Genesis 21:14
New International Version
Early the next morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. He set them on her shoulders and then sent her off with the boy. She went on her way and wandered in the Desert of Beersheba.

New Living Translation
So Abraham got up early the next morning, prepared food and a container of water, and strapped them on Hagar’s shoulders. Then he sent her away with their son, and she wandered aimlessly in the wilderness of Beersheba.

English Standard Version
So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, along with the child, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.

Berean Standard Bible
Early in the morning, Abraham got up, took bread and a skin of water, put them on Hagar’s shoulders, and sent her away with the boy. She left and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba.

King James Bible
And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.

New King James Version
So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water; and putting it on her shoulder, he gave it and the boy to Hagar, and sent her away. Then she departed and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba.

New American Standard Bible
So Abraham got up early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water, and gave them to Hagar, putting them on her shoulder, and gave her the boy, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered about in the wilderness of Beersheba.

NASB 1995
So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar, putting them on her shoulder, and gave her the boy, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered about in the wilderness of Beersheba.

NASB 1977
So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water, and gave them to Hagar, putting them on her shoulder, and gave her the boy, and sent her away. And she departed, and wandered about in the wilderness of Beersheba.

Legacy Standard Bible
So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar, putting them on her shoulder, and gave her the child, and sent her away. So she went and wandered about in the wilderness of Beersheba.

Amplified Bible
So Abraham got up early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar, putting them on her shoulder, and gave her the boy, and sent her away. And she left [but lost her way] and wandered [aimlessly] in the Wilderness of Beersheba.

Christian Standard Bible
Early in the morning Abraham got up, took bread and a waterskin, put them on Hagar’s shoulders, and sent her and the boy away. She left and wandered in the Wilderness of Beer-sheba.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Early in the morning Abraham got up, took bread and a waterskin, put them on Hagar’s shoulders, and sent her and the boy away. She left and wandered in the Wilderness of Beer-sheba.

American Standard Version
And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and gave her the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beer-sheba.

Contemporary English Version
Early the next morning Abraham gave Hagar an animal skin full of water and some bread. Then he put the boy on her shoulder and sent them away. They wandered around in the desert near Beersheba,

English Revised Version
And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beer-sheba.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Early the next morning Abraham took bread and a container of water and gave them to Hagar, putting them on her shoulder. He also gave her the boy and sent her on her way. So she left and wandered around in the desert near Beersheba.

Good News Translation
Early the next morning Abraham gave Hagar some food and a leather bag full of water. He put the child on her back and sent her away. She left and wandered about in the wilderness of Beersheba.

International Standard Version
So early the next morning, Abraham got up, took bread and a leather bottle of water, gave them to Hagar, and placed them on her shoulder. He then sent her away, along with the child. She went off and roamed in the Beer-sheba wilderness.

Majority Standard Bible
Early in the morning, Abraham got up, took bread and a skin of water, put them on Hagar’s shoulders, and sent her away with the boy. She left and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba.

NET Bible
Early in the morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. He put them on her shoulders, gave her the child, and sent her away. So she went wandering aimlessly through the wilderness of Beer Sheba.

New Heart English Bible
Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took food and a skin of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder; and gave her the child, and sent her away. She departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it to Hagar (putting it on her shoulder) and the child, and sent her away; and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beer-sheba.

World English Bible
Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread and a container of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder; and gave her the child, and sent her away. She departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Abraham rises early in the morning, and takes bread, and a bottle of water, and gives to Hagar (placing [it] on her shoulder), also the boy, and sends her out; and she goes on, and goes astray in the wilderness of Beer-Sheba;

Young's Literal Translation
And Abraham riseth early in the morning, and taketh bread, and a bottle of water, and giveth unto Hagar (placing it on her shoulder), also the lad, and sendeth her out; and she goeth on, and goeth astray in the wilderness of Beer-Sheba;

Smith's Literal Translation
And Abraham will rise early in the morning, and take food, and a leathern bottle of water, and give to Hagar (putting upon her shoulder), and the child, and will send her away: and she will go forth and wander in the desert to the well of the oath.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
So Abraham rose up in the morning, and taking bread and a bottle of water, put it upon her shoulder, and delivered the boy, and sent her away. And she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Bersabee.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And so Abraham arose in the morning, and taking bread and a skin of water, he placed it upon her shoulder, and he handed over the boy, and he released her. And when she had departed, she wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.

New American Bible
Early the next morning Abraham got some bread and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. Then, placing the child on her back, he sent her away. As she roamed aimlessly in the wilderness of Beer-sheba,

New Revised Standard Version
So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, along with the child, and sent her away. And she departed, and wandered about in the wilderness of Beer-sheba.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Abraham rose up early in the morning and took bread and a skin containing water and gave them to Hagar, putting them on her shoulder, and the boy; and sent her away. And she departed, and lost her way in the wilderness of Beer-sheba.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Abraham arose at dawn and he took bread and a skin of waters and he gave it to Hagar and laid it and the boy on her shoulder, and he sent her away and she went and she wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Abraham arose up early in the morning, and took bread and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away; and she departed, and strayed in the wilderness of Beer-sheba.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Abraam rose up in the morning and took loaves and a skin of water, and gave them to Agar, and he put the child on her shoulder, and sent her away, and she having departed wandered in the wilderness near the well of the oath.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Sarah Turns Against Hagar
13But I will also make a nation of the slave woman’s son, because he is your offspring.” 14Early in the morning, Abraham got up, took bread and a skin of water, put them on Hagar’s shoulders, and sent her away with the boy. She left and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba. 15When the water in the skin was gone, she left the boy under one of the bushes.…

Cross References
Genesis 16:6-10
“Here,” said Abram, “your servant is in your hands. Do whatever you want with her.” Then Sarai treated Hagar so harshly that she fled from her. / Now the angel of the LORD found Hagar by a spring of water in the desert—the spring along the road to Shur. / “Hagar, servant of Sarai,” he said, “where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I am running away from my mistress Sarai,” she replied. ...

Genesis 25:6
But while he was still alive, Abraham gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them away from his son Isaac to the land of the east.

Exodus 2:15-22
When Pharaoh heard about this matter, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and settled in the land of Midian, where he sat down beside a well. / Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came to draw water and fill the troughs to water their father’s flock. / And when some shepherds came along and drove them away, Moses rose up to help them and watered their flock. ...

Deuteronomy 8:2-4
Remember that these forty years the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness, so that He might humble you and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commandments. / He humbled you, and in your hunger He gave you manna to eat, which neither you nor your fathers had known, so that you might understand that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. / Your clothing did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years.

1 Kings 19:3-8
And Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, / while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” / Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” ...

Psalm 107:4-9
Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no path to a city in which to dwell. / They were hungry and thirsty; their soul fainted within them. / Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress. ...

Isaiah 41:17-18
The poor and needy seek water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. I, the LORD, will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. / I will open rivers on the barren heights, and fountains in the middle of the valleys. I will turn the desert into a pool of water, and the dry land into flowing springs.

Isaiah 49:10
They will not hunger or thirst, nor will scorching heat or sun beat down on them. For He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water.

Jeremiah 2:6
They did not ask, ‘Where is the LORD who brought us up from the land of Egypt, who led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and pits, a land of drought and darkness, a land where no one travels and no one lives?’

Hosea 2:14
“Therefore, behold, I will allure her and lead her to the wilderness, and speak to her tenderly.

Matthew 2:13-15
When the Magi had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.” / So he got up, took the Child and His mother by night, and withdrew to Egypt, / where he stayed until the death of Herod. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”

Matthew 4:1-2
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. / After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry.

Luke 1:80
And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until the time of his public appearance to Israel.

Luke 4:1-2
Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, / where for forty days He was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He was hungry.

John 4:6-14
Since Jacob’s well was there, Jesus, weary from His journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour. / When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” / (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) ...


Treasury of Scripture

And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.

A.

Genesis 19:27
And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the LORD:

Genesis 22:3
And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.

Genesis 24:54
And they did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him, and tarried all night; and they rose up in the morning, and he said, Send me away unto my master.

took.

Genesis 25:6
But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.

Genesis 36:6,7
And Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters, and all the persons of his house, and his cattle, and all his beasts, and all his substance, which he had got in the land of Canaan; and went into the country from the face of his brother Jacob…

child.

Genesis 21:12
And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.

Genesis 21:20
And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.

Genesis 21:16
And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept.

sent.

John 8:35
And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.

wandered.

Genesis 16:7
And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.

Genesis 37:15
And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou?

Psalm 107:4
They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.

Beer-sheba.

Genesis 21:31
Wherefore he called that place Beersheba; because there they sware both of them.

Genesis 21:33
And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God.

Jump to Previous
Abraham Beersheba Beer-Sheba Bottle Boy Bread Child Departed Early Hagar Morning Putting Rose Shoulder Skin Strayed Wandered Water Wilderness
Jump to Next
Abraham Beersheba Beer-Sheba Bottle Boy Bread Child Departed Early Hagar Morning Putting Rose Shoulder Skin Strayed Wandered Water Wilderness
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.














Early in the morning
This phrase indicates promptness and obedience to God's will. In the Hebrew context, "early" (שָׁכַם, shakham) often signifies diligence and a readiness to act. Abraham's early rising reflects his commitment to God's instructions, even when they are difficult. It is a reminder of the importance of prioritizing God's commands in our daily lives.

Abraham got up
The act of getting up signifies a transition from contemplation to action. Abraham, the patriarch, is portrayed as a man of faith who acts decisively. His actions are rooted in trust in God's promises, even when the path is not clear. This serves as an encouragement to believers to rise and act in faith, trusting in God's plan.

took bread and a skin of water
Bread and water are basic sustenance, symbolizing God's provision even in times of trial. The Hebrew word for bread (לֶחֶם, lechem) is often associated with sustenance and life. The skin of water represents the necessity of life, highlighting God's care for Hagar and Ishmael even as they are sent away. This provision, though minimal, underscores God's faithfulness in providing for our needs.

put them on Hagar's shoulders
This action signifies the burden Hagar must bear. In the ancient Near Eastern context, carrying a load on one's shoulders was a common practice, symbolizing responsibility and endurance. Hagar's journey is a testament to her strength and resilience, and it reminds us that God equips us to bear the burdens we face.

and sent her away with the boy
The sending away of Hagar and Ishmael is a poignant moment of separation. The Hebrew verb "sent away" (שָׁלַח, shalach) can also mean to release or let go. This act, though painful, is part of God's larger plan for both Isaac and Ishmael. It teaches us about the necessity of letting go and trusting God's sovereignty in our relationships and circumstances.

She left and wandered
The word "wandered" (תָּעָה, ta'ah) implies a lack of direction, yet it also sets the stage for divine intervention. Hagar's wandering in the wilderness is symbolic of life's uncertainties and trials. However, it is often in the wilderness that God meets us and provides guidance, as He later does for Hagar and Ishmael.

in the wilderness of Beersheba
Beersheba, meaning "well of the oath" or "well of seven," is a significant location in biblical history. It represents a place of covenant and God's faithfulness. The wilderness, often a place of testing and revelation in Scripture, becomes a backdrop for God's miraculous provision and care. This setting reminds us that even in desolate places, God is present and faithful to His promises.

(14) And the child.--Ishmael was now sixteen or seventeen years of age, but the word yeled used in this place has no reference to age, and in Genesis 4:23 is even translated "young man." It literally signifies one born, and is applied in Genesis 42:22 to Joseph, when he was about Ishmael's age. So the "children who mocked Elisha" (2Kings 2:23) were doubtless grown young men. In Genesis 21:18, Ishmael is called "a lad;" shortly afterwards he was able to maintain himself and Hagar with his bow (Genesis 21:20), and his mother took a wife for him from Egypt (Genesis 21:21). The narrative, therefore, does not represent Ishmael as a small child, and the idea has probably arisen from the supposition that Abraham placed Ishmael, as well as the supply of food, on Hagar's shoulder. . . . Verse 14. - And Abraham rose up early in the morning, - hastening to put in force the Divine instructions (cf. Genesis 19:27; Genesis 22:8, Abraham; Genesis 20:8, Abimelech; Genesis 28:18, Jacob) - and took bread, and a bottle of water, - the bottle, from a root signifying to enclose (Furst); ἀσκόν (LXX.), was composed of skin, the material of which the earliest carrying vessels were constructed (cf. Joshua 9:4, 13; Judges 4:19; 1 Samuel 16:20; Matthew 9:17). "The monuments of Egypt, the sculptures of Mesopotamia, and the relics of Herculaneum and Pompeii afford ample opportunities to learn the shape and use of every variety of bottles, often surprising us both by their elegance and costliness" (Kalisch) - and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, - the usual place for carrying such vessels among Oriental women. According to Herodotus (2. 35), Egyptian women carried burdens on their shoulders, Egyptian men upon their heads - and the child, - not placing the child, now a youth of over seventeen years, upon her shoulder (LXX., Schumann, Bohlen); but giving him, along with the bottle (Havernick, Kalisch, A Lapide, Ainsworth), or, as well as the bread (Keil, Murphy), to Hagar, not to be carried as a burden, but led as a companion - and sent her away - divorced her by the command of God (A Lapide); but as Hagar was never recognized by God as Abraham's wife, her sending away was not a case of divorce (Wordsworth) - and she departed (from Beersheba, whither Abraham had by this time removed, and where, in all probability, Isaac had been born), and wandered - i.e. lost her way (cf. Genesis 37:15) - in the wilderness (the uncultivated waste between Palestine and Egypt) of Beersheba - introduced here by anticipation, unless the incident in Vers. 22-33 had previously taken place (vide on Ver. 31).

CHAPTER 21:15-21

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Early in the morning,
בַּבֹּ֡קֶר (bab·bō·qer)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1242: Dawn, morning

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

got up,
וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֣ם (way·yaš·kêm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7925: To load up, to start early in the morning

took
וַיִּֽקַּֽח־ (way·yiq·qaḥ-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3947: To take

bread
לֶחֶם֩ (le·ḥem)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3899: Food, bread, grain

and a skin of water,
וְחֵ֨מַת (wə·ḥê·maṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2573: A skin bottle

put
שָׂ֧ם (śām)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set

them on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

Hagar’s
הָ֠גָר (hā·ḡār)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1904: Hagar

shoulders,
שִׁכְמָ֛הּ (šiḵ·māh)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 7926: The neck, as the place of burdens, the spur of a, hill

and sent her away with the boy.
הַיֶּ֖לֶד (hay·ye·leḏ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3206: Something born, a lad, offspring

She left
וַתֵּ֣לֶךְ (wat·tê·leḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

and wandered
וַתֵּ֔תַע (wat·tê·ṯa‘)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 8582: To vacillate, reel, stray

in the wilderness
בְּמִדְבַּ֖ר (bə·miḏ·bar)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4057: A pasture, a desert, speech

of
בְּאֵ֥ר (bə·’êr)
Preposition
Strong's Hebrew

Beersheba.
שָֽׁבַע׃ (šā·ḇa‘)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 884: Beersheba -- 'well of seven', a place in the Negev


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OT Law: Genesis 21:14 Abraham rose up early in the morning (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 21:13
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