb">אֵ֣שֶׁת</span> <span class="translit">(’ê·šeṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_802.htm">Strong's 802: </a> </span><span class="str2">Woman, wife, female</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Sarai</span><br /><span class="heb">וְשָׂרַי֙</span> <span class="translit">(wə·śā·ray)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8297.htm">Strong's 8297: </a> </span><span class="str2">Sarai -- a wife of Abram</span><br /><br /><span class="word">had not</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹ֥א</span> <span class="translit">(lō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">borne a child</span><br /><span class="heb">יָלְדָ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(yā·lə·ḏāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3205.htm">Strong's 3205: </a> </span><span class="str2">To bear young, to beget, medically, to act as midwife, to show lineage</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to him,</span><br /><span class="heb">ל֑וֹ</span> <span class="translit">(lōw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> </span><span class="str2"></span><br /><br /><span class="word">but</span><br /><span class="heb">וְלָ֛הּ</span> <span class="translit">(wə·lāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Preposition | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> </span><span class="str2"></span><br /><br /><span class="word">she had an Egyptian</span><br /><span class="heb">מִצְרִ֖ית</span> <span class="translit">(miṣ·rîṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4713.htm">Strong's 4713: </a> </span><span class="str2">Egyptian -- inhabitant of Egypt</span><br /><br /><span class="word">maidservant</span><br /><span class="heb">שִׁפְחָ֥ה</span> <span class="translit">(šip̄·ḥāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8198.htm">Strong's 8198: </a> </span><span class="str2">Maid, maidservant</span><br /><br /><span class="word">named</span><br /><span class="heb">וּשְׁמָ֥הּ</span> <span class="translit">(ū·šə·māh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8034.htm">Strong's 8034: </a> </span><span class="str2">A name</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Hagar.</span><br /><span class="heb">הָגָֽר׃</span> <span class="translit">(hā·ḡār)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1904.htm">Strong's 1904: </a> </span><span class="str2">Hagar</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/genesis/16-1.htm">Genesis 16:1 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/genesis/16-1.htm">Genesis 16:1 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/genesis/16-1.htm">Genesis 16:1 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/genesis/16-1.htm">Genesis 16:1 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/genesis/16-1.htm">Genesis 16:1 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/genesis/16-1.htm">Genesis 16:1 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/genesis/16-1.htm">Genesis 16:1 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/genesis/16-1.htm">Genesis 16:1 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/genesis/16-1.htm">Genesis 16:1 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/genesis/16-1.htm">Genesis 16:1 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/genesis/16-1.htm">OT Law: Genesis 16:1 Now Sarai Abram's wife bore him no (Gen. Ge Gn)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/genesis/15-21.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Genesis 15:21"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Genesis 15:21" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/genesis/16-2.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Genesis 16:2"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Genesis 16:2" /></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>