Genesis 21:16

Genesis 21:16 in Multiple Translations

Berean Standard Bible BSB

Then she went off and sat down nearby, about a bowshot away, for she said, “I cannot bear to watch the boy die!” And as she sat nearby, she lifted up her voice and wept.

King James Version KJV

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.

American Standard Version ASV

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 look upon the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lifted up her voice, and wept.

Bible in Basic English BBE

And she went some distance away, about an arrow flight, and seating herself on the earth, she gave way to bitter weeping, saying, Let me not see the death of my child.

Free Bible Version FBV

She went and sat down some way off, a few hundred yards away, saying, “I can't bear to watch my son die!” As she sat down she burst into tears.

Geneva Bible 1599 GNV

Then she went and sate her ouer against him a farre off about a bowe shoote: for she said, I will not see the death of the child. and she sate downe ouer against him, and lift vp her voyce and wept.

Young's Literal Translation YLT

And she goeth and sitteth by herself over-against, afar off, about a bow-shot, for she said, 'Let me not look on the death of the lad;' and she sitteth over-against, and lifteth up her voice, and weepeth.

World English Bible WEB

She went and sat down opposite him, a good way off, about a bow shot away. For she said, “Don’t let me see the death of the child.” She sat opposite him, and lifted up her voice, and wept.

Noah Webster Bible WBS

And she went, and sat her down over against him, a good way off, as it were a bow-shot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and raised her voice, and wept.

Douay-Rheims 1899 DRV

And she went her way, and sat over against him a great way off as far as a bow can carry, for she said: I will not see the boy die: and sitting over against, she lifted up her voice and wept.

Translation for Translators T4T

Then she went and sat nearby, about ◄as far as someone can shoot an arrow/100 meters away►, because she thought, “I cannot endure seeing my son die!” As she sat there, she began to cry loudly [MTY].

Plain English Version PEV

And then she went and sat by herself a little way from him, because she thought, “I don’t want to watch him die.” And she started to cry out loud.

Study Highlights

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Berean Amplified Bible — Genesis 21:16

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 21:16 Interlinear (Deep Study)

BIB

HEB וַ/תֵּלֶךְ֩ וַ/תֵּ֨שֶׁב לָ֜/הּ מִ/נֶּ֗גֶד הַרְחֵק֙ כִּ/מְטַחֲוֵ֣י קֶ֔שֶׁת כִּ֣י אָֽמְרָ֔ה אַל אֶרְאֶ֖ה בְּ/מ֣וֹת הַ/יָּ֑לֶד וַ/תֵּ֣שֶׁב מִ/נֶּ֔גֶד וַ/תִּשָּׂ֥א אֶת קֹלָ֖/הּ וַ/תֵּֽבְךְּ

וַ/תֵּלֶךְ֩ yâlak H3212 to walk Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs

וַ/תֵּ֨שֶׁב yâshab H3427 to dwell Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs

לָ֜/הּ Prep | Suff

מִ/נֶּ֗גֶד neged H5048 before Prep | Prep

הַרְחֵק֙ râchaq H7368 to remove V-Hiphil-Ptc

כִּ/מְטַחֲוֵ֣י ṭâchâh H2909 to shoot Prep | V-k

קֶ֔שֶׁת qesheth H7198 bow N-fs

כִּ֣י kîy H3588 for Conj

אָֽמְרָ֔ה ʼâmar H559 to say V-Qal-Perf-3fs

אַל ʼal H408 not Part

אֶרְאֶ֖ה râʼâh H7200 Provider V-Qal-1cs

בְּ/מ֣וֹת mâveth H4194 death Prep | N-ms

הַ/יָּ֑לֶד yeled H3206 youth Art | N-ms

וַ/תֵּ֣שֶׁב yâshab H3427 to dwell Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs

מִ/נֶּ֔גֶד neged H5048 before Prep | Prep

וַ/תִּשָּׂ֥א nâsâʼ H5375 to lift Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs

אֶת ʼêth H853 Obj. DirObjM

קֹלָ֖/הּ qôwl H6963 voice N-ms | Suff

וַ/תֵּֽבְךְּ bâkâh H1058 to weep Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs

Hebrew Word Study

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Hebrew Word Reference — Genesis 21:16

וַ/תֵּלֶךְ֩ yâlak H3212 "to walk" Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs

To walk or go, this verb means to move from one place to another, used literally or figuratively, as in to live or die, or to lead someone.

Definition: 1) to go, walk, come 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away 1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.) 1b) (Hiphil) to lead, bring, lead away, carry, cause to walk

Usage: Occurs in 936 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] again, away, bear, bring, carry (away), come (away), depart, flow, [phrase] follow(-ing), get (away, hence, him), (cause to, made) go (away, -ing, -ne, one's way, out), grow, lead (forth), let down, march, prosper, [phrase] pursue, cause to run, spread, take away (-journey), vanish, (cause to) walk(-ing), wax, [idiom] be weak. See also: Genesis 3:14; Exodus 5:8; Deuteronomy 28:14.

וַ/תֵּ֨שֶׁב yâshab H3427 "to dwell" Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs

This verb means to sit or dwell, and can also mean to remain or abide. It's used in the Bible to describe people living in a place or staying with someone, like in the book of Genesis.

Definition: 1) to dwell, remain, sit, abide 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to sit, sit down 1a2) to be set 1a3) to remain, stay 1a4) to dwell, have one's abode 1b) (Niphal) to be inhabited 1c) (Piel) to set, place 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to cause to sit 1d2) to cause to abide, set 1d3) to cause to dwell 1d4) to cause (cities) to be inhabited 1d5) to marry (give an dwelling to) 1e) (Hophal) 1e1) to be inhabited 1e2) to make to dwell Aramaic equivalent: ye.tiv (יְתִב "to dwell" H3488)

Usage: Occurs in 977 OT verses. KJV: (make to) abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing), ease self, endure, establish, [idiom] fail, habitation, haunt, (make to) inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, [idiom] marry(-ing), (bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set(-tle), (down-) sit(-down, still, -ting down, -ting (place) -uate), take, tarry. See also: Genesis 4:16; Leviticus 25:18; Joshua 13:6.

לָ֜/הּ "" Prep | Suff

מִ/נֶּ֗גֶד neged H5048 "before" Prep | Prep

Before or in front of something, as in Genesis 18:22 where Abraham stands before the Lord. It describes a position of being face to face or in someone's presence.

Definition: subst 1) what is conspicuous, what is in front of adv 2) in front of, straight forward, before, in sight of 3) in front of oneself, straightforward 4) before your face, in your view or purpose with prep 5) what is in front of, corresponding to 6) in front of, before 7) in the sight or presence of 8) parallel to 9) over, for 10) in front, opposite 11) at a distance prep 12) from the front of, away from 13) from before the eyes of, opposite to, at a distance from 14) from before, in front of 15) as far as the front of Aramaic equivalent: ne.ged (נֶ֫גֶד "before" H5049)

Usage: Occurs in 142 OT verses. KJV: about, (over) against, [idiom] aloof, [idiom] far (off), [idiom] from, over, presence, [idiom] other side, sight, [idiom] to view. See also: Genesis 2:18; Job 10:17; Psalms 10:5.

הַרְחֵק֙ râchaq H7368 "to remove" V-Hiphil-Ptc

To remove or go far away, as in Genesis 21:16 where Hagar is sent away by Abraham. It means to create distance or separate oneself from something or someone.

Definition: v 1) to be or become far, be or become distant, be removed, go far away 1a) (Qal) to be far, be distant 1b) (Piel) to send far away, extend 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to make or exhibit distance, be gone far 1c2) to remove, put far away 2) (Niphal) loose v inf (as adv) 3) at a distance

Usage: Occurs in 56 OT verses. KJV: (a-, be, cast, drive, get, go, keep (self), put, remove, be too, (wander), withdraw) far (away, off), loose, [idiom] refrain, very, (be) a good way (off). See also: Genesis 21:16; Psalms 119:150; Psalms 22:12.

כִּ/מְטַחֲוֵ֣י ṭâchâh H2909 "to shoot" Prep | V-k

To shoot an arrow from a bow, as an archer does. This word is used to describe a skillful action in the Old Testament. In 1 Chronicles, it refers to a bowshot.

Definition: 1) to hurl, shoot 1a) (Piel) a bowshot (participle)

Usage: Occurs in 1 OT verses. KJV: (bow-) shot. See also: Genesis 21:16.

קֶ֔שֶׁת qesheth H7198 "bow" N-fs

The Hebrew word for bow refers to a weapon used for hunting or battle, but also symbolizes strength and is used to describe a rainbow. In the Bible, it appears in Genesis and other books. It represents power and beauty.

Definition: 1) bow 1a) bow (for hunting, battle) 1b) bowmen, archers 1c) bow (fig. of might) 1d) rainbow

Usage: Occurs in 74 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] arch(-er), [phrase] arrow, bow(-man, -shot). See also: Genesis 9:13; Psalms 44:7; Psalms 7:13.

כִּ֣י kîy H3588 "for" Conj

A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.

Definition: 1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since 1a) that 1a1) yea, indeed 1b) when (of time) 1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force) 1c) because, since (causal connection) 1d) but (after negative) 1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if 1f) but rather, but 1g) except that 1h) only, nevertheless 1i) surely 1j) that is 1k) but if 1l) for though 1m) forasmuch as, for therefore

Usage: Occurs in 3910 OT verses. KJV: and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + till, truly, + until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet. See also: Genesis 1:4; Genesis 26:16; Genesis 42:15.

אָֽמְרָ֔ה ʼâmar H559 "to say" V-Qal-Perf-3fs

This Hebrew word means to say or speak, and it's used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to command, promise, or think, and it's translated in the KJV as 'answer', 'appoint', or 'command'.

Definition: 1) to say, speak, utter 1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend 1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called 1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly 1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)

Usage: Occurs in 4337 OT verses. KJV: answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. See also: Genesis 1:3; Genesis 18:23; Genesis 25:32.

אַל ʼal H408 "not" Part

Means not or nothing, used to express negation, as in the phrase do not or let not be.

Definition: 1) not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference) 1a) do not, let not (with a verb) 1b) let there not be (with a verb understood) 1c) not, no (with substantive) 1d) nothing (as substantive) Aramaic equivalent: al (אַל "not" H0409)

Usage: Occurs in 572 OT verses. KJV: nay, neither, [phrase] never, no, nor, not, nothing (worth), rather than. See also: Genesis 13:8; Joshua 11:6; 1 Chronicles 22:13.

אֶרְאֶ֖ה râʼâh H7200 "Provider" V-Qal-1cs

The Hebrew word for provider means to see or look after, and is used to describe God's care for his people. It appears in various forms throughout the Bible, including in Genesis and other books.

Definition: (Lord will) Provide, cause to be seen. This name means to see, look at, inspect, look after

Usage: Occurs in 1206 OT verses. KJV: advise self, appear, approve, behold, [idiom] certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, [idiom] be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), [idiom] sight of others, (e-) spy, stare, [idiom] surely, [idiom] think, view, visions. See also: Genesis 1:4; Genesis 41:41; Exodus 33:13.

בְּ/מ֣וֹת mâveth H4194 "death" Prep | N-ms

In the Bible, this word refers to death, whether natural or violent, and is used in books like Genesis and Isaiah. It can also mean the place of the dead, or a state of ruin. This concept is seen in the story of Moses, where death is a punishment for disobedience.

Definition: 1) death, dying, Death (personified), realm of the dead 1a) death 1b) death by violence (as a penalty) 1c) state of death, place of death Aramaic equivalent: mot (מוֹת "death" H4193)

Usage: Occurs in 153 OT verses. KJV: (be) dead(-ly), death, die(-d). See also: Genesis 21:16; Job 38:17; Psalms 6:6.

הַ/יָּ֑לֶד yeled H3206 "youth" Art | N-ms

This Hebrew word refers to a young person, like a child or teenager, such as the youth who helped David in 1 Samuel 20:1. It can also mean offspring or descendants, like the children of Israel in Exodus 12:37.

Definition: 1) child, son, boy, offspring, youth 1a) child, son, boy 1b) child, children 1c) descendants 1d) youth 1e) apostate Israelites (fig.)

Usage: Occurs in 76 OT verses. KJV: boy, child, fruit, son, young man (one). See also: Genesis 4:23; 1 Kings 12:10; Isaiah 2:6.

וַ/תֵּ֣שֶׁב yâshab H3427 "to dwell" Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs

This verb means to sit or dwell, and can also mean to remain or abide. It's used in the Bible to describe people living in a place or staying with someone, like in the book of Genesis.

מִ/נֶּ֔גֶד neged H5048 "before" Prep | Prep

Before or in front of something, as in Genesis 18:22 where Abraham stands before the Lord. It describes a position of being face to face or in someone's presence.

וַ/תִּשָּׂ֥א nâsâʼ H5375 "to lift" Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs

In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to lift or raise something, and it's used in many ways, like lifting a burden or raising someone's status. It appears in books like Genesis and Isaiah, often talking about God lifting people up. It's about supporting or carrying something or someone.

Definition: : raise/take_up 1) to lift, bear up, carry, take 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to lift, lift up 1a2) to bear, carry, support, sustain, endure 1a3) to take, take away, carry off, forgive 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be lifted up, be exalted 1b2) to lift oneself up, rise up 1b3) to be borne, be carried 1b4) to be taken away, be carried off, be swept away 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to lift up, exalt, support, aid, assist 1c2) to desire, long (fig.) 1c3) to carry, bear continuously 1c4) to take, take away 1d) (Hithpael) to lift oneself up, exalt oneself 1e) (Hiphil) 1e1) to cause one to bear (iniquity) 1e2) to cause to bring, have brought

Usage: Occurs in 609 OT verses. KJV: accept, advance, arise, (able to, (armor), suffer to) bear(-er, up), bring (forth), burn, carry (away), cast, contain, desire, ease, exact, exalt (self), extol, fetch, forgive, furnish, further, give, go on, help, high, hold up, honorable ([phrase] man), lade, lay, lift (self) up, lofty, marry, magnify, [idiom] needs, obtain, pardon, raise (up), receive, regard, respect, set (up), spare, stir up, [phrase] swear, take (away, up), [idiom] utterly, wear, yield. See also: Genesis 4:13; Numbers 4:2; 1 Samuel 14:3.

אֶת ʼêth H853 "Obj." DirObjM

In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.

Definition: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Usage: Occurs in 6782 OT verses. KJV: (as such unrepresented in English). See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 10:8; Genesis 19:21.

קֹלָ֖/הּ qôwl H6963 "voice" N-ms | Suff

A voice or sound, it can refer to the sound of a person speaking, an animal, or a musical instrument. In the Bible, it is often used to describe God's voice or the sound of praise and worship.

Definition: : sound/noise 1) voice, sound, noise 1a) voice 1b) sound (of instrument)

Usage: Occurs in 436 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] aloud, bleating, crackling, cry ([phrase] out), fame, lightness, lowing, noise, [phrase] hold peace, (pro-) claim, proclamation, [phrase] sing, sound, [phrase] spark, thunder(-ing), voice, [phrase] yell. See also: Genesis 3:8; Judges 5:11; Job 4:10.

וַ/תֵּֽבְךְּ bâkâh H1058 "to weep" Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs

To weep means to cry or shed tears, often in grief or sadness. In the Bible, weeping is a common expression of emotion, as seen in the stories of David and Jeremiah, who both wept bitterly in times of sorrow and repentance.

Definition: 1) to weep, bewail, cry, shed tears 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to weep (in grief, humiliation, or joy) 1a2) to weep bitterly (with cognate acc.) 1a3) to weep upon (embrace and weep) 1a4) to bewail 1b) (Piel) participle 1b1) lamenting 1b2) bewailing

Usage: Occurs in 100 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] at all, bewail, complain, make lamentation, [idiom] more, mourn, [idiom] sore, [idiom] with tears, weep. See also: Genesis 21:16; 2 Samuel 12:21; Psalms 69:11.

Study Notes — Genesis 21:16

Show Verse Quote Highlights

Context
Cross References
Genesis 21:16 Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
Reflection Questions
Gill's Exposition on Genesis 21:16
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 21:16
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Genesis 21:16
Trapp's Commentary on Genesis 21:16
Ellicott's Commentary on Genesis 21:16
Cambridge Bible on Genesis 21:16
Whedon's Commentary on Genesis 21:16
Sermons on Genesis 21:16

Context — Sarah Turns against Hagar

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.

16Then she went off and sat down nearby, about a bowshot away, for she said, “I cannot bear to watch the boy die!” And as she sat nearby, she lifted up her voice and wept.

17Then God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, “What is wrong, Hagar? Do not be afraid, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he lies. 18Get up, lift up the boy, and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.”

Cross References

	Reference	Text (BSB)
1	Isaiah 49:15	“Can a woman forget her nursing child, or lack compassion for the son of her womb? Even if she could forget, I will not forget you!
2	Genesis 29:11	Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud.
3	1 Samuel 24:16	When David had finished saying these things, Saul called back, “Is that your voice, David my son?” Then Saul wept aloud
4	Ruth 1:9	May the LORD enable each of you to find rest in the home of your new husband.” And she kissed them as they wept aloud
5	Esther 8:6	For how could I bear to see the disaster that would befall my people? How could I bear to see the destruction of my kindred?”
6	Judges 2:4	When the angel of the LORD had spoken these words to all the Israelites, the people lifted up their voices and wept.
7	1 Samuel 30:4	So David and the troops with him lifted up their voices and wept until they had no strength left to weep.
8	1 Kings 3:26	Then the woman whose son was alive spoke to the king because she yearned with compassion for her son. “Please, my lord,” she said, “give her the living baby. Do not kill him!” But the other woman said, “He will be neither mine nor yours. Cut him in two!”
9	Luke 15:20	So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.
10	Zechariah 12:10	Then I will pour out on the house of David and on the people of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and prayer, and they will look on Me, the One they have pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for Him as one grieves for a firstborn son.

Genesis 21:16 Summary

[Genesis 21:16 shows us a heart-wrenching scene where Hagar, unable to bear the thought of watching her son die, sits a bowshot away and weeps. This verse teaches us that it's okay to be honest with God about our emotions, just like Hagar was. As we see in Psalm 34:17-18, God is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. We can learn from Hagar's example and cry out to God in our own times of sorrow, trusting that He will hear us and provide for us.]

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Hagar sit a bowshot away from her son?

Hagar sat a bowshot away from her son because she couldn't bear to watch him die, as stated in Genesis 21:16. This shows the depth of a mother's love and her desire to protect her child, even in the midst of great distress.

What can we learn from Hagar's emotional response in this verse?

Hagar's emotional response in Genesis 21:16 teaches us that it's okay to express our emotions to God, just like she lifted up her voice and wept. This is reminiscent of Psalm 42:3, where the psalmist pours out his heart to God in a time of sorrow.

How does this verse relate to the larger story of Abraham and his family?

Genesis 21:16 is a pivotal moment in the story of Abraham and his family, as it shows the consequences of Abraham's decision to send Hagar and Ishmael away, as seen in Genesis 21:14. This event ultimately leads to God's intervention and promise to make Ishmael into a great nation, as stated in Genesis 21:18.

What does Hagar's actions reveal about her faith?

Hagar's actions in Genesis 21:16 reveal a mix of faith and desperation. While she has been instructed by Abraham to leave, she still trusts that God will provide, as seen in her previous encounter with the angel of the Lord in Genesis 16:7-14.

Reflection Questions

What are some times in your life when you felt like you were at a breaking point, like Hagar, and how did you respond?
How can you apply Hagar's example of crying out to God in your own times of sorrow or desperation?
What does this verse teach you about the importance of expressing your emotions to God, and how can you practice this in your daily life?
In what ways can you identify with Hagar's feelings of helplessness and despair, and how can you find comfort in God's presence during those times?

Gill's Exposition on Genesis 21:16

And she went and sat her down over against [him], a good way off,.... Not being able to bear the sight of her child in his agonies, and, as she apprehended, ready to expire, she went from the place

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 21:16

Matthew Poole's Commentary on Genesis 21:16

Who wept? Either Hagar, for the verb is of the feminine gender; or the lad, as the words following seem to intimate. And for the change of the genders, that is not unfrequent in Scripture use.

Trapp's Commentary on Genesis 21:16

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.Ver. 16. Let me not see the death of the child.] This, saith an interpreter, was but poor love. Give me a friend that will not leave in the instant of death. She lift up her voice, and wept.] As hinds by calving, so we by weeping "cast out our sorrows". “ Expletur lachrymis, egeriturque dolor .” Babington.

Ellicott's Commentary on Genesis 21:16

(16) Let me not see the death of the child.—The whole story is most touching. Day after day the mother, with her child, had wandered in the wilderness, using the water in the skin sparingly, ever hoping to come to some spring, but with too little knowledge of the locality to guide her steps wisely. At last the water is spent, and the young life withers first, and the mother knows that soon they both must die. They had made their last effort, and with that hopelessness which travellers have so often described as stealing over the lost wanderer in the desert, they yield themselves to their doom. The boy is entirely passive; but not so the mother. A softer nature would have remained with him to soothe him, but the agony of the wild Egyptian will grant her no rest. She casts his fainting body almost angrily under a shrub, and withdraws to a bowshot distance, because she cannot bear to see him die. She there gives way not to tears only, but to unrestrained outcries of grief. But it is not her loud lamentation, but the mute prayer of Ishmael that is heard, and an angel of God comes to her relief.

Cambridge Bible on Genesis 21:16

16. as it were a bowshot] LXX ὡσεὶτόξουβολήν, Lat. quantum potest arcus jacere. The child’s strength had given out before the mother’s. She could not bring herself to watch her child die of thirst, and she could not leave him. She remained within hearing. and lift up her voice and wept] The LXX probably preserves the right rendering “And the child lifted up its voice and wept,” ἀναβοῆσανδὲτὸπαιδίονἔκλαυσεν.

Whedon's Commentary on Genesis 21:16

16. As it were a bowshot — This is, doubtless, the sense of the peculiar Hebrew expression used here: far off as shooters of the bow; that is, as far off as they can usually shoot an arrow.

Sermons on Genesis 21:16

	Sermon	Description
	Knowing God as Our Father - Inwardly (Tamil) by Zac Poonen	This sermon emphasizes the importance of knowing God as our Father and understanding His sovereignty. It highlights the significance of being filled with the Holy Spirit to truly e
	Our Great Hight Priest by Don McClure	In this sermon, the preacher reflects on the imperfections and struggles of our lives, comparing them to a car that is broken and failing. Despite our flaws, the preacher emphasize
	A Marriage Changed by God by Zac Poonen	This sermon emphasizes the importance of understanding the distinctions and roles within marriage, highlighting the need to recognize and respect the differences between husband an
	Separated From Our Loved Ones by Keith Daniel	This sermon delves into the fearful possibility of separation from loved ones, both in this life and for eternity, emphasizing the consequences of rejecting God and the need for si
	Isaiah 49 by Robert F. Adcock	In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the comforting and reassuring nature of God's love and care for his people. He highlights the fact that God is in control of everything and
	Destroying Every Idol by Zac Poonen	This sermon emphasizes the importance of loving God with all our heart and making sacrifices for Him. It highlights the significance of true devotion to Jesus Christ, prioritizing
	(Through the Bible) Isaiah - Part 2 by Zac Poonen	This sermon delves into the deep teachings of Isaiah chapters 40 to 66, highlighting the importance of humility, trust in God's ways, and the need for true repentance and righteous