Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar; New Living Translation Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not been able to bear children for him. But she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar. English Standard Version Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. She had a female Egyptian servant whose name was Hagar. Berean Standard Bible Now Abram’s wife Sarai had borne him no children, but she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar. King James Bible Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. New King James Version Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. And she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar. New American Standard Bible Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not borne him a child, but she had an Egyptian slave woman whose name was Hagar. NASB 1995 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife had borne him no children, and she had an Egyptian maid whose name was Hagar. NASB 1977 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife had borne him no children, and she had an Egyptian maid whose name was Hagar. Legacy Standard Bible Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children, and she had an Egyptian servant-woman whose name was Hagar. Amplified Bible Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not borne him any children, and she had an Egyptian maid whose name was Hagar. Christian Standard Bible Abram’s wife, Sarai, had not borne any children for him, but she owned an Egyptian slave named Hagar. Holman Christian Standard Bible Abram’s wife Sarai had not borne any children for him, but she owned an Egyptian slave named Hagar. American Standard Version Now Sarai, Abram's wife, bare him no children: and she had a handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. Contemporary English Version Abram's wife Sarai had not been able to have any children. But she owned a young Egyptian slave woman named Hagar, English Revised Version Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. GOD'S WORD® Translation Sarai, Abram's wife, was not able to have children. She owned an Egyptian slave named Hagar. Good News Translation Abram's wife Sarai had not borne him any children. But she had an Egyptian slave woman named Hagar, International Standard Version Now Abram's wife Sarai had not borne a child for him. She had an Egyptian servant girl whose name was Hagar. Majority Standard Bible Now Abram?s wife Sarai had borne him no children, but she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar. NET Bible Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had not given birth to any children, but she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar. New Heart English Bible Now Sarai, Abram's wife, bore him no children, but she had an Egyptian servant whose name was Hagar. Webster's Bible Translation Now Sarai, Abram's wife, bore him no children: and she had a handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. World English Bible Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, bore him no children. She had a servant, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd Sarai, Abram’s wife, has not borne to him, and she has a handmaid, an Egyptian, and her name [is] Hagar; Young's Literal Translation And Sarai, Abram's wife, hath not borne to him, and she hath an handmaid, an Egyptian, and her name is Hagar; Smith's Literal Translation And Sarai, Abram's wife, brought not forth to him; and to her a maid servant, an Egyptian, and her name Hagar. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleNow Sarai the wife of Abram, had brought forth no children; having a handmaid, an Egyptian, named Agar, Catholic Public Domain Version Now Sarai, the wife of Abram, had not conceived children. But, having an Egyptian handmaid named Hagar, New American Bible Abram’s wife Sarai had borne him no children. Now she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar. New Revised Standard Version Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, bore him no children. She had an Egyptian slave-girl whose name was Hagar, Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleNOW Sarai, Abram's wife, bore him no children; and she had an Egyptian handmaid, whose name was Hagar. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And Sarai the wife of Abram did not give birth for him and he had a female Egyptian Servant and her name was Hagar. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Now Sarai Abram's wife bore him no children; and she had a handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. Brenton Septuagint Translation And Sara the wife of Abram bore him no children; and she had an Egyptian maid, whose name was Agar. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Birth of Ishmael1Now 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.… Cross References 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.” Genesis 21:9-13 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!” / Now this matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son Ishmael. ... Genesis 30:1-3 When Rachel saw that she was not bearing any children for Jacob, she envied her sister. “Give me children, or I will die!” she said to Jacob. / Jacob became angry with Rachel and said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld children from you?” / Then she said, “Here is my maidservant Bilhah. Sleep with her, that she may bear children for me, so that through her I too can build a family.” Galatians 4:22-23 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. / His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born through the promise. Genesis 12:11-16 As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “Look, I know that you are a beautiful woman, / and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live. / Please say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake, and on account of you my life will be spared.” ... 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 29:31 When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren. Genesis 30:9-10 When Leah saw that she had stopped having children, she gave her servant Zilpah to Jacob as a wife. / And Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a son. 1 Samuel 1:5-6 But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved her even though the LORD had closed her womb. / Because the LORD had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival would provoke her viciously to taunt her. Romans 9:7-9 Nor because they are Abraham’s descendants are they all his children. On the contrary, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.” / So it is not the children of the flesh who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as offspring. / For this is what the promise stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.” Hebrews 11:11 By faith Sarah, even though she was barren and beyond the proper age, was enabled to conceive a child, because she considered Him faithful who had promised. Genesis 17:15-16 Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, do not call her Sarai, for her name is to be Sarah. / 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 18:10-14 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. / And Abraham and Sarah were already old and well along in years; Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. / So she laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?” ... Genesis 20:17-18 Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maidservants, so that they could again bear children— / for on account of Abraham’s wife Sarah, the LORD had completely closed all the wombs in Abimelech’s household. Genesis 24:60 And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, “Our sister, may you become the mother of thousands upon thousands. May your offspring possess the gates of their enemies.” Treasury of Scripture Now Sarai Abram's wife bore him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. A. Genesis 15:2,3 And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? … Genesis 21:10,12 Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac… Genesis 25:21 And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. Egyptian. Genesis 12:16 And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels. Genesis 21:9,21 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking… name. Galatians 4:24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. Agar. Jump to Previous Abram's Bare Bear Bore Borne Children Egypt Egyptian Hagar Handmaid Maid Maidservant Sarai Sar'ai Servant WifeJump to Next Abram's Bare Bear Bore Borne Children Egypt Egyptian Hagar Handmaid Maid Maidservant Sarai Sar'ai Servant WifeGenesis 16 1. Sarai, being barren, gives Hagar to Abram.4. Hagar, being afflicted for despising her mistress, runs away. 7. An angel commands her to return and submit herself, 10. promises her a numerous posterity, 12. and shows their character and condition. 13. Hagar names the place, and returns to Sarai. 15. Ishmael is born. 16. The age of Abram. Now Abram’s wife Sarai had borne him no children This phrase highlights a significant issue in the narrative: Sarai's barrenness. In the ancient Near Eastern context, childbearing was crucial for a woman's status and security. The inability to have children was often seen as a source of shame and a sign of divine disfavor. This situation sets the stage for the unfolding drama and reflects the tension between God's promise to Abram of numerous descendants (Genesis 15:5) and the current reality. The theme of barrenness is recurrent in the Bible, seen in the stories of Rebekah, Rachel, and Hannah, and often precedes a miraculous intervention by God. but she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar Persons / Places / Events 1. AbramLater known as Abraham, he is a central figure in Genesis, called by God to be the father of many nations. At this point in the account, he is still waiting for the fulfillment of God's promise of offspring. 2. Sarai Abram's wife, later known as Sarah. She is struggling with infertility, which is a significant theme in her account and a source of personal and relational tension. 3. Hagar An Egyptian maidservant to Sarai. Her introduction sets the stage for the unfolding drama involving Abram, Sarai, and the birth of Ishmael. 4. Egypt The origin of Hagar, which may imply a connection to previous events in Abram's life, such as his journey to Egypt during a famine. 5. Infertility A central issue in this passage, highlighting the cultural and personal challenges faced by Sarai and Abram in their desire for an heir. Teaching Points Trust in God's TimingSarai's barrenness and the introduction of Hagar highlight the challenge of waiting on God's promises. Believers are encouraged to trust in God's perfect timing rather than taking matters into their own hands. Cultural Pressures vs. Divine Promises The cultural practice of using a maidservant to bear children reflects societal norms that can conflict with divine promises. Christians are called to discern and prioritize God's will over cultural expectations. Faith and Patience Abram and Sarai's account is a reminder of the importance of faith and patience in the Christian walk. God's promises may not be fulfilled immediately, but they are sure. Consequences of Impatience The decision to involve Hagar leads to significant family strife and long-term consequences, illustrating the potential fallout from acting outside of God's plan.XVI. THE SON OF THE BONDWOMAN. (1) Now Sarai.--The history of Abram is given in a succession of brief narratives, written possibly by the patriarch himself; and though papyrus was known at Ur (Trans. Soc. Bibl. Arch., i. 343, ii. 430), yet the absence of any convenient writing material for ordinary use would oblige men in those ancient days to content themselves with short inscriptions, like those tablets of clay brought from Ur, many of which now in the British. Museum are said to be considerably older than the time of Abram. The narrator would naturally make but few alterations in such precious-documents, and hence a certain amount of recapitulation, like that which we find in the Books of Samuel, where again we have not a narrative from one pen, but the arrangement of materials already ancient. As, however, the Divine object was the revealing to mankind of the way by which God would raise up man from the fall, the narrator would be guided by inspiration in his choice of materials, and in the omission of such things as did not fall in with this purpose; and the evident reverence with which he deals with these records is a warrant to us of their genuineness. Such additions as the remark that the "Valley of Shaveh" was many centuries later called "the King's Dale" (Genesis 14:17; 2Samuel 18:18) are generally acknowledged to have been the work of Ezra and the men of the Great Synagogue, after the return from the exile. Hagar.--As this word apparently comes from the Arabic verb to flee, it cannot have been her original name, unless we suppose that she really was an Arab fugitive who had taken refuge in Egypt. More probably she was an Egyptian woman who had escaped to Abram when he was in the Negeb, and had then received this appellation, which virtually means run-away. Verse 1. - Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children (literally, bare not to him, notwithstanding the promise; the barrenness of Sarai being introduced as the point of departure for the ensuing narrative, and emphasized as the cause or occasion of the subsequent transaction): and she had - literally, to her (there was) - an handmaid, an Egyptian (obtained probably while in the house of Pharaoh (Genesis 12:16) - whose name was Hagar - "flight," from hagar, to flee. Cf. Hegirah, the flight of Mahomet. Not her original designation, but given to her afterwards, either because of her flight from Egypt (Ambrose, Wordsworth), or because of her escape from her mistress (Michaelis, Bush, 'Speaker's Commentary'). Though not the imaginary or mythical (Bohlen), it is doubtful if she was the real (Ainsworth, Bush), ancestor of the Hagarenes (1 Chronicles 5:10, 19, 20; 1 Chronicles 27:31; Psalm 83:6, 8).Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Now Abram’sאַבְרָ֔ם (’aḇ·rām) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 87: Abram -- 'exalted father', the original name of Abraham wife אֵ֣שֶׁת (’ê·šeṯ) Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female Sarai וְשָׂרַי֙ (wə·śā·ray) Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 8297: Sarai -- a wife of Abram had not לֹ֥א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no borne a child יָלְדָ֖ה (yā·lə·ḏāh) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 3205: To bear young, to beget, medically, to act as midwife, to show lineage to him, ל֑וֹ (lōw) Preposition | third person masculine singular Strong's Hebrew but וְלָ֛הּ (wə·lāh) Conjunctive waw | Preposition | third person feminine singular Strong's Hebrew she had an Egyptian מִצְרִ֖ית (miṣ·rîṯ) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 4713: Egyptian -- inhabitant of Egypt maidservant שִׁפְחָ֥ה (šip̄·ḥāh) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 8198: Maid, maidservant named וּשְׁמָ֥הּ (ū·šə·māh) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular Strong's 8034: A name Hagar. הָגָֽר׃ (hā·ḡār) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 1904: Hagar Links Genesis 16:1 NIVGenesis 16:1 NLT Genesis 16:1 ESV Genesis 16:1 NASB Genesis 16:1 KJV Genesis 16:1 BibleApps.com Genesis 16:1 Biblia Paralela Genesis 16:1 Chinese Bible Genesis 16:1 French Bible Genesis 16:1 Catholic Bible OT Law: Genesis 16:1 Now Sarai Abram's wife bore him no (Gen. 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