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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 16:3 So after he had lived in Canaan for ten years, his wife Sarai took her Egyptian maidservant Hagar and gave her to Abram to be his wife.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/genesis/16-3.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/8/01_Gen_16_03.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Genesis 16:3 - The Birth of Ishmael" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="So after he had lived in Canaan for ten years, his wife Sarai took her Egyptian maidservant Hagar and gave her to Abram to be his wife." /><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/16-3.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/16-3.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 3</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="/ad3.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/16-2.htm" title="Genesis 16:2">◄</a> Genesis 16:3 <a href="/genesis/16-4.htm" title="Genesis 16:4">►</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">Verse<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"><a href="/niv/genesis/16.htm">New International Version</a> So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. <a href="/nlt/genesis/16.htm">New Living Translation</a> So Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian servant and gave her to Abram as a wife. (This happened ten years after Abram had settled in the land of Canaan.) <a href="/esv/genesis/16.htm">English Standard Version</a> So, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant, and gave her to Abram her husband as a wife. <a href="/bsb/genesis/16.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> So after he had lived in Canaan for ten years, his wife Sarai took her Egyptian maidservant Hagar and gave her to Abram to be his wife. <a href="/kjv/genesis/16.htm">King James Bible</a> And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. <a href="/nkjv/genesis/16.htm">New King James Version</a> Then Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar her maid, the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan. <a href="/nasb_/genesis/16.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> And so after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Abram’s wife Sarai took Hagar the Egyptian, her slave woman, and gave her to her husband Abram as his wife. <a href="/nasb/genesis/16.htm">NASB 1995</a> After Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Abram&#8217s wife Sarai took Hagar the Egyptian, her maid, and gave her to her husband Abram as his wife. <a href="/nasb77/genesis/16.htm">NASB 1977 </a> And after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Abram’s wife Sarai took Hagar the Egyptian, her maid, and gave her to her husband Abram as his wife. <a href="/lsb/genesis/16.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> And after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Abram’s wife Sarai took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant-woman, and gave her to her husband Abram as his wife. <a href="/amp/genesis/16.htm">Amplified Bible</a> After Abram had lived in the land of Canaan ten years, Abram’s wife Sarai took Hagar the Egyptian [maid], and gave her to her husband Abram to be his [secondary] wife. <a href="/csb/genesis/16.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> So Abram’s wife, Sarai, took Hagar, her Egyptian slave, and gave her to her husband, Abram, as a wife for him. This happened after Abram had lived in the land of Canaan ten years. <a href="/hcsb/genesis/16.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> So Abram&#8217s wife Sarai took Hagar, her Egyptian slave, and gave her to her husband Abram as a wife for him. This happened after Abram had lived in the land of Canaan 10 years. <a href="/asv/genesis/16.htm">American Standard Version</a> And Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her handmaid, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to Abram her husband to be his wife. <a href="/cev/genesis/16.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> and Sarai gave him Hagar to be his wife. This happened after Abram had lived in the land of Canaan for ten years. <a href="/erv/genesis/16.htm">English Revised Version</a> And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar the Egyptian, her handmaid, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to Abram her husband to be his wife. <a href="/gwt/genesis/16.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> After Abram had lived in Canaan for ten years, Abram's wife Sarai took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. <a href="/gnt/genesis/16.htm">Good News Translation</a> So she gave Hagar to him to be his concubine. (This happened after Abram had lived in Canaan for ten years.) <a href="/isv/genesis/16.htm">International Standard Version</a> so Abram's wife Sarai took her Egyptian servant, Hagar, and gave her as a wife to her husband Abram. This took place ten years after Abram had settled in the land of Canaan. <a href="/msb/genesis/16.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> So after he had lived in Canaan for ten years, his wife Sarai took her Egyptian maidservant Hagar and gave her to Abram to be his wife. <a href="/net/genesis/16.htm">NET Bible</a> So after Abram had lived in Canaan for ten years, Sarai, Abram's wife, gave Hagar, her Egyptian servant, to her husband to be his wife. <a href="/nheb/genesis/16.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> So Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to Abram her husband to be his wife. <a href="/wbt/genesis/16.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar her maid, the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. <a href="/web/genesis/16.htm">World English Bible</a> Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to Abram her husband to be his wife. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/genesis/16.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And Sarai, Abram’s wife, takes Hagar the Egyptian, her handmaid, at the end of the tenth year of Abram’s dwelling in the land of Canaan, and gives her to her husband Abram—to him for a wife, <a href="/ylt/genesis/16.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> And Sarai, Abram's wife, taketh Hagar the Egyptian, her handmaid, at the end of the tenth year of Abram's dwelling in the land of Canaan, and giveth her to Abram her husband, to him for a wife, <a href="/slt/genesis/16.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And Sarai, Abram's wife, will take Hagar the Egyptian, her maid servant, at the end of ten years of Abram's resting in the land of Canaan, and will give her to Abram her husband, to him for a wife.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/genesis/16.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> She took Agar the Egyptian her handmaid, ten years after they first dwelt in the land of Chanaan, and gave her to her husband to wife. <a href="/cpdv/genesis/16.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> she took Hagar the Egyptian, her handmaid, ten years after they began to live in the land of Canaan, and she gave her to her husband as a wife. <a href="/nabre/genesis/16.htm">New American Bible</a> Thus, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, his wife Sarai took her maid, Hagar the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. <a href="/nrsvce/genesis/16.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> So, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her slave-girl, and gave her to her husband Abram as a wife.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/genesis/16.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar her Egyptian maid, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. This happened after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan. <a href="/hpbt/genesis/16.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> And Sarai, the wife of Abram, brought Hagar the Egyptian her Handmaid after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and she gave her as a wife to Abram her husband.<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/genesis/16.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar the Egyptian, her handmaid, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to Abram her husband to be his wife. <a href="/sep/genesis/16.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> So Sara the wife of Abram having taken Agar the Egyptian her handmaid, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Chanaan, gave her to Abram her husband as a wife to him. <a href="/parallel/genesis/16-3.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=3306" 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/16.htm">The Birth of Ishmael</a> …2So Sarai said to Abram, “Look now, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Please go to my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. 3<a href="/hebrew/7093.htm" title="7093: miq·qêṣ (Prep-m:: N-msc) -- End. Contracted from qatsats; an extremity; adverbially after.">So after</a> <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.">he</a> <a href="/hebrew/3427.htm" title="3427: lə·še·ḇeṯ (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- A primitive root; properly, to sit down; by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry.">had lived</a> <a href="/hebrew/776.htm" title="776: bə·’e·reṣ (Prep-b:: N-fsc) -- Earth, land. From an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3667.htm" title="3667: kə·nā·‘an (N-proper-ms) -- From kana'; humiliated; Kenaan, a son a Ham; also the country inhabited by him.">in Canaan</a> <a href="/hebrew/6235.htm" title="6235: ‘e·śer (Number-fs) -- Ten. Masculine of term aasarah; from asar; ten.">for ten</a> <a href="/hebrew/8141.htm" title="8141: šā·nîm (N-fp) -- A year. (in plura or shanah; from shanah; a year.">years,</a> <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.">his</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/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: śā·ray (N-proper-fs) -- A wife of Abram. From sar; dominative; Sarai, the wife of Abraham.">Sarai</a> <a href="/hebrew/3947.htm" title="3947: wat·tiq·qaḥ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs) -- To take. A primitive root; to take.">took</a> <a href="/hebrew/4713.htm" title="4713: ham·miṣ·rîṯ (Art:: N-proper-fs) -- Inhab. of Eg. From Mitsrayim; a Mitsrite, or inhabitant of Mitsrajim.">her Egyptian</a> <a href="/hebrew/8198.htm" title="8198: šip̄·ḥā·ṯāh (N-fsc:: 3fs) -- Maid, maidservant. Feminine from an unused root meaning to spread out; a female slave.">maidservant</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> <a href="/hebrew/5414.htm" title="5414: wat·tit·tên (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs) -- To give, put, set. A primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application.">and gave</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’ō·ṯāh (DirObjM:: 3fs) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self.">her</a> <a href="/hebrew/87.htm" title="87: lə·’aḇ·rām (Prep-l:: N-proper-ms) -- Exalted father, the original name of Abraham. Contracted from 'Abiyram; high father; Abram, the original name of Abraham.">to Abram</a> <a href="/hebrew/376.htm" title="376: ’î·šāh (N-msc:: 3fs) -- Man. Contracted for 'enowsh; a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term."></a> <a href="/hebrew/lōw (Prep:: 3ms) -- ">to be</a> <a href="/hebrew/802.htm" title="802: lə·’iš·šāh (Prep-l:: N-fs) -- Woman, wife, female. Feminine of 'iysh or 'enowsh; irregular plural, nashiym; a woman.">his wife.</a> 4And he slept with Hagar, and she conceived. But when Hagar realized that she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress.…<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="/genesis/12-5.htm">Genesis 12:5</a> And Abram took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all the possessions and people they had acquired in Haran, and set out for the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan, <a href="/genesis/21-9.htm">Genesis 21:9-10</a> 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!” <a href="/genesis/30-3.htm">Genesis 30:3-4</a> 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.” / So Rachel gave Jacob her servant Bilhah as a wife, and he slept with her, <a href="/genesis/25-12.htm">Genesis 25:12</a> This is the account of Abraham’s son Ishmael, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s maidservant, bore to Abraham. <a href="/genesis/29-24.htm">Genesis 29:24</a> And Laban gave his servant girl Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her maidservant. <a href="/genesis/30-9.htm">Genesis 30:9</a> When Leah saw that she had stopped having children, she gave her servant Zilpah to Jacob as a wife. <a href="/genesis/35-22.htm">Genesis 35:22</a> While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard about it. Jacob had twelve sons: <a href="/genesis/37-2.htm">Genesis 37:2</a> This is the account of Jacob. When Joseph was seventeen years old, he was tending the flock with his brothers, the sons of his father’s wives Bilhah and Zilpah, and he brought their father a bad report about them. <a href="/exodus/2-21.htm">Exodus 2:21</a> Moses agreed to stay with the man, and he gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses in marriage. <a href="/exodus/21-7.htm">Exodus 21:7-11</a> And if a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as the menservants do. / If she is displeasing in the eyes of her master who had designated her for himself, he must allow her to be redeemed. He has no right to sell her to foreigners, since he has broken faith with her. / And if he chooses her for his son, he must deal with her as with a daughter. ... <a href="/deuteronomy/21-10.htm">Deuteronomy 21:10-14</a> When you go to war against your enemies and the LORD your God delivers them into your hand and you take them captive, / if you see a beautiful woman among them, and you desire her and want to take her as your wife, / then you shall bring her into your house. She must shave her head, trim her nails, ... <a href="/1_samuel/1-2.htm">1 Samuel 1:2</a> He had two wives, one named Hannah and the other Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none. <a href="/1_samuel/25-42.htm">1 Samuel 25:42-43</a> So Abigail hurried and got on a donkey, and attended by five of her maidens, she followed David’s messengers and became his wife. / David had also married Ahinoam of Jezreel. So she and Abigail were both his wives. <a href="/2_samuel/5-13.htm">2 Samuel 5:13</a> After he had arrived from Hebron, David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him. <a href="/matthew/1-18.htm">Matthew 1:18-25</a> This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged in marriage to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. / Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and was unwilling to disgrace her publicly, he resolved to divorce her quietly. / But after he had pondered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ...</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelled ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.A.<a href="/genesis/12-4.htm">Genesis 12:4,5</a> So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran… gave.<a href="/genesis/16-5.htm">Genesis 16:5</a> And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee.<a href="/genesis/30-4.htm">Genesis 30:4,9</a> And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her… his.<a href="/genesis/25-6.htm">Genesis 25:6</a> But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.<a href="/genesis/28-9.htm">Genesis 28:9</a> Then went Esau unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham's son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife.<a href="/genesis/32-22.htm">Genesis 32:22</a> And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/genesis/16-2.htm">Abram</a> <a href="/genesis/16-1.htm">Abram's</a> <a href="/genesis/13-12.htm">Canaan</a> <a href="/genesis/14-13.htm">Dwelt</a> <a href="/genesis/16-1.htm">Egyptian</a> <a href="/genesis/15-15.htm">End</a> <a href="/genesis/16-1.htm">Hagar</a> <a href="/genesis/16-2.htm">Handmaid</a> <a href="/genesis/3-16.htm">Husband</a> <a href="/genesis/16-2.htm">Maid</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/5-14.htm">Ten</a> <a href="/genesis/16-1.htm">Wife</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/genesis/16-5.htm">Abram</a> <a href="/genesis/11-29.htm">Abram's</a> <a href="/genesis/17-8.htm">Canaan</a> <a href="/genesis/19-29.htm">Dwelt</a> <a href="/genesis/21-9.htm">Egyptian</a> <a href="/genesis/17-4.htm">End</a> <a href="/genesis/16-4.htm">Hagar</a> <a href="/genesis/16-5.htm">Handmaid</a> <a href="/genesis/18-12.htm">Husband</a> <a href="/genesis/16-5.htm">Maid</a> <a href="/genesis/16-5.htm">Sarai</a> <a href="/genesis/16-5.htm">Sar'ai</a> <a href="/genesis/16-5.htm">Servant</a> <a href="/genesis/18-32.htm">Ten</a> <a href="/genesis/16-4.htm">Wife</a><div class="vheading2">Genesis 16</div>1. <a href="/genesis/16-1.htm">Sarai, being barren, gives Hagar to Abram.</a> 4. <a href="/genesis/16-4.htm">Hagar, being afflicted for despising her mistress, runs away.</a> 7. <a href="/genesis/16-7.htm">An angel commands her to return and submit herself, </a> 10. <a href="/genesis/16-10.htm">promises her a numerous posterity, </a> 12. <a href="/genesis/16-12.htm">and shows their character and condition.</a> 13. <a href="/genesis/16-13.htm">Hagar names the place, and returns to Sarai.</a> 15. <a href="/genesis/16-15.htm">Ishmael is born.</a> 16. <a href="/genesis/16-16.htm">The age of Abram.</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/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>So after he had lived in Canaan for ten years This phrase indicates a significant period since Abram's arrival in Canaan, highlighting the duration of waiting for God's promise of offspring. The ten-year period underscores the patience and faith required of Abram and Sarai, as they had been promised descendants as numerous as the stars (<a href="/genesis/15-5.htm">Genesis 15:5</a>). This waiting period tests their faith and sets the stage for the subsequent actions taken by Sarai. The number ten often symbolizes completeness or a full measure in biblical numerology, suggesting that this was a complete period of testing.his wife Sarai took her Egyptian maidservant Hagar Sarai's action of taking Hagar reflects the customs and legal practices of the ancient Near East, where a barren wife could give her maidservant to her husband to bear children on her behalf. Hagar, being Egyptian, may have been acquired during Abram and Sarai's earlier sojourn in Egypt (<a href="/genesis/12-10.htm">Genesis 12:10-20</a>). This cultural practice, while accepted at the time, demonstrates a human attempt to fulfill divine promises through human means, contrasting with the faith-based approach God desires.and gave her to Abram to be his wife By giving Hagar to Abram as a wife, Sarai is attempting to secure the promised offspring through culturally acceptable means. This act introduces polygamy into Abram's family, which often leads to strife and complications, as seen in other biblical narratives (e.g., Jacob with Leah and Rachel). The decision reflects a lack of trust in God's timing and plan, leading to future conflict between Sarai and Hagar. This situation foreshadows the tension between the descendants of Ishmael (Hagar's son) and Isaac (Sarai's son), which is a recurring theme in biblical history.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/a/abram.htm">Abram</a> Later known as Abraham, he is a central figure in the Bible, known for his faith and obedience to God. At this point, he is living in Canaan, the land promised to him by God. 2. <a href="/topical/s/sarai.htm">Sarai</a> Abram's wife, later known as Sarah. She is struggling with infertility and takes matters into her own hands by giving her maidservant to Abram. 3. <a href="/topical/h/hagar.htm">Hagar</a> An Egyptian maidservant of Sarai. She becomes a secondary wife to Abram and the mother of Ishmael. 4. <a href="/topical/c/canaan.htm">Canaan</a> The land where Abram and Sarai are residing, which God promised to Abram and his descendants. 5. <a href="/topical/t/the_event.htm">The Event</a> Sarai's decision to give Hagar to Abram as a wife, which leads to significant familial and spiritual consequences.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/trust_in_god's_timing.htm">Trust in God's Timing</a> Sarai's decision reflects a lack of trust in God's timing. We must learn to wait on God's promises, trusting that His timing is perfect. <a href="/topical/c/consequences_of_impatience.htm">Consequences of Impatience</a> Acting out of impatience can lead to unintended consequences, as seen in the strife between Hagar and Sarai. We should seek God's guidance before making decisions. <a href="/topical/f/faith_vs._human_effort.htm">Faith vs. Human Effort</a> The account contrasts faith in God's promises with human efforts to fulfill those promises. True faith requires reliance on God rather than our own understanding. <a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty.htm">God's Sovereignty</a> Despite human errors, God's plan prevails. This reassures us that God can work through our mistakes to fulfill His purposes. <a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_women_in_scripture.htm">The Role of Women in Scripture</a> Sarai and Hagar's account highlights the complex roles women play in God's account, encouraging us to consider the dignity and challenges faced by women in biblical times.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_genesis_16.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Genesis 16</a> <a href="/q/is_the_antichrist_gay.htm">Was Hagar a wife or concubine of Abraham?</a> <a href="/q/what_is_did.htm">What is the total number of Abraham's wives?</a> <a href="/q/was_hagar_abraham's_wife_or_concubine.htm">Was Hagar a wife or concubine of Abraham?</a> <a href="/q/what's_abraham_and_ishmael's_story.htm">What is the story of Abraham and 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>(3) Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan.--He was now, therefore, eighty-five years of age (see <a href="/genesis/16-16.htm" title="And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.">Genesis 16:16</a> and <a href="/genesis/12-4.htm" title="So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken to him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.">Genesis 12:4</a>), and this long delay had not only tried his faith, but brought him and Sarai to the conclusion that the promised seed was to be obtained by other means.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/genesis/16.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 3. - And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan (i.e. in his eighty-fifth, and her seventy-fifth year; a note of time introduced, probably, to account for their impatience in waiting for the promised seed), and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. Afterwards styled a pilgash or concubine (<a href="/genesis/25-6.htm">Genesis 25:6</a>), she is here improperly called a wife quae praeterDei legem is alienum thorum inducitur (Calvin), from whom the pilgash or concubine differed (1) in power over the family, which belonged solely to the true wife, not to the secondary; (2) in the manner of espousal, which in the case of the former was accompanied with solemn rites of espousal and liberal gifts of dowry; and (3) in privilege of issue, the offspring of the secondary wife having no title to inherit. The act of Sarai (cf. the similar behavior of Stratonice, the wife of King Deiotarus, who, according to Plutarch, gave her maid Electra to her husband, and so obtained an heir to the crown) is as little to be imitated as the conduct of Abram. The apparent repetitions in Vers. 1-3 do not require the hypothesis of different authorship (Tuch, Colenso, Bleek, Davidson) for their explanation, but are characteristic of the genius of Hebrew composition (cf. <a href="/genesis/7-1.htm">Genesis 7:1-10</a>), and may even be considerably removed by connecting Vers. 1, 2 with <a href="/genesis/15.htm">Genesis 15</a>, and commencing the new sub-section with <a href="/genesis/16-3.htm">Genesis 16:3</a> (Quarry, p. 331). <a href="/commentaries/genesis/16-3.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>So after מִקֵּץ֙ (miq·qêṣ) Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7093.htm">Strong's 7093: </a> An extremity, after [he] לְאַבְרָ֥ם (lə·’aḇ·rām) Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_87.htm">Strong's 87: </a> Abram -- 'exalted father', the original name of Abraham had lived לְשֶׁ֥בֶת (lə·še·ḇeṯ) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3427.htm">Strong's 3427: </a> To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry in Canaan כְּנָ֑עַן (kə·nā·‘an) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3667.htm">Strong's 3667: </a> Canaan -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their land West of the Jordan for ten עֶ֣שֶׂר (‘e·śer) Number - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6235.htm">Strong's 6235: </a> Ten years, שָׁנִ֔ים (šā·nîm) Noun - feminine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8141.htm">Strong's 8141: </a> A year [his] אַבְרָ֗ם (’aḇ·rām) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_87.htm">Strong's 87: </a> Abram -- 'exalted father', the original name of Abraham wife אֵֽשֶׁת־ (’ê·šeṯ-) Noun - feminine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_802.htm">Strong's 802: </a> Woman, wife, female Sarai שָׂרַ֣י (śā·ray) Noun - proper - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8297.htm">Strong's 8297: </a> Sarai -- a wife of Abram took וַתִּקַּ֞ח (wat·tiq·qaḥ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3947.htm">Strong's 3947: </a> To take her Egyptian הַמִּצְרִית֙ (ham·miṣ·rîṯ) Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4713.htm">Strong's 4713: </a> Egyptian -- inhabitant of Egypt maidservant שִׁפְחָתָ֔הּ (šip̄·ḥā·ṯāh) Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8198.htm">Strong's 8198: </a> Maid, maidservant Hagar הָגָ֤ר (hā·ḡār) Noun - proper - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1904.htm">Strong's 1904: </a> Hagar and gave וַתִּתֵּ֥ן (wat·tit·tên) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5414.htm">Strong's 5414: </a> To give, put, set her אֹתָ֛הּ (’ō·ṯāh) Direct object marker | third person feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_853.htm">Strong's 853: </a> Untranslatable mark of the accusative case to Abram אַבְרָ֖ם (’aḇ·rām) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_87.htm">Strong's 87: </a> Abram -- 'exalted father', the original name of Abraham to be his wife. לְאִשָּֽׁה׃ (lə·’iš·šāh) Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_802.htm">Strong's 802: </a> Woman, wife, female <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/genesis/16-3.htm">Genesis 16:3 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/genesis/16-3.htm">Genesis 16:3 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/genesis/16-3.htm">Genesis 16:3 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/genesis/16-3.htm">Genesis 16:3 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/genesis/16-3.htm">Genesis 16:3 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/genesis/16-3.htm">Genesis 16:3 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/genesis/16-3.htm">Genesis 16:3 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/genesis/16-3.htm">Genesis 16:3 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/genesis/16-3.htm">Genesis 16:3 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/genesis/16-3.htm">Genesis 16:3 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/genesis/16-3.htm">OT Law: Genesis 16:3 Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar the Egyptian (Gen. Ge Gn)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/genesis/16-2.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Genesis 16:2"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Genesis 16:2" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/genesis/16-4.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Genesis 16:4"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Genesis 16:4" /></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>