Genesis 16:1

Translations

Modern

Now Abram’s wife Sarai had borne him no children, but she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar.

Traditional

Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.

Literal

And Sarai the wife of Abram has not borne to him, and she had a maidservant, an Egyptianess, and her name was Hagar.

Latin

Igitur Sarai, uxor Abram, non genuerat liberos: sed habens ancillam ægyptiam nomine Agar,

Original

Hebrew

English

Now Abram’s wife Sarai had borne him no children, but she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar.

Notes

Genesis 16:1–3

Abram and Sarai dealt with the stress of Sarai not being able to have children and being too old to give birth.

According to the custom in that culture, a woman unable to have children could give her servant as a secondary wife to her husband. The child from this union became the primary wife's child. They adopted the child as the heir.

Sarai's suggestion was acceptable according to the culture's custom. But it was a human plan that showed a lack of faith in God. God’s promises would be fulfilled by faith.

Genesis 16:1–16

While they waited for their promised son to be born, Abram and Sarai tried another plan. This plan did not show trust in God.

Theme notes and profiles

Abraham Hagar Isaac Ishmael Infertility Symbolic Numbers

Related verses

Galatians 4:24
These things serve as illustrations, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery: This is Hagar.
Genesis 12:16
He treated Abram well on her account, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, menservants and maidservants, and camels.
Genesis 15:2–3
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?”
Genesis 21:9–10
But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking her son,
Genesis 21:21
And while he was dwelling in the Wilderness of Paran, his mother got a wife for him from the land of Egypt.
Luke 1:36
Look, even Elizabeth your relative has conceived a son in her old age, and she who was called barren is in her sixth month.
Luke 1:7
But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years.
Judges 13:2
Now there was a man from Zorah named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, whose wife was barren and had no children.
Genesis 11:30
But Sarai was barren; she had no children.
Genesis 25:21
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.
Genesis 21:12
But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed about the boy and your maidservant. Listen to everything that Sarah tells you, for through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.

People

Abraham: Patriarch, chosen by God to father His people Hagar: Sarah's Egyptian maidservant; mother of Ishmael Sarah: Wife of Abraham; mother of Isaac

Places

Egypt: Ancient nation; Israelites enslaved there; plagues and Exodus

Glossary

Adultery Barrenness Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Circumcision Concubinage, Concubines Ebla Tablets Genesis, Book of Hagar Ishmael Maid, Maiden Nations Nuzi, Nuzi Tablets Patriarchs, Period of the

Topics

Hagar: Given by Sarah to Abraham to be his Wife Polygamy: Abraham Polygamy: Domestic Unhappiness in Abraham's Family Sarah: Also Called Sarai is Sterile; Gives Her Handmaiden, Hagar, to Abraham As a Concubine Servant: Bond: Taken in Concubinage

Genesis 16:1

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