Genesis 16:4

Verse

And he slept with Hagar, and she conceived. But when Hagar realized that she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress.

American Standard Version (1901)

And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.

Bible in Basic English

And he went in to Hagar and she became with child, and when she saw that she was with child, she no longer had any respect for her master's wife.

Douay-Rheims 1899

And he went in to her. But she, perceiving that she was with child, despised her mistress.

Free Bible Version

Abram slept with Hagar and she became pregnant. When she realized she was pregnant, she treated her mistress with contempt.

Geneva Bible 1599

And he went in vnto Hagar, and she conceiued. and when she sawe that she had conceiued, her dame was despised in her eyes.

King James (Authorized) Version

¶ And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.

One Unity Resource Bible

He went in to Hagar [Flight], and she conceived. When she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.

Plain English Version

He slept with Hagar like she was his wife. Then Hagar found out that she was going to have a baby, so she started rubbishing Sarai all the time, because Sarai didn’t have any kids.

Translation for Translators

He ◄slept with/had sex with► [EUP] Hagar and she became pregnant. When she realized that she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress Sarai.

Unlocked Literal Bible

So he had relations with Hagar, and she conceived. When she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress.

Noah Webster Bible

And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.

World English Bible

He went in to Hagar, and she conceived. When she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.

Young's Literal Translation

and he goeth in unto Hagar, and she conceiveth, and she seeth that she hath conceived, and her mistress is lightly esteemed in her eyes.

Context

Hagar and Ishmael

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. ⁴And he slept with Hagar, and she conceived. But when Hagar realized that she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress.

Summary

In Genesis 16:4, Sarai gives her maidservant, Hagar, to Abram in an attempt to fulfill God's promise of descendants through him. This decision reflects a lack of faith in God's timing and plan, leading to conflict and tension within the family. It serves as a reminder of the consequences of trying to accomplish God's promises through human effort rather than trusting in His faithfulness. The verse highlights the importance of patience and reliance on God's sovereignty in fulfilling His purposes.

Commentary

John Gill
Matthew Henry
Tyndale

John Gill Bible Commentary

And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived,.... The formality of the marriage being over, he enjoyed her as his wife, and she immediately conceived by him: and when she saw that she had conceived; when she perceived that she was with child: her mistress was despised in her eyes; she thought herself above her, and treated her as her inferior, with contempt, and reproached her for her barrenness, as Peninnah did Hannah, Sa1 1:6; and it was the more ungrateful, as it was at the motion of her mistress that she was given to Abram for wife.

Matthew Henry Bible Commentary

We have here the immediate bad consequences of Abram's unhappy marriage to Hagar. A great deal of mischief it made quickly. When we do not well both sin and trouble lie at the door; and we may thank ourselves for the guilt and grief that follow us when we go out of the way of our duty. See it in this story. I. Sarai is despised, and thereby provoked and put into a passion, Gen 16:4. Hagar no sooner perceives herself with child by her master than she looks scornfully upon her mistress, upbraids her perhaps with her barrenness, insults over her, to make her to fret (as Sa1 1:6), and boasts of the prospect she had of bringing an heir to Abram, to that good land, and to the promise. Now she thinks herself a better woman than Sarai, more favoured by Heaven, and likely to be better beloved by Abram; and therefore she will not submit as she has done. Note, 1. Mean and servile spirits, when favoured and advanced either by God or man, are apt to grow haughty and insolent, and to forget their place and origin. See Pro 29:21; Pro 30:21-23. It is a hard thing to bear honour aright. 2. We justly suffer by those whom we have sinfully indulged, and it is a righteous thing with God to make those instruments of our trouble whom we have made instruments of our sin, and to ensnare us in our own evil counsels: this stone will return upon him that rolleth it. II. Abram is clamoured upon, and cannot be easy while Sarai is out of humour; she upbraids him vehemently, and very unjustly charges him with the injury (Gen 16:5): My wrong be upon thee, with a most unreasonable jealousy suspecting that he countenanced Hagar's insolence; and, as one not willing to hear what Abram had to say for the rectifying of the mistake and the clearing of himself, she rashly appeals to God in the case: The Lord judge between me and thee; as if Abram had refused to right her. Thus does Sarai, in her passion, speak as one of the foolish women speaketh. Note, 1. It is an absurdity which passionate people are often guilty of to quarrel with others for that of which they themselves must bear the blame. Sarai could not but own that she had given her maid to Abram, and yet she cries out, My wrong be upon thee, when she should have said, What a fool was I to do so! That is never said wisely which pride and anger have the inditing of; when passion is upon the throne, reason is out of doors, and is neither heard nor spoken. 2. Those are not always in the right who are most loud and forward in appealing to God. Rash and bold imprecations are commonly evidences of guilt and a bad cause. III. Hagar is afflicted, and driven from the house, Gen 16:6. Observe, 1. Abram's meekness resigns the matter of the maid-servant to Sarai, whose proper province it was to rule that part of the family: Thy maid is in thy hand. Though she was his wife, he would not countenance nor protect her in any thing that was disrespectful to Sarai, for whom he still retained the same affection that ever he had. Note, Those who would keep up peace and love must return soft answers to hard accusations. Husbands and wives particularly should agree, and endeavour not to be both angry together. Yielding pacifies great offenses. See Pro 15:1. 2. Sarai's passion will be revenged upon Hagar: She dealt hardly with her, not only confining her to her usual place and work as a servant, but probably making her to serve with rigour. Note, God takes notice of, and is displeased with, the hardships which harsh masters unreasonably put upon their servants. They ought to forbear threatening, with Job's thought, Did not he that made me make him? Job 31:15. 3. Hagar's pride cannot bear it, her high spirit having become impatient of rebuke: She fled from her face. She not only avoided her wrath for the present, as David did Saul's, but she totally deserted her service, and ran away from the house, forgetting, (1.) What wrong she hereby did to her mistress, whose servant she was, and to her master, whose wife she was. Note, Pride will hardly be restrained by any bonds of duty, no, not by many. (2.) That she herself had first given the provocation, by despising her mistress. Note, Those that suffer for their faults ought to bear their sufferings patiently, Pe1 2:20.

Genesis 16:4

Hagar and Ishmael

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

And he slept with Hagar, and she conceived. But when Hagar realized that she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress.

American Standard Version (1901)

And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.

Bible in Basic English

And he went in to Hagar and she became with child, and when she saw that she was with child, she no longer had any respect for her master's wife.

Douay-Rheims 1899

And he went in to her. But she, perceiving that she was with child, despised her mistress.

Free Bible Version

Abram slept with Hagar and she became pregnant. When she realized she was pregnant, she treated her mistress with contempt.

Geneva Bible 1599

And he went in vnto Hagar, and she conceiued. and when she sawe that she had conceiued, her dame was despised in her eyes.

King James (Authorized) Version

¶ And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.

One Unity Resource Bible

He went in to Hagar [Flight], and she conceived. When she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.

Plain English Version

He slept with Hagar like she was his wife. Then Hagar found out that she was going to have a baby, so she started rubbishing Sarai all the time, because Sarai didn’t have any kids.

Translation for Translators

He ◄slept with/had sex with► [EUP] Hagar and she became pregnant. When she realized that she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress Sarai.

Unlocked Literal Bible

So he had relations with Hagar, and she conceived. When she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress.

Noah Webster Bible

And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.

World English Bible

He went in to Hagar, and she conceived. When she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.

Young's Literal Translation

and he goeth in unto Hagar, and she conceiveth, and she seeth that she hath conceived, and her mistress is lightly esteemed in her eyes.

John Gill
Matthew Henry
Tyndale

John Gill Bible Commentary

Matthew Henry Bible Commentary

Genesis 16:4

Verse

Context

Hagar and Ishmael

Summary

Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Matthew Henry Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes

Genesis 16:4

Hagar and Ishmael

John Gill Bible Commentary

Matthew Henry Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes