Hagar and Ishmael
Genesis 16:1-16
Gen.16.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ושרי: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אשת: NOUN,f,sg,construct
- אברם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לא: PART,neg
- ילדה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- לו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- ולה: CONJ+PREP+PRON,3,f,sg
- שפחה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מצרית: ADJ,f,sg
- ושמה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,3,f,sg
- הגר: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Genesis 11:30 (verbal): Same information about Sarai/Sarah’s barrenness — the statement that she had not borne children echoes the condition that motivates the Hagar episode.
- Genesis 15:2 (thematic): Abram’s lament that he has no offspring and the suggestion that a servant might be his heir reflects the anxiety about heirs that precipitates Sarai’s giving of Hagar.
- Genesis 30:3 (thematic): Rachel’s giving of her maid Bilhah to Jacob to bear children for her parallels the motif of a wife providing a slave to her husband to obtain offspring.
- Genesis 21:9-21 (structural): The later narrative resolution — Hagar and Ishmael being sent away and God’s care for them — is the direct outcome and continuation of the situation begun in 16:1–4.
- Galatians 4:21-31 (allusion): Paul explicitly uses Hagar and Sarah as contrasting figures (two covenants) and treats the Hagar episode as an allegory about bondage and promise, directly alluding to Genesis 16–21.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not borne him a child; and she had an Egyptian slave-woman, whose name was Hagar.
- And Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children; and she had an Egyptian maidservant, and her name was Hagar.
Gen.16.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- שרי: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אל: PREP
- אברם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הנה: PART
- נא: PTCL
- עצרני: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מלדת: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- נא: PTCL
- אל: PREP
- שפחתי: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אולי: PRT
- אבנה: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- ממנה: PREP+PRS,3,f,sg
- וישמע: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- אברם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לקול: NOUN,m,sg,abs+prep:l
- שרי: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Genesis 11:30 (verbal): States that Sarai was barren—provides the immediate background for Sarai’s proposal in Gen 16:2.
- Genesis 30:1-3 (thematic): Rachel, barren, gives her maid Bilhah to Jacob so Bilhah may bear children for her—the same surrogate practice as Sarai’s giving Hagar to Abram.
- Genesis 15:2-4 (structural): Abram’s concern about having no heir (and mention of Eliezer) sets the problem that leads to the surrogacy solution in Gen 16.
- Genesis 18:10-14 (allusion): God’s later promise that Sarah will bear a son (and Sarah’s incredulous laugh) contrasts with Sarai’s earlier decision to provide a surrogate rather than wait for God’s promise.
- Galatians 4:21-31 (thematic): Paul retells and interprets the Hagar/Sarah episode (Gen 16) allegorically, using the surrogacy and birth of Ishmael to contrast the covenants and freedom vs. slavery.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Sarai said to Abram, Behold now, YHWH has restrained me from bearing; go in, please, to my slave-woman; perhaps I shall obtain children by her. And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.
- And Sarai said to Abram, See now, YHWH has restrained me from bearing; go, please, in to my maidservant; perhaps I shall be built up from her. And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.
Gen.16.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותקח: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- שרי: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אשת: NOUN,f,sg,construct
- אברם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT
- הגר: NOUN,f,sg,def
- המצרית: ADJ,f,sg,def
- שפחתה: NOUN,f,sg,abs,suff:3,f,sg
- מקץ: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,cons
- עשר: NUM,card,f,sg
- שנים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- לשבת: VERB,qal,inf
- אברם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בארץ: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- כנען: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ותתן: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- אתה: PRON,2,m,sg
- לאברם: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אישה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- לו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- לאשה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Genesis 16:1-2 (structural): Immediate context: explains Sarai's barrenness and her decision to give Hagar to Abram, so 16:3 continues the same incident and motive.
- Genesis 30:3-4 (thematic): Rachel gives her maid Bilhah to Jacob to bear children on her behalf — a parallel instance of a wife using her maidservant as a surrogate for producing heirs.
- Genesis 21:9-12 (thematic): Later consequence of the Hagar–Ishmael relationship: Sarah demands Hagar and Ishmael be sent away, linking the surrogate arrangement in 16:3 with familial conflict and expulsion.
- Galatians 4:21-31 (allusion): Paul allegorizes Hagar and Sarah as figures of two covenants (bondage vs. freedom), explicitly drawing theological significance from the episode in Genesis where Sarai gives Hagar to Abram.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her slave-woman, after ten years of Abram’s dwelling in the land of Canaan, and she gave her to Abram her husband, to be his wife.
- And Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her maidservant, at the end of ten years of Abram’s dwelling in the land of Canaan, and she gave her to Abram her husband as a wife.
Gen.16.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויבא: VERB,hif,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- אל: PREP
- הגר: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ותהר: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- ותרא: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- כי: CONJ
- הרתה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- ותקל: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- גברתה: NOUN,f,sg,abs+poss3f
- בעיניה: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs+poss3f
Parallels
- Genesis 16:2 (structural): Immediate narrative background: Sarai’s instruction to Abram to take Hagar explains why Abram ‘went in’ to Hagar and she conceived — the cause/structure of the episode.
- Genesis 21:9-10 (thematic): Sarah’s later reaction when she sees Ishmael ‘mocking’ (and her demand to expel Hagar and her son) echoes the rivalry and contempt born of Hagar’s pregnancy in 16:4.
- Genesis 30:1-8 (thematic): Rachel and Leah’s use of maidservants (Bilhah and Zilpah) to bear children for their mistresses shows the same pattern of surrogate conception and resulting jealousy/status conflict.
- 1 Samuel 1:6-20 (thematic): The rivalry between co-wives (Hannah and Peninnah), the provocation over childbearing, and Hannah’s subsequent conception parallel the social and emotional dynamics set off by Hagar’s pregnancy.
- Galatians 4:21-31 (allusion): Paul explicitly interprets the Hagar/Sarah episode typologically (Hagar = slavery/flesh, Sarah = promise/freeborn), treating the Genesis pregnancy and ensuing conflict as an allegory for two covenants.
Alternative generated candidates
- And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived; and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.
- And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived; and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress.
Gen.16.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- שרי: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אל: PREP
- אברם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- חמסי: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,1,sg
- עליך: PREP+PRON,2,m,sg
- אנכי: PRON,1,_,sg
- נתתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- שפחתי: NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,1,sg
- בחיקך: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,2,m,sg
- ותרא: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- כי: CONJ
- הרתה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- ואקל: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,f,sg
- בעיניה: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs+PRON,3,f,sg
- ישפט: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ביני: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- וביניך: CONJ+PREP,2,m,sg
Parallels
- Genesis 16:1-4 (structural): Immediate context: Sarai gives her maid Hagar to Abram and Hagar conceives — the episode Sarai summarizes and reacts to in v.5.
- Genesis 21:9 (thematic): Later reprise: Sarah sees Ishmael 'playing'/mocking and demands that Hagar and her son be sent away — a direct consequence and parallel of the conflict begun when Hagar bore Abram's child.
- Genesis 30:1-13 (thematic): Rachel and Leah use their maidservants (Bilhah and Zilpah) as surrogates when barren, producing the same motif of surrogate childbearing and household rivalry present in Genesis 16.
- 1 Samuel 1:6-7 (thematic): Hannah is provoked and taunted by Peninnah because of her barrenness; parallel situation of a barren wife distressed and provoked by a rival who bears children.
- Galatians 4:22-31 (allusion): Paul explicitly retells and interprets the Hagar/Sarah episode as an allegory of two covenants (slave vs. free), directly alluding to the birth of the slave woman’s son and the ensuing conflict.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Sarai said to Abram, My wrong be upon you! I myself gave my slave-woman into your embrace; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes. May YHWH judge between me and you.
- And Sarai said to Abram, My wrong be upon you! I myself gave my maidservant into your bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was held in contempt in her eyes. May YHWH judge between me and you.
Gen.16.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- אברם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אל: PREP
- שרי: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- הנה: PART
- שפחתך: NOUN,f,sg,abs,poss:2fs
- בידך: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,2,m,sg
- עשי: VERB,qal,impv,2,f,sg
- לה: PREP,3,f,sg
- הטוב: ADJ,m,sg,def
- בעיניך: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs,poss:2fs
- ותענה: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,f,sg
- שרי: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ותברח: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,f,sg
- מפניה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs,poss:3fs
Parallels
- Gen.16.7-14 (structural): Immediate continuation: Hagar flees after Sarai's harsh treatment and is met by the angel of the LORD, showing divine concern and promise in response to the mistreatment described in 16:6.
- Gen.21.9-14 (thematic): Repeats the Hagar–Sarah conflict: Sarah demands that Abraham cast out Hagar and Ishmael, resulting in the servant's expulsion — a later reprise of the same dynamic of mistreatment and banishment.
- Judg.19.1-30 (thematic): Narrative of a concubine who is abused and effectively cast out, provoking national crisis; thematically parallels abuse of a woman/servant and the social and moral consequences of such mistreatment.
- Deut.24.14-15 (thematic): Legal/ethical contrast: injunctions against oppressing or withholding wages from hired servants, highlighting the Torah's concern for fair treatment of vulnerable workers in contrast to Sarai's harshness toward Hagar.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Abram said to Sarai, Behold, your slave-woman is in your hand; do to her what is good in your eyes. Then Sarai afflicted her, and she fled from her.
- And Abram said to Sarai, Behold, your maidservant is in your hand; do to her what is good in your eyes. Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her presence.
Gen.16.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וימצאה: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- מלאך: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- על: PREP
- עין: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- המים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- במדבר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- על: PREP
- העין: NOUN,f,sg,def
- בדרך: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- שור: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Gen.21:17-19 (thematic): Hagar and Ishmael again in the wilderness at a spring; God provides water and rescues them — continuation of the Hagar-in-the-desert motif and divine care for the outcast.
- Gen.22:11-18 (verbal): Another appearance of the 'angel of the LORD' who intervenes in a crisis; parallels the theophanic role of the messenger who encounters and speaks for God.
- Exod.3:1-6 (allusion): The angel/theophany (angel of the LORD/God's presence) appears to Moses in a wilderness setting — similar motif of divine encounter in desolate place.
- Gen.24:11-21 (thematic): Abraham's servant meets Rebekah at a well; shared narrative motif of a life-changing divine-guided encounter at a spring/well in a wilderness or roadside setting.
- Gen.29:2-9 (thematic): Jacob meets Rachel at a well; another instance of a pivotal meeting and marriage-initiating encounter taking place at a spring, reinforcing the well-as-encounter motif.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the angel of YHWH found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur.
- And the angel of YHWH found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur.
Gen.16.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- הגר: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- שפחת: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- שרי: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אי: ADV,interr
- מזה: ADV,interrog
- באת: VERB,qal,perf,2,f,sg
- ואנה: ADV,interrog
- תלכי: VERB,qal,impf,2,f,sg
- ותאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- מפני: PREP
- שרי: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- גברתי: NOUN,f,sg,abs,1s
- אנכי: PRON,1,_,sg
- ברחת: VERB,qal,perf,1,c,sg
Parallels
- Gen.21:17-19 (verbal): The angel of God again speaks to Hagar in the wilderness, asking about her distress and commanding reassurance— closely parallels the angelic address and concern in Gen 16:8.
- Gen.3:9 (thematic): God calls to the person and asks a locating question ('Where are you?') after human flight/hiddenness—similar divine interrogation that elicits a confession of fleeing or hiding.
- Gen.4:9 (thematic): God's question 'Where is Abel thy brother?' follows wrongdoing and forces an account—parallels the pattern of divine questioning that exposes human action and motive.
- Jonah 1:3 (thematic): Jonah 'flees from the presence of the LORD'—echoes Hagar's statement 'I am fleeing from my mistress,' highlighting the motif of flight from an authoritative figure and divine involvement in that flight.
Alternative generated candidates
- And he said, Hagar, slave-woman of Sarai, From where have you come, and where are you going? And she said, From the presence of Sarai my mistress I am fleeing.
- And he said, Hagar, maidservant of Sarai, From where have you come, and where are you going? And she said, I am fleeing from Sarai my mistress.
Gen.16.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- לה: PREP,3,f,sg
- מלאך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- יהוה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שובי: VERB,qal,imp,2,f,sg
- אל: PREP
- גברתך: NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,2,f,sg
- והתעני: VERB,hitpael,imp,2,f,sg
- תחת: PREP
- ידיה: NOUN,f,pl,abs+PRON,3,f,sg
Parallels
- Genesis 16:6 (verbal): Abram tells Sarai that Hagar is 'in your hand; do to her as you please' — the human mandate to exert control parallels the angel's instruction that Hagar return and be subject to her mistress.
- Genesis 16:10-12 (structural): Immediate continuation of the same angelic encounter: after ordering Hagar to return and submit, the angel gives the oracle about Ishmael's descendants; the verses form one coherent unit (instruction + promise).
- Genesis 21:9-14 (thematic): Later scene where Sarah demands Hagar's expulsion and Abraham sends her away — the social consequences of the mistress/maid relationship and tensions over status and offspring echo the earlier command to submit.
- Genesis 30:3-4 (thematic): Rachel gives her maid Bilhah to Jacob to bear children on her behalf; this shows the wider cultural practice of a mistress using a handmaid as a surrogate and the attendant dynamics of authority and submission present in Hagar's situation.
- 1 Peter 2:18 (thematic): NT instruction for servants to submit to masters, even unjustly, resonates thematically with the angel's command that Hagar return and 'be afflicted' under her mistress's hand — a motif of enduring subordination within God's purposes.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the angel of YHWH said to her, Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hand.
- And the angel of YHWH said to her, Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hand.
Gen.16.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- לה: PREP,3,f,sg
- מלאך: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הרבה: ADV
- ארבה: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- את: PRT
- זרעך: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,2,m,sg
- ולא: CONJ
- יספר: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- מרב: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Genesis 17:20 (verbal): God again promises to multiply Ishmael’s offspring: 'I will multiply him exceedingly,' echoing the angel’s pledge to Hagar in Gen 16:10.
- Genesis 21:18 (structural): God tells Hagar not to be afraid and promises that the boy will become a great nation—another instance of reassurance and increase given to Hagar and her son.
- Genesis 15:5 (thematic): God’s promise to Abraham to make his descendants as numerous as the stars anticipates the same theme of an uncountable offspring applied here to Hagar’s seed.
- Genesis 22:17 (verbal): God’s covenantal promise to multiply Abraham’s descendants 'as the stars of heaven and as the sand' parallels the language and promise of abundant progeny found in Gen 16:10.
- Galatians 4:22–23 (allusion): Paul retells and interprets the Hagar/Sarah story (Hagar bearing a son according to the flesh) and thus alludes to the promises made to Hagar and her seed in Gen 16:10 within a theological argument.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the angel of YHWH said to her, I will surely multiply your offspring, so that it will not be counted for multitude.
- And the angel of YHWH said to her, I will surely multiply your offspring, and it shall not be counted for multitude.
Gen.16.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- לה: PREP,3,f,sg
- מלאך: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הנך: PART
- הרה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וילדת: VERB,qal,impf,2,f,sg
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וקראת: VERB,qal,impf,2,f,sg
- שמו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- ישמעאל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כי: CONJ
- שמע: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אל: PREP
- עניך: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,2,f,sg
Parallels
- Gen.21.17 (verbal): Uses the same root 'hear' (שמע): God 'heard the lad' at the well—echoes the naming-reason for Ishmael ('for the LORD has heard your affliction').
- Gen.17.19 (structural): Parallel naming formula and birth promise to Abraham's household: 'Sarah shall bear a son... you shall call his name Isaac,' creating a pair with the Ishmael announcement.
- Gen.18.10 (thematic): Another divine/angelic announcement of a forthcoming son to Abraham's circle ('about this time next year I will return to you and Sarah shall have a son'), paralleling the miraculous birth proclamation.
- Judg.13.3-5 (thematic): Angelic announcement of a special son's birth (Samson) with instructions and significance attached—shares the motif of an angel declaring a forthcoming male child and his destiny.
- Luke 1:13-14 (thematic): Angel tells Zechariah that his wife will bear a son and gives the reason ('your prayer has been heard'), echoing the formulaic link between naming and God's having 'heard' someone.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the angel of YHWH said to her, Behold, you are pregnant and will bear a son, and you shall call his name Ishmael; for YHWH has heard your affliction.
- And the angel of YHWH said to her, Behold, you are pregnant and shall bear a son, and you shall call his name Ishmael, for YHWH has heard your affliction.
Gen.16.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- והוא: CONJ+PRON,3,m,sg
- יהיה: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- פרא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אדם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ידו: NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- בכל: PREP+DET
- ויד: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- כל: ADJ,m,sg
- בו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- ועל: CONJ+PREP
- פני: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- כל: ADJ,m,sg
- אחיו: NOUN,m,sg,abs,3,m,sg
- ישכן: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Genesis 21:9-10 (thematic): Sarah demands Hagar and Ishmael be sent away because of conflict with Isaac—an instance of the hostility between Ishmael and his kin anticipated in Gen 16:12.
- Genesis 25:18 (verbal): Summary of the Ishmaelites' settlement says they 'lived in hostility toward all their brothers,' language that echoes Gen 16:12's prediction of mutual antagonism.
- Job 39:5-8 (verbal): Passage describing the wild donkey (wild ass) roaming the steppe resonates with the 'wild ass of a man' image used of Ishmael in Gen 16:12.
- Galatians 4:29 (allusion): Paul cites the Isaac–Ishmael conflict as a pattern of persecution ('he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit'), alluding to the hostility foretold in Gen 16:12.
Alternative generated candidates
- And he will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand against everyone, and everyone’s hand against him; and in the face of all his brothers he shall dwell.
- He shall be a wild donkey of a man; his hand against everyone, and everyone’s hand against him; and over against all his brothers he shall dwell.
Gen.16.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותקרא: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- שם: ADV,loc
- יהוה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הדבר: PART,qal,ptcp,ms,sg,def
- אליה: PREP+PRON,3,f,sg
- אתה: PRON,2,m,sg
- אל: PREP
- ראי: PART,qal,ptcp,ms,sg,prsuf:1,sg
- כי: CONJ
- אמרה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- הגם: PART,int
- הלם: PART
- ראיתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,com,sg
- אחרי: PREP
- ראי: PART,qal,ptcp,ms,sg,prsuf:1,sg
Parallels
- Genesis 21:17-19 (verbal): Same narrative and character (Hagar); God 'opened her eyes and she saw' the well—continuation of divine seeing and providential response to Hagar's plight.
- Exodus 3:7 (verbal): God declares 'I have seen' the affliction of his people—shared language and theology of God as one who sees human suffering and acts.
- Exodus 2:25 (thematic): 'God saw the children of Israel'—echo of the motif that God observes and responds to the distressed, parallel to Hagar's naming of God as the one who sees her.
- Judges 6:11-24 (structural): Angel of the LORD appears to a distressed person; the encounter leads to recognition of divine presence and the building/naming of a sacred site—parallel form to Hagar's angelic encounter and her naming of God (El‑Roi).
- Psalm 139:7-12 (thematic): Meditation on God's omnipresence and intimate knowledge ('Where can I go from your Spirit?'); thematically parallels the conviction that God sees and is present with the individual (basis for Hagar's naming).
Alternative generated candidates
- And she called the name of YHWH who spoke to her, You are El-Roi; for she said, Have I even here seen after the One who sees me?
- And she called the name of YHWH who spoke to her, You are God who sees me; for she said, Have I even here seen after the One who sees me?
Gen.16.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- על: PREP
- כן: ADV
- קרא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לבאר: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- באר: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- לחי: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ראי: PART,qal,part,3,m,sg
- הנה: PART
- בין: PREP
- קדש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ובין: CONJ+PREP
- ברד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Genesis 16:13 (verbal): Immediately preceding verse where Hagar names God 'El‑Roi' ('God who sees me'), which explains the naming of the well Beer‑lahai‑roi in v.14.
- Genesis 21:14-19 (thematic): Hagar and Ishmael in the wilderness again encounter divine provision of water (God opens her eyes to a well), echoing the theme of God's care at a desert well.
- Genesis 26:17-22 (structural): Isaac's re‑digging and naming of wells and disputes over them shows the recurring motif of wells as landmarks, sources of life, and points of contention in patriarchal narratives.
- Genesis 24:11-20 (thematic): The servant's encounter with Rebekah at a well illustrates the well as a site of divine appointment and revelation—similar to Hagar's revelatory experience by the spring.
- Exodus 15:22-25 (thematic): The episode at Marah (bitter waters made sweet) reflects the broader biblical theme of God providing and transforming water in the wilderness for Israel's survival.
Alternative generated candidates
- Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.
- Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.
Gen.16.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותלד: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- הגר: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- לאברם: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויקרא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- אברם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שם: ADV,loc
- בנו: NOUN,m,sg,abs,3,m,sg
- אשר: PRON,rel
- ילדה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- הגר: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ישמעאל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Gen.16:11-12 (verbal): Immediate verbal parallel: the angel prophesies the son's name 'Ishmael' and his character/future, directly linked to the birth recorded in 16:15.
- Gen.17:20 (verbal): God's promise regarding Ishmael—'I will bless him and make him a great nation'—echoes the significance attached to the son born to Hagar.
- Gen.21:9-14 (thematic): Later narrative consequence: Sarah's son Isaac and Hagar's son Ishmael come into conflict and Hagar/Ishmael are sent away—develops themes introduced at Ishmael's birth.
- Gen.25:12-18 (structural): Genealogical summary of Ishmael's twelve sons and descendants, tracing the nation that began with the birth in 16:15.
- Gal.4:21-31 (allusion): Paul uses the story of Hagar and her son Ishmael versus Sarah and Isaac as an allegory about law and promise, explicitly alluding to the events that begin with Ishmael's birth.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael.
- And Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram called the name of his son whom Hagar bore, Ishmael.
Gen.16.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואברם: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שמנים: NUM,card,pl,m,abs
- שנה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ושש: CONJ,NUM,m,sg
- שנים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- בלדת: PREP
- הגר: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- את: PRT
- ישמעאל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לאברם: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Gen.16.3 (structural): Immediate narrative precursor: Sarai gives Hagar to Abram, which explains Hagar's pregnancy and the birth of Ishmael recorded in 16:16.
- Gen.21:5 (verbal): States Abraham's age (100) at Isaac's birth; contrasts with Abram's age of 86 at Ishmael's birth, highlighting the chronology and differing roles of the two sons.
- Gen.17:17 (thematic): Abraham's astonished/laughter response to the promise of a son in old age; echoes the motif of advanced age and unexpected childbearing present in 16:16.
- Rom.4:19-21 (thematic): Paul reflects on Abraham's body being 'as good as dead' yet believing God's promise of offspring, using Abraham's old age as a theological example related to the births of Ishmael and Isaac.
- Gal.4:22-31 (allusion): Paul allegorizes the births of Ishmael and Isaac (Hagar and Sarah) to contrast two covenants; directly draws on the narrative in Genesis 16–21 and treats Ishmael's birth as the typological basis.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.
- And Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.
And Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children; and she had an Egyptian maidservant, and her name was Hagar. And Sarai said to Abram, Behold now, YHWH has restrained me from bearing; go in, please, to my maidservant—perhaps I shall be built up through her. And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. And Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her maidservant, after ten years of Abram’s dwelling in the land of Canaan, and gave her to Abram her husband as a wife. And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived; and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes. And Sarai said to Abram, My wrong be upon you! I myself gave my maidservant into your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes. May YHWH judge between me and you. But Abram said to Sarai, Behold, your maidservant is in your hand; do to her what is good in your eyes. And Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her. And the angel of YHWH found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur. And he said, Hagar, maidservant of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going? And she said, From the presence of Sarai my mistress I am fleeing. And the angel of YHWH said to her, Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hand. And the angel of YHWH said to her, I will greatly multiply your seed, so that it cannot be counted for multitude. And the angel of YHWH said to her, Behold, you are pregnant and will bear a son; and you shall call his name Ishmael, for YHWH has heard your affliction. And he will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand against all, and the hand of all against him; and he shall dwell opposite all his brothers. And she called the name of YHWH who spoke to her, You are El-Roi; for she said, Have I even here seen the One who sees me?
Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered. And Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram called the name of his son whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. And Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.