The Law · Chapter 16 of 50

Genesis 16

Barren after years in Canaan, Sarai gives her Egyptian maid Hagar to Abram to bear a child on her behalf. When Hagar conceives and grows contemptuous, Sarai treats her harshly, and Hagar flees. There the angel of the LORD finds her, tells her to return, and promises that her son Ishmael will father a great multitude. Hagar names the LORD the God who sees her, then returns and bears Ishmael.

What happens in Genesis 16

Sarai, still childless after ten years in Canaan, concludes that the LORD has kept her from bearing and gives her Egyptian handmaid Hagar to Abram as a wife, hoping to obtain children through her. Abram agrees, and Hagar conceives. But when Hagar sees she is pregnant, she despises her mistress. Sarai complains to Abram, who leaves Hagar in her hand, and Sarai deals harshly with her until Hagar flees toward Shur. By a spring in the wilderness, the angel of the LORD finds her, asks where she has come from and where she is going, and tells her to return and submit to Sarai.

He promises to multiply her descendants beyond counting and says she will bear a son named Ishmael, because the LORD has heard her affliction, a wild man dwelling among his brethren. Hagar names the LORD the God who sees, and the well is called Beerlahairoi. She returns and bears Ishmael when Abram is eighty six.

Genesis 16 in context

Genesis 16 shows Abram and Sarai trying to secure God's promise of offspring by human means rather than waiting on God. Within the Law it introduces Hagar and Ishmael, whose descendants become great nations, and it heightens the tension of the still unfulfilled promise.

The chapter also gives one of Scripture's tender encounters with a suffering outsider, revealing a God who sees and hears the afflicted.

Main themes of Genesis 16

Genesis 16 (KJV)

1Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. 2And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai. 3And 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. 4And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes. 5And 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. 6But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face. 7And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur. 8And he said, Hagar, Sarai’s maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai. 9And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands. 10And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude. 11And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction. 12And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren. 13And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me? 14Wherefore the well was called Beerlahairoi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered. 15And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son’s name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael. 16And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.

Verses to carry from Genesis 16

“And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.”Genesis 16:7

“And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.”Genesis 16:11

“And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?”Genesis 16:13

Reflection

Hagar was mistreated, overlooked, and running away, yet God sought her out and called Himself the One who sees her. When you feel unseen in your affliction, this chapter says otherwise. God notices, hears, and names you. Before scheming to force an outcome, consider whether you are being asked to wait on His promise.

A prayer from Genesis 16