Menu

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.

Study Highlights

Key words in the translations above are automatically highlighted. Names of God and Jesus are marked in purple, the Holy Spirit in orange, divine action verbs are underlined, and repeated key words are highlighted in yellow.

Enable Study Highlights
God & Jesus
Holy Spirit
Divine Actions
Repeated Words

Berean Amplified Bible — Genesis 16:1

BAB
Word Study

Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.

Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.

Genesis 16:1 Interlinear (Deep Study)

BIB
HEB וְ/שָׂרַי֙ אֵ֣שֶׁת אַבְרָ֔ם לֹ֥א יָלְדָ֖ה ל֑/וֹ וְ/לָ֛/הּ שִׁפְחָ֥ה מִצְרִ֖ית וּ/שְׁמָ֥/הּ הָגָֽר
וְ/שָׂרַי֙ Sâray H8297 Sarai Conj | N-proper
אֵ֣שֶׁת ʼishshâh H802 woman N-fs
אַבְרָ֔ם ʼAbrâm H87 Abram N-proper
לֹ֥א lôʼ H3808 not Part
יָלְדָ֖ה yâlad H3205 to beget V-Qal-Perf-3fs
ל֑/וֹ Prep | Suff
וְ/לָ֛/הּ Conj | Prep | Suff
שִׁפְחָ֥ה shiphchâh H8198 maidservant N-fs
מִצְרִ֖ית Mitsrîy H4713 Egyptian Ngfsa
וּ/שְׁמָ֥/הּ shêm H8034 name Conj | N-ms | Suff
הָגָֽר Hâgâr H1904 Hagar N-proper
Hebrew Word Study

Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.

Use arrow keys to navigate between words.

Hebrew Word Reference — Genesis 16:1

וְ/שָׂרַי֙ Sâray H8297 "Sarai" Conj | N-proper
Sarai was Abraham's wife, first mentioned in Genesis 11:29, and her name means princess, later changed to Sarah.
Definition: A woman living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.11.29; daughter of: Terah (H8646); sister of: Abraham (H0085), Nahor (H5152H) and Haran (H2039); married to Abraham (H0085); mother of: Isaac (H3327); also called Sarai at Gen.11.29,30,31; 12.5,11,17; 16.1,2,3,5,6,8; 17.15; Another name of sa.rah (שָׂרָה "Sarah" H8283) § Sarai = "princess" original name of Sarah the wife of Abram or Abraham
Usage: Occurs in 13 OT verses. KJV: Sarai. See also: Genesis 11:29; Genesis 16:1; Genesis 17:15.
אֵ֣שֶׁת ʼishshâh H802 "woman" N-fs
The Hebrew word for woman, used to describe a female person, wife, or animal, appears in many biblical passages, including Genesis and Exodus, and is often translated as woman, wife, or female.
Definition: : woman 1) woman, wife, female 1a) woman (opposite of man) 1b) wife (woman married to a man) 1c) female (of animals) 1d) each, every (pronoun)
Usage: Occurs in 686 OT verses. KJV: (adulter) ess, each, every, female, [idiom] many, [phrase] none, one, [phrase] together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English. See also: Genesis 2:22; Genesis 34:4; Numbers 5:12.
אַבְרָ֔ם ʼAbrâm H87 "Abram" N-proper
Abram was the original name of Abraham, a key figure in the Bible. He was the son of Terah, brother of Nahor and Haran, and husband of Sarah, Hagar, and Keturah, as told in Genesis 11:26--17:5.
Definition: A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.11.26; son of: Terah (H8646); brother of: Nahor (H5152H), Haran (H2039) and Sarah (H8283); married to Sarah (H8283), Hagar (H1904) and Keturah (H6989); father of: Ishmael (H3458), Isaac (H3327), Zimran (H2175), Jokshan (H3370), Medan (H4091), Midian (H4080), Ishbak (H3435) and Shuah (H7744); also called Abram at Gen.11.26--17.5; 2x Another name of av.ra.ham (אַבְרָהָם "Abraham" H0085) § Abram = "exalted father" original name of Abraham
Usage: Occurs in 50 OT verses. KJV: Abram. See also: Genesis 11:26; Genesis 14:13; Nehemiah 9:7.
לֹ֥א lôʼ H3808 "not" Part
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Definition: 1) not, no 1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition) 1b) not (with modifier-negation) 1c) nothing (subst) 1d) without (with particle) 1e) before (of time) Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Usage: Occurs in 3967 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as truly as, [phrase] of a truth, [phrase] verily, for want, [phrase] whether, without. See also: Genesis 2:5; Genesis 31:15; Exodus 4:9.
יָלְדָ֖ה yâlad H3205 "to beget" V-Qal-Perf-3fs
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to give birth or beget a child, like when Eve gave birth to Cain in Genesis 4:1. It can also mean to help someone give birth, like a midwife. This word is used in many KJV translations, including Genesis and Isaiah.
Definition: 1) to bear, bringforth, beget, gender, travail 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to bear, bring forth 1a1a) of child birth 1a1b) of distress (simile) 1a1c) of wicked (behaviour) 1a2) to beget 1b) (Niphal) to be born 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to cause or help to bring forth 1c2) to assist or tend as a midwife 1c3) midwife (participle) 1d) (Pual) to be born 1e) (Hiphil) 1e1) to beget (a child) 1e2) to bear (fig. -of wicked bringing forth iniquity) 1f) (Hophal) day of birth, birthday (infinitive) 1g) (Hithpael) to declare one's birth (pedigree)
Usage: Occurs in 403 OT verses. KJV: bear, beget, birth(-day), born, (make to) bring forth (children, young), bring up, calve, child, come, be delivered (of a child), time of delivery, gender, hatch, labour, (do the office of a) midwife, declare pedigrees, be the son of, (woman in, woman that) travail(-eth, -ing woman). See also: Genesis 3:16; Genesis 30:19; 2 Samuel 21:22.
ל֑/וֹ "" Prep | Suff
וְ/לָ֛/הּ "" Conj | Prep | Suff
שִׁפְחָ֥ה shiphchâh H8198 "maidservant" N-fs
A shiphchah was a female slave or servant in a household, often belonging to a mistress. This term is used to describe a lowly position, and is sometimes used as a term of humility or respect.
Definition: 1) maid, maid-servant, slavegirl 1a) maid, maid-servant (as belonging to a mistress) 1b) of address, speaker, humility (fig)
Usage: Occurs in 58 OT verses. KJV: (bond-, hand-) maid(-en, -servant), wench, bondwoman, womanservant. See also: Genesis 12:16; Ruth 2:13; Psalms 123:2.
מִצְרִ֖ית Mitsrîy H4713 "Egyptian" Ngfsa
In the Bible, this word refers to an Egyptian, someone from the country of Egypt. It appears in the Old Testament, describing people from this northeastern African nation. Egyptians are mentioned in books like Genesis and Exodus.
Definition: Group of mits.ra.yim (מִצְרַ֫יִם "Egypt" H4714G) § Egyptian, of Egypt "double straits" Egyptian-an inhabitant or citizen of Egypt an Egyptian
Usage: Occurs in 67 OT verses. KJV: Egyptian, of Egypt. See also: Genesis 12:12; Exodus 8:17; Ezra 9:1.
וּ/שְׁמָ֥/הּ shêm H8034 "name" Conj | N-ms | Suff
In the Bible, a name represents a person's identity, honor, and character, like God's name symbolizing His power and authority. It appears in Genesis and other books, often referring to God's name or a person's reputation. This concept is central to understanding biblical identity.
Definition: 1) name 1a) name 1b) reputation, fame, glory 1c) the Name (as designation of God) 1d) memorial, monument Aramaic equivalent: shum (שֻׁם "name" H8036)
Usage: Occurs in 771 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] base, (in-) fame(-ous), named(-d), renown, report. See also: Genesis 2:11; Exodus 3:15; Deuteronomy 16:6.
הָגָֽר Hâgâr H1904 "Hagar" N-proper
Hagar was a slave girl from Egypt who became Abraham's concubine and the mother of Ishmael. Her name means 'flight' and she is an important figure in the book of Genesis, where her story is told in chapters 16 and 21.
Definition: A woman living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.16.1; married to Abraham (H0085); mother of: Ishmael (H3458) Also named: Agar (Ἄγαρ "Hagar" G0028) § Hagar = "flight" Sarah's Egyptian slave girl, Abraham's concubine, Ishmael's mother
Usage: Occurs in 10 OT verses. KJV: Hagar. See also: Genesis 16:1; Genesis 16:16; Genesis 25:12.

Study Notes — Genesis 16:1

Show Verse Quote Highlights

Cross References

ReferenceText (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

  1. 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?
  2. How do I respond when my circumstances seem to be contrary to God's promises, and what can I learn from Sarai's example?
  3. What are some ways that I can cultivate faith and trust in God's timing and plans, even when they seem unclear or uncertain?
  4. 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

Now Sarai, Abram's wife, bare him no children,.... She is before said to be barren, and he to be childless, Genesis 11:30; God had promised him a seed, but as yet he had none, which was a trial of

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 16:1

Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. Now Sarai ... had an handmaid - [Hebrew, shipchaah (H8198)].

Trapp's Commentary on Genesis 16:1

Genesis 16:1 Now Sarai Abram’ s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name [was] Hagar. Ver. 1. Now Sarai, Abram’ s wife, bare him no children.] God had foretold him of his children’ s affliction, and yet gave him no child, but holds him still in suspense. He knows how to commend his favours to us by withholding them, Cito data cito vilescunt ; we account it scarce worth taking, that is not twice worth asking. A handmaid, an Egyptian.] One of those maids, belike, that were given her in Egypt.

Ellicott's Commentary on Genesis 16:1

XVI. THE SON OF THE .(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; 2 Samuel 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.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on Genesis 16:1

CHAPTER XVI Sarai, having no child, gives Hagar her maid to Abram for wife, 1-3. She conceives and despises her mistress, 4. Sarai is offended and upbraids Abram, 5. Abram vindicates himself; and Hagar, being hardly used by her mistress, runs away, 6. She is met by an angel, and counselled to return to her mistress, 7-9. God promises greatly to multiply her seed, 10. Gives the name of Ishmael to the child that should be born of her, 11. Shows his disposition and character, 12. Hagar calls the name of the Lord who spoke to her, Thou God seest me, 13. She calls the name of the well at which the angel met her, Beer-laharoi, 14. Ishmael is born in the 86th year of Abram's age, 15, 16. NOTES ON CHAP. XVI Verse 1. She had a handmaid, an Egyptian] As Hagar was an Egyptian, St. Chrysostom's conjecture is very probable. that she was one of those female slaves which Pharaoh gave to Abram when he sojourned in Egypt; see Genesis 12:16. Her name הגר hagar signifies a stranger or sojourner, and it is likely she got this name in the family of Abram, as the word is pure Hebrew.

Cambridge Bible on Genesis 16:1

1–6. Hagar and her Flight into the Desert. (J, P.) 1. handmaid] or “maidservant,” as in Genesis 12:16. The wife generally had a female slave, who was her own property, and not under the husband’s control: see Genesis 29:24; Genesis 29:29; Genesis 30:3-7; Genesis 30:9; Genesis 30:12. an Egyptian] It is natural to connect Hagar’s Egyptian origin with the sojourn in Egypt mentioned in chap. 12, or with the journeys in the Negeb (Genesis 12:9, Genesis 13:1). The theory that the “Egypt” (Miṣ ?raim) of which Hagar was a native was the land of a N. Arabian tribe (Muṣ ?ri) has been suggested by Winckler on account of the mention of Muṣ ?ri in N. Arabia in the cuneiform inscriptions. His theory supposes that the Muṣ ?ri of N. Arabia was at an early time confounded by the Israelites with the more famous, but similarly sounding, Miṣ ?ri, “an inhabitant of Egypt.” But, in view of the continual intercourse between Palestine and Egypt, as shewn by the Tel-el-Amarna tablets, the theory is improbable, and uncalled for. Egypt, at an early period, embraced the Sinaitic peninsula. Hagar] The name “Hagar” is associated with that of wandering Arab tribes, called the Hagrites, 1 Chronicles 5:10; 1 Chronicles 5:19-20; 1 Chronicles 27:31, with which should be compared the Hagarenes of Psa 83:6, “the tents of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; Moab, and the Hagarenes.” Whether the story of Hagar, in this chapter, in any way bears upon the meaning of her name, is more than we can say for certain. But, in Arabic, hagara = “to flee,” and the well-known word hegira, the epoch of Mohammed, is his “flight” from Mecca.

Barnes' Notes on Genesis 16:1

- The Birth of Ishmael 1. הנר hāgār, Hagar, “flight.” Hejrah, the flight of Muhammed. 7. מלאך mal'ak “messenger, angel.” A deputy commissioned to discharge a certain duty for the principal whom he represents.

Whedon's Commentary on Genesis 16:1

1. Handmaid — A family servant, whose special duty it was to wait upon the mistress of the household. The Sept. has παιδισκη, a young girl, or a young female slave.

Sermons on Genesis 16:1

SermonDescription
Duncan Campbell 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
J. Vernon McGee (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
J. Vernon McGee (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
J. Vernon McGee (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
Ron Bailey 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
Teresa Conlon 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
J. Glyn Owen 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

Everything we make is available for free because of a generous community of supporters.

Donate