Genesis 16:1
Genesis 16:1 in Multiple Translations
Now Abram’s wife Sarai had borne him no children, but she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar.
Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, bare him no children: and she had a handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had given him no children; and she had a servant, a woman of Egypt whose name was Hagar.
Sarai, Abram's wife, hadn't been able to have any children for him. However, she owned a female Egyptian slave named Hagar,
Nowe Sarai Abrams wife bare him no children, and she had a maide an Egyptian, Hagar by name.
And Sarai, Abram's wife, hath not borne to him, and she hath an handmaid, an Egyptian, and her name [is] Hagar;
Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, bore him no children. She had a servant, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
Now Sarai, Abram's wife, bore him no children: and she had a handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
Now Sarai the wife of Abram, had brought forth no children; but having a handmaid, an Egyptian, named Agar,
Up to that time, Abram’s wife Sarai had not given birth to any children for Abram. But she had a female slave from Egypt, whose name was Hagar.
Abram and Sarai lived in that Canaan country, and after they were there for 10 years, they still had no kids. Sarai had a woman from Egypt working for her, called Hagar. She was Sarai’s slave. That means Sarai owned Hagar, and Hagar had to do everything that Sarai told her to do. Sarai was sad because she had no kids, but she got an idea about how to get a baby for herself. So she said to Abram, “God has stopped me from having my own kids. But listen. I want you to sleep with Hagar, like she is your wife. You see, she belongs to me, so if she has a baby, that baby will really belong to me.” So Abram did that, just like Sarai said.
Berean Amplified Bible — Genesis 16:1
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Genesis 16:1 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — Genesis 16:1
Study Notes — Genesis 16:1
- Context
- Cross References
- Genesis 16:1 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Genesis 16:1
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 16:1
- Trapp's Commentary on Genesis 16:1
- Ellicott's Commentary on Genesis 16:1
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Genesis 16:1
- Cambridge Bible on Genesis 16:1
- Barnes' Notes on Genesis 16:1
- Whedon's Commentary on Genesis 16:1
- Sermons on Genesis 16:1
Context — Hagar and Ishmael
1Now Abram’s wife Sarai had borne him no children, but she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar.
2So 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. 3So after he had lived in Canaan for ten years, his wife Sarai took her Egyptian maidservant Hagar and gave her to Abram to be his wife.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Galatians 4:24 | These things serve as illustrations, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery: This is Hagar. |
| 2 | Genesis 12:16 | He treated Abram well on her account, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, menservants and maidservants, and camels. |
| 3 | Genesis 15:2–3 | But Abram replied, “O Lord GOD, what can You give me, since I remain childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” Abram continued, “Behold, You have given me no offspring, so a servant in my household will be my heir.” |
| 4 | Genesis 21:9–10 | But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking her son, and she said to Abraham, “Expel the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac!” |
| 5 | Luke 1:7 | But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years. |
| 6 | Luke 1:36 | Look, even Elizabeth your relative has conceived a son in her old age, and she who was called barren is in her sixth month. |
| 7 | Judges 13:2 | Now there was a man from Zorah named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, whose wife was barren and had no children. |
| 8 | Genesis 21:21 | And while he was dwelling in the Wilderness of Paran, his mother got a wife for him from the land of Egypt. |
| 9 | Genesis 21:12 | But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed about the boy and your maidservant. Listen to everything that Sarah tells you, for through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned. |
| 10 | Genesis 25:21 | 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 16:1 Summary
This verse tells us that Sarai, Abram's wife, was not able to have children, but she had a maidservant named Hagar who was from Egypt. This is important because it shows that Sarai was struggling with being childless, which was a big deal in those days, as we see in Genesis 11:30. It also sets the stage for the rest of the story, where Sarai will ask Abram to have a child with Hagar, which will lead to some complicated situations, as seen in Genesis 16:2-3. We can learn from this verse that God's timing and plans are not always our own, and that He often uses difficult circumstances to bring about His promises, as seen in Genesis 21:1-3.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Sarai's inability to have children significant in this verse?
Sarai's inability to have children is significant because it highlights her barrenness, which is a recurring theme in the Bible, as seen in Genesis 11:30 and Genesis 25:21, and it sets the stage for God's promise to Abram to make him the father of many nations.
Who is Hagar and why is she mentioned in this verse?
Hagar is an Egyptian maidservant of Sarai's, and she is mentioned in this verse because she will play a crucial role in the story of Abram and Sarai, as seen in the subsequent verses, Genesis 16:2-3.
What can we learn from Sarai's situation about God's timing and plans?
We can learn that God's timing and plans are not always our own, and that He often uses difficult circumstances to bring about His promises, as seen in Genesis 21:1-3, where God fulfills His promise to Sarah, despite her advanced age.
How does this verse relate to the broader theme of faith and trust in God's promises?
This verse relates to the broader theme of faith and trust in God's promises because it shows that Abram and Sarai are still waiting for God to fulfill His promise to make Abram the father of many nations, as seen in Genesis 12:2-3, and it sets the stage for their faith to be tested in the subsequent verses.
Reflection Questions
- What are some areas in my life where I am waiting for God to fulfill His promises, and how can I trust Him in those areas?
- How do I respond when my circumstances seem to be contrary to God's promises, and what can I learn from Sarai's example?
- What are some ways that I can cultivate faith and trust in God's timing and plans, even when they seem unclear or uncertain?
- How can I apply the lessons from this verse to my own life, particularly in regards to waiting on God and trusting in His promises?
Gill's Exposition on Genesis 16:1
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 16:1
Trapp's Commentary on Genesis 16:1
Ellicott's Commentary on Genesis 16:1
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Genesis 16:1
Cambridge Bible on Genesis 16:1
Barnes' Notes on Genesis 16:1
Whedon's Commentary on Genesis 16:1
Sermons on Genesis 16:1
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Walking With God by Duncan Campbell | In this sermon, the speaker shares a personal experience of his daughter singing and expressing her love for Jesus. He reflects on the importance of spending time with God and reco |
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(Genesis) Genesis 29:22-29 by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the story of Jacob and Laban from the book of Genesis. Jacob serves Laban for seven years in order to marry Rachel, but Laban tricks him and |
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(Genesis) Genesis 17 Intro by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the seven tests that God gave to Abraham. The first test was when God called Abraham out of his home in Ur of the Chaldees, and although Abrah |
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(Genesis) Genesis 16:1-5 by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on chapter 16 of the Bible, where Abraham and Sarah face a test of faith. Sarah, unable to bear children, suggests that Abraham take her Egypti |
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An Introduction to the Day of Atonement by Ron Bailey | In this sermon, the speaker reflects on the tragedy that occurred in one of the leading families of the Israelites right at the beginning of their journey as a nation of priests. T |
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Restoring Your Passion for Christ - Part 3 by Teresa Conlon | This sermon delves into the story of Abraham and Sarah, highlighting the struggles and growth in their marriage as they navigate through betrayals, bitterness, and forgiveness. It |
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Abraham: Another Blunder by J. Glyn Owen | In this sermon, the speaker focuses on Genesis 16 and highlights the mercy and care of God. Despite the mistakes and misunderstandings of Abraham and Sarah, God reveals himself as |





