Deep Dive

Genesis 16:2

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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.

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Commentaries

Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.

Matthew Henry Bible Commentaryv. 2

Hagar is the person mostly concerned in the story of this chapter, an obscure Egyptian woman, whose name and story we never should have heard of if Providence had not brought her into the family of Abram. Probably she was one of those maid-servants whom the king of Egypt, among other gifts, bestowed upon Abram (Gen 14:16). Concerning her, we have four things in this chapter: - I. Her marriage to Abram her master (Gen 16:1-3). II. Her misbehaviour towards Sarai her mistress (Gen 16:4-6). III. Her discourse with an angel that met her in her flight (Gen 16:7-14). IV. Her delivery of a son (Gen 16:15, Gen 16:16).

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Original language

The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).

Strong's Concordancev. 2

שָׂרַי (Sâray, H8297) — Sarai, the wife of Abraham אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) אַבְרָם (ʼAbrâm, H87) — Abram, the original name of Abraham יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God עָצָר (ʻâtsâr, H6113) — to inclose; by analogy, to hold back; also to maintain, rule, assemble יָלַד (yâlad, H3205) — to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show… בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) שִׁפְחָה (shiphchâh, H8198) — a female slave (as a member of the household) אוּלַי (ʼûwlay, H194) — if not; hence perhaps בָּנָה (bânâh, H1129) — to build (literally and figuratively) שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… קוֹל (qôwl, H6963) — a voice or sound

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Cross-references

Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.

Exodus 21:4rank 3

If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the woman and her children shall belong to her master, and only the man shall go free.

Genesis 18:10rank 3

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.

Genesis 3:17rank 3

And to Adam He said: “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat, cursed is the ground because of you; through toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.

Psalms 127:3rank 2

Children are indeed a heritage from the LORD, and the fruit of the womb is His reward.

Genesis 17:16rank 2

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.”

Genesis 20:18rank 2

for on account of Abraham’s wife Sarah, the LORD had completely closed all the wombs in Abimelech’s household.

Genesis 3:12rank 2

And the man answered, “The woman whom You gave me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”

Genesis 30:22rank 2

Then God remembered Rachel. He listened to her and opened her womb,

Genesis 25:21rank 2

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 30:6rank 1

Then Rachel said, “God has vindicated me; He has heard my plea and given me a son.” So she named him Dan.

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