Genesis 16

Genesis 16 General Notes

Structure and formatting

Some translations set poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to show that it is poetry. The ULB does this with the poetry in 16:11-12.

Special concepts in this chapter

Plural marriage

Abram married Hagar while he was also married to Sarai. Even though Abram had his wife's permission, this was an immoral and sinful action. It also showed a lack of faith in God. Sarai quickly became jealous of Hagar. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#sin, /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#faith and /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#jealous and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

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Genesis 16:1

Now

This word is used in English to introduce a new part of the story and background information about Sarai. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-background)

female servant

"slave-girl." This type of slave would serve the woman of the household.

Genesis 16:2

See now, Yahweh

The phrase "See now" indicates that what follows is a polite request for the hearer to pay attention. "Please listen carefully: Yahweh" See how you translated similar words in Genesis 12:11.

from having children

"from giving birth to children"

Please go to my servant

This is a polite way of telling him to have sexual relations with her servant. You may need to use another euphemism in your language. Alternate translation: "Please have sexual relations with my servant" or "Please lie with my servant" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-euphemism)

I will have children by her

"I will build my family through her"

Abram listened to the voice of Sarai

"Abram did what Sarai said"

Genesis 16:3

General Information:

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Genesis 16:4

So he went to Hagar

This is a polite way of saying that he had sexual relations with Hagar. See how you translated a similar phrase in Genesis 16:2. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-euphemism)

she looked with contempt on her mistress

"she despised her mistress" or "she thought that she was more valuable than her mistress"

her mistress

Here this refers to Sarai. A mistress has authority over her slave. Alternate translation: "her owner" or "Sarai"

Genesis 16:5

This wrong on me

"This injustice against me"

is because of you

"is your responsibility" or "is your fault"

I gave my servant woman into your embrace

Sarai used the word "embrace" here to refer to him sleeping with her. Alternate translation: "I gave you my servant so that you would sleep with her" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-euphemism)

I was despised in her eyes

This can be active. Alternate translation: "she hated me" or "she began to hate me" or "she thought she was better than me" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)

Let Yahweh judge between me and you

"I want Yahweh to say whether this is my fault or your fault" or "I want Yahweh to decide which one of us is right." The phrase "to judge between" means to decide which person is right in a dispute between them.

Genesis 16:6

See here

"Listen to me" or "Pay attention"

in your power

"under your authority"

Sarai dealt harshly with her

"Sarai treated Hagar very badly"

she fled from her

"Hagar fled from Sarai"

Genesis 16:7

The angel of Yahweh

Possible meanings are 1) Yahweh made himself look like an angel or 2) this was one of Yahweh's angels or 3) this was a special messenger from God (some scholars think it was Jesus). Since the phrase is not well understood, it is best to simply translate it as "the angel of Yahweh" using the normal word that you use for "angel."

wilderness

The wilderness area she went to was a desert. Alternate translation: "desert"

Shur

This was the name of a place south of Canaan and east of Egypt.

Genesis 16:8

my mistress

Here this refers to Sarai. A mistress has authority over her slave. See how "her mistress" is translated in Genesis 16:4. Alternate translation: "my owner"

Genesis 16:9

The angel of Yahweh said to her

"The angel of Yahweh said to Hagar"

your mistress

Sarai. See how "her mistress" is translated in Genesis 16:4.

Genesis 16:10

the angel of Yahweh

See the note about this phrase in Genesis 16:7.

the angel of Yahweh said to her, "I

When he said "I," he was referring to Yahweh. When translating what is in the quote, do it as the angel of Yahweh did and use the word "I" when referring to Yahweh.

I will greatly multiply your descendants

"I will give you very many descendants"

too numerous to count

"so many that no one will be able to count them"

Genesis 16:11

The angel of Yahweh

See the note about this phrase in Genesis 16:7.

Behold

"Look" or "Listen" or "Pay attention"

bear a son

"give birth to a son"

you will call his name

"you will name him." The word "you" refers to Hagar.

Ishmael, because Yahweh has heard

Translators may add a footnote that says "The name 'Ishmael' means 'God has heard.'"

affliction

She has been afflicted by distress and suffering.

Genesis 16:12

He will be a wild donkey of a man

This was not an insult. It may mean that Ishmael would be independent and strong like a wild donkey. Alternate translation: "He will be like a wild donkey among men" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)

He will be hostile against every man

"He will be every man's enemy"

every man will be hostile to him

"everyone will be his enemy"

he will live apart from

This can also mean "he will live in hostility with."

his brothers

"his relatives" or "the other members of his family"

Genesis 16:13

Yahweh who spoke to her

"Yahweh, because he spoke to her"

Do I really continue to see, ... me?

Hagar used this rhetorical question to express her amazement that she was still alive even after she met God. People expected that if they met God, they would die. Here seeing represents living. Alternate translation: "I am surprised that I am still alive, ... me." (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-rquestion and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)

Genesis 16:14

Therefore the well was called Beer Lahai Roi

Translators may add a footnote that says "Beer Lahai Roi means 'the well of the living one who sees me.'" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered

The word "behold" here draws attention to the fact that the well was in a place that the author and his readers knew. Alternate translation: "in fact, it is between Kadesh and Bered" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

Genesis 16:15

Hagar gave birth

Hagar's return to Sarai and Abram is implict. You can make this more explicit. Alternate translation: "So Hagar went back and gave birth" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

named his son, whom Hagar bore

"named his son by Hagar" or "named his and Hagar's son"

Genesis 16:16

Abram was

This introduces background information about Abram's age when these things happened. Your language may have a special way to mark background information. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-background)

bore Ishmael to Abram

This means "gave birth to Abram's son, Ishmael." The focus is on Abram having a son.