Genesis 16:10

Translations

Modern

Then the angel added, “I will greatly multiply your offspring so that they will be too numerous to count.”

Traditional

And the angel of the Lord said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.

Literal

And the angel of YHWH said to her, “I will greatly multiply your seed, and it shall not be counted for multitude.”

Latin

Et rursum: Multiplicans, inquit, multiplicabo semen tuum, et non numerabitur præ multitudine.

Original

Hebrew

English

Then the angel added, “I will greatly multiply your offspring so that they will be too numerous to count.”

Notes

Genesis 16:10–12

Hagar’s son would become the father of a large nation. This nation would be strong but often hostile, living in the Arabian Desert and frequently in conflict with Israel (compare 25:18).

God blessed Ishmael as Abram's descendant. But God did not choose Ishmael to continue the covenant. God kept that blessing for Abram's heir based on God's promise.

Genesis 16:8–12

The angel asked Hagar questions that helped her speak openly to God. When she did, God told her to return and submit to Sarai (16:9). He also promised that her son would have many descendants, so many that they could not be counted.

The angel of the Lord did not call Hagar Abram’s wife. Instead, he called her Sarai’s servant. Hagar would bear Abram’s child, but Ishmael was not part of God’s covenant with Abram.

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 Angels Symbolic Numbers

Related verses

Genesis 17:20
As for Ishmael, I have heard you, and I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He will become the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation.
Psalm 83:6–7
…the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, of Moab and the Hagrites,
Genesis 25:12–18
This is the account of Abraham’s son Ishmael, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s maidservant, bore to Abraham.
Genesis 21:18
Get up, lift up the boy, and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.”
Genesis 21:13
But I will also make a nation of the slave woman’s son, because he is your offspring.”
Genesis 22:15–18
And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time,
Judges 2:1–3
Now the angel of the LORD went up from Gilgal to Bochim and said, “I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land that I had promised to your fathers, and I said, ‘I will never break My covenant with you,
Judges 6:16
“Surely I will be with you,” the LORD replied, “and you will strike down all the Midianites as one man.”
John 1:18
No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father’s side, has made Him known.
Exodus 3:2–6
There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from within a bush. Moses saw the bush ablaze with fire, but it was not consumed.
Genesis 48:15–16
Then he blessed Joseph and said: “May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day,
Genesis 32:24–30
So Jacob was left all alone, and there a man wrestled with him until daybreak.

Glossary

Angel of the Lord Beer-Lahairoi Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Circumcision Ebla Tablets Genesis, Book of Hagar Ishmael Maid, Maiden Nations Patriarchs, Period of the

Topics

Afflictions and Adversities: Consolation In Communion: Hagar Lahai-Roi: Hagar Fled To Prayer: Answered: Hagar, for Deliverance The Ishmaelites: Predictions Respecting: To be Numerous

Genesis 16:10

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