Genesis 21:11
New International Version
The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son.

New Living Translation
This upset Abraham very much because Ishmael was his son.

English Standard Version
And the thing was very displeasing to Abraham on account of his son.

Berean Standard Bible
Now this matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son Ishmael.

King James Bible
And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son.

New King James Version
And the matter was very displeasing in Abraham’s sight because of his son.

New American Standard Bible
The matter distressed Abraham greatly because of his son Ishmael.

NASB 1995
The matter distressed Abraham greatly because of his son.

NASB 1977
And the matter distressed Abraham greatly because of his son.

Legacy Standard Bible
And the matter distressed Abraham greatly because of his son.

Amplified Bible
The situation distressed Abraham greatly because of his son [Ishmael].

Christian Standard Bible
This was very distressing to Abraham because of his son.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Now this was a very difficult thing for Abraham because of his son.

American Standard Version
And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight on account of his son.

Contemporary English Version
Abraham was worried about Ishmael.

English Revised Version
And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight on account of his son.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Abraham was upset by this because of his son Ishmael.

Good News Translation
This troubled Abraham very much, because Ishmael also was his son.

International Standard Version
Abraham was very troubled about what was being said about his son,

Majority Standard Bible
Now this matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son Ishmael.

NET Bible
Sarah's demand displeased Abraham greatly because Ishmael was his son.

New Heart English Bible
The thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight on account of his son.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight, because of his son.

World English Bible
The thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight on account of his son.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the thing is very wrong in the eyes of Abraham, for his son’s sake;

Young's Literal Translation
And the thing is very wrong in the eyes of Abraham, for his son's sake;

Smith's Literal Translation
And the word was greatly evil in the eyes of Abraham, on account of his son.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Abraham took this grievously for his son.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Abraham took this grievously, for the sake of his son.

New American Bible
Abraham was greatly distressed because it concerned a son of his.

New Revised Standard Version
The matter was very distressing to Abraham on account of his son.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the response was very distressing in the eyes of Abraham, concerning the matter of his son.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight on account of his son.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
But the word appeared very hard before Abraam concerning his son.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Sarah Turns Against Hagar
10and 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!” 11Now this matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son Ishmael. 12But 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.…

Cross References
Genesis 17:18-20
And Abraham said to God, “O that Ishmael might live under Your blessing!” / But God replied, “Your wife Sarah will indeed bear you a son, and you are to name him Isaac. I will establish My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. / As for Ishmael, I have heard you, and I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He will become the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation.

Genesis 16:11-12
The angel of the LORD proceeded: “Behold, you have conceived and will bear a son. And you shall name him Ishmael, for the LORD has heard your cry of affliction. / He will be a wild donkey of a man, and his hand will be against everyone, and everyone’s hand against him; he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.”

Genesis 25:12-18
This is the account of Abraham’s son Ishmael, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s maidservant, bore to Abraham. / These are the names of the sons of Ishmael in the order of their birth: Nebaioth the firstborn of Ishmael, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, / Mishma, Dumah, Massa, ...

Genesis 22:2
“Take your son,” God said, “your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. Offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.”

Genesis 28:8-9
And seeing that his father Isaac disapproved of the Canaanite women, / Esau went to Ishmael and married Mahalath, the sister of Nebaioth and daughter of Abraham’s son Ishmael, in addition to the wives he already had.

Genesis 30:1-2
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?”

Genesis 37:35
All his sons and daughters tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said. “I will go down to Sheol mourning for my son.” So his father wept for him.

Exodus 2:24
So God heard their groaning, and He remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Deuteronomy 21:15-17
If a man has two wives, one beloved and the other unloved, and both bear him sons, but the unloved wife has the firstborn son, / when that man assigns his inheritance to his sons he must not appoint the son of the beloved wife as the firstborn over the son of the unloved wife. / Instead, he must acknowledge the firstborn, the son of his unloved wife, by giving him a double portion of all that he has. For that son is the firstfruits of his father’s strength; the right of the firstborn belongs to him.

1 Samuel 1:8
“Hannah, why are you crying?” her husband Elkanah asked. “Why won’t you eat? Why is your heart so grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”

1 Samuel 8:6
But when they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” their demand was displeasing in the sight of Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD.

2 Samuel 18:33
The king was shaken and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he walked, he cried out, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”

1 Kings 2:24-25
And now, as surely as the LORD lives—the One who established me, who set me on the throne of my father David, and who founded for me a dynasty as He promised—surely Adonijah shall be put to death today!” / So King Solomon gave orders to Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he struck down Adonijah and he died.

Psalm 127:3-5
Children are indeed a heritage from the LORD, and the fruit of the womb is His reward. / Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are children born in one’s youth. / Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. He will not be put to shame when he confronts the enemies at the gate.

Proverbs 10:1
The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother.


Treasury of Scripture

And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son.

because.

Genesis 17:18
And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!

Genesis 22:1,2
And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am

2 Samuel 18:33
And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!

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Abraham Abraham's Account Concerned Displeasing Distressed Eyes Great Greatly Grief Grievous Matter Sake Sight Son's Wrong
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Abraham Abraham's Account Concerned Displeasing Distressed Eyes Great Greatly Grief Grievous Matter Sake Sight Son's Wrong
Genesis 21
1. Isaac is born, and circumcised.
6. Sarah's joy.
8. Isaac is weaned.
9. Hagar and Ishmael sent away.
15. Hagar in distress.
17. The angel relieves and comforts her.
23. Abimelech's covenant with Abraham at Beersheba.














Now this matter
The phrase "this matter" refers to the situation involving Hagar and Ishmael, as Sarah had asked Abraham to send them away. The Hebrew word for "matter" is "dabar," which can mean word, thing, or matter. It signifies the weight and seriousness of the situation. In the cultural and historical context, family matters were of utmost importance, and decisions regarding family members were not taken lightly. This phrase sets the stage for the emotional and spiritual struggle Abraham faces.

distressed Abraham greatly
The Hebrew word for "distressed" is "ra'a," which means to be displeased or to be grieved. This word conveys a deep emotional turmoil within Abraham. The use of "greatly" emphasizes the intensity of his distress. Abraham's distress is not just a passing feeling but a profound inner conflict. As a patriarch, he is torn between his love for his son Ishmael and the command from God, reflecting the human struggle between personal desires and divine will.

because it concerned his son
The phrase "his son" highlights the personal and familial aspect of the situation. Ishmael is Abraham's firstborn, and in the ancient Near Eastern context, the firstborn son held a special place in the family hierarchy. The Hebrew word for "son" is "ben," which signifies not only a biological relationship but also a covenantal and spiritual bond. Abraham's distress is compounded by the fact that Ishmael is not just any child but his own flesh and blood, whom he loves deeply. This phrase underscores the heart-wrenching decision Abraham faces, as it involves the future and well-being of his son, whom he has raised and cherished.

(11) The thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight.--Heb., the word (or matter) was evil exceedingly in Abraham's eyes. It was not merely painful to him because of his natural affection for Ishmael (Genesis 17:18), but he also thought the proposal unjust.

Verse 11. - And the thing (literally, the word, i.e. Sarah's proposal) was very grievous (literally, evil exceedingly; for the contrary phrase vide Genesis 20:15) in Abraham's sight (literally, in the eyes of Abraham) because of his son - who, besides being bound to him by the ties of natural affection, had for years been regarded as the Heaven-appointed heir of the promise (vide Genesis 17:18).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Now this matter
הַדָּבָ֛ר (had·dā·ḇār)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

distressed
וַיֵּ֧רַע (way·yê·ra‘)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7489: To spoil, to make, good for, nothing, bad

Abraham
אַבְרָהָ֑ם (’aḇ·rā·hām)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 85: Abraham -- 'exalted father', the father of the Jewish nation

greatly
מְאֹ֖ד (mə·’ōḏ)
Adverb
Strong's 3966: Vehemence, vehemently, wholly, speedily

because it concerned
אוֹדֹ֥ת (’ō·w·ḏōṯ)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 182: Turnings, on account of

his son [Ishmael].
בְּנֽוֹ׃ (bə·nōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1121: A son


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OT Law: Genesis 21:11 The thing was very grievous in Abraham's (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 21:10
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