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Genesis 16
Hagar and Ishmael

The sixteenth chapter tells how Sarai, who has no children, gives her Egyptian servant Hagar to Abram. Once pregnant, Hagar despises her mistress, then flees into the wilderness. There, by a spring, the LORD's angel finds her and announces the birth of Ishmael: Hagar discovers the God who sees her.

Text: World English Bible (public domain). Titles, introduction and illustrations: Imago Biblia.

Verses 1–3

Sarai gives Hagar to Abram

Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, bore him no children. She had a servant, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.

Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the LORD has restrained me from bearing. Please go in to my servant. It may be that I will obtain children by her.” Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.

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.

In front of the tent, a sad Sarai presents the young servant Hagar, her eyes lowered, to Abram, who sits on a stool.

Verses 4–5

Hagar's contempt

He went in to Hagar, and she conceived. When she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.

Sarai said to Abram, “This wrong is your fault. I gave my servant into your bosom, and when she saw that she had conceived, she despised me. May the LORD judge between me and you.”

A hurt Sarai speaks sharply to Abram, who raises his hands helplessly, while the pregnant Hagar turns away haughtily; servant women look on.

Verse 6

Hagar flees

But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your maid is in your hand. Do to her whatever is good in your eyes.” Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her face.

Hagar hurries away from the camp along a stony path, a water skin and bag on her shoulder, looking back in fear; Sarai stands in front of the tents.

Verses 7–14

“You are a God who sees”

The LORD’s angel found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain on the way to Shur.

He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s servant, where did you come from? Where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from the face of my mistress Sarai.”

The LORD’s angel said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hands.”

The LORD’s angel said to her, “I will greatly multiply your offspring, that they will not be counted for multitude.”

The LORD’s angel said to her, “Behold, you are with child, and will bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because the LORD has heard your affliction.

He will be like a wild donkey among men. His hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him. He will live opposed to all of his brothers.”

She called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, “You are a God who sees,” for she said, “Have I even stayed alive after seeing him?”

Therefore the well was called Beer Lahai Roi. Behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.

In the wilderness, Hagar kneels by a spring under palm trees and looks up at a light falling on her.

Verses 15–16

The birth of Ishmael

Hagar bore a son for Abram. Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael.

Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.

Inside the tent, Abram holds the newborn in his arms beside a smiling Hagar; a servant brings a basin, and Sarai watches from the entrance.