Focused Passage

Genesis 16:1-6

Sarai and Abram Grasp at the Promise, but the LORD Sees Hagar and Preserves His Purposes

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1Now Abram’s wife Sarai had borne him no children, but she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar.

2So Sarai said to Abram, “Look now, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Please go to my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.

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.

5Then Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be upon you! I delivered my servant into your arms, and ever since she saw that she was pregnant, she has treated me with contempt. May the LORD judge between you and me.”

6“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.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Original words

Now Abram’sאַבְרָ֔םH87Noun - proper - masculine singularwifeאֵ֣שֶׁתH802Noun - feminine singular constructSaraiוְשָׂרַי֙H8297Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - feminine singularhad borneיָלְדָ֖הH3205Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singularhimל֑וֹPreposition | third person masculine singularno [children]לֹ֥אH3808Adverb - Negative particlebutוְלָ֛הּConjunctive waw | Preposition | third person feminine singularshe had an Egyptianמִצְרִ֖יתH4713Noun - proper - feminine singularmaidservantשִׁפְחָ֥הH8198Noun - feminine singularnamedוּשְׁמָ֥הּH8034Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singularHagarהָגָֽר׃H1904Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 2

Original words

So Saraiשָׂרַ֜יH8297Noun - proper - feminine singularsaidוַתֹּ֨אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singulartoאֶל־H413PrepositionAbramאַבְרָ֗םH87Noun - proper - masculine singularLookהִנֵּה־H2009Interjectionnowנָ֞אH4994Interjectionthe LORDיְהוָה֙H3068Noun - proper - masculine singularhas prevented meעֲצָרַ֤נִיH6113Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singularfrom bearing [children]מִלֶּ֔דֶתH3205Preposition-m | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructPleaseנָא֙H4994Interjectiongoבֹּא־H935Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singulartoאֶל־H413Prepositionmy maidservantשִׁפְחָתִ֔יH8198Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singularperhapsאוּלַ֥יH194AdverbI can build a familyאִבָּנֶ֖הH1129Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - first person common singularby herמִמֶּ֑נָּהH4480Preposition | third person feminine singularAnd Abramאַבְרָ֖םH87Noun - proper - masculine singularlistenedוַיִּשְׁמַ֥עH8085Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularto the voiceלְק֥וֹלH6963Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular constructof Saraiשָׂרָֽי׃H8297Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 3

Original words

So afterמִקֵּץ֙H7093Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct[he]אַבְרָ֖םH87Noun - proper - masculine singularhad livedלְשֶׁ֥בֶתH3427Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructvvvבְּאֶ֣רֶץH776Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular constructin Canaanכְּנָ֑עַןH3667Noun - proper - masculine singularfor tenעֶ֣שֶׂרH6235Number - feminine singularyearsשָׁנִ֔יםH8141Noun - feminine plural[his]אַבְרָ֗םH87Noun - proper - masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerwifeאֵֽשֶׁת־H802Noun - feminine singular constructSaraiשָׂרַ֣יH8297Noun - proper - feminine singulartookוַתִּקַּ֞חH3947Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularher Egyptianהַמִּצְרִית֙H4713Article | Noun - proper - feminine singularmaidservantשִׁפְחָתָ֔הּH8198Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singularHagarהָגָ֤רH1904Noun - proper - feminine singularand gaveוַתִּתֵּ֥ןH5414Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularherאֹתָ֛הּH853Direct object marker | third person feminine singularto Abramלְאַבְרָ֥םH87Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular-אִישָׁ֖הּH376Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singularto beל֥וֹPreposition | third person masculine singularhis wifeלְאִשָּֽׁה׃H802Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 4

Original words

And he slept withוַיָּבֹ֥אH935Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular. . .אֶל־H413PrepositionHagarהָגָ֖רH1904Noun - proper - feminine singularand she conceivedוַתַּ֑הַרH2029Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularBut when [Hagar] realizedוַתֵּ֙רֶא֙H7200Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularthatכִּ֣יH3588Conjunctionshe was pregnantהָרָ֔תָהH2029Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singularshe began to despiseוַתֵּקַ֥לH7043Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular. . .בְּעֵינֶֽיהָ׃H5869Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | third person feminine singularher mistressגְּבִרְתָּ֖הּH1404Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singular

BSB notes

  • Or her mistress became despised in her sight
Verse 5

Original words

Then Saraiשָׂרַ֣יH8297Noun - proper - feminine singularsaidוַתֹּ֨אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singulartoאֶל־H413PrepositionAbramאַבְרָם֮H87Noun - proper - masculine singularMay the wrong done to meחֲמָסִ֣יH2555Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular[be] upon youעָלֶיךָ֒H5921Preposition | second person masculine singularIאָנֹכִ֗יH595Pronoun - first person common singulardeliveredנָתַ֤תִּיH5414Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularmy servantשִׁפְחָתִי֙H8198Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singularinto your armsבְּחֵיקֶ֔ךָH2436Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularand ever since she sawוַתֵּ֙רֶא֙H7200Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularthatכִּ֣יH3588Conjunctionshe was pregnantהָרָ֔תָהH2029Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singularshe has treated me with contemptוָאֵקַ֖לH7043Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular. . .בְּעֵינֶ֑יהָH5869Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | third person feminine singularMay the LORDיְהוָ֖הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularjudgeיִשְׁפֹּ֥טH8199Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularbetween you and meבֵּינִ֥יH996Preposition | first person common singular. . .וּבֵינֶֽיׄךָ׃H996Conjunctive waw | Preposition | second person masculine singular
Verse 6

Original words

Hereהִנֵּ֤הH2009Interjectionsaidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularAbramאַבְרָ֜םH87Noun - proper - masculine singular-אֶל־H413Preposition-שָׂרַ֗יH8297Noun - proper - feminine singularyour servantשִׁפְחָתֵךְ֙H8198Noun - feminine singular construct | second person feminine singularis in your handsבְּיָדֵ֔ךְH3027Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person feminine singularDoעֲשִׂי־H6213Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singularwhatever you wantהַטּ֣וֹבH2896Article | Adjective - masculine singularבְּעֵינָ֑יִךְבְּעֵינָ֑יִךְH5869Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | second person feminine singularwith herלָ֖הּPreposition | third person feminine singularThen Saraiשָׂרַ֔יH8297Noun - proper - feminine singulartreatedוַתְּעַנֶּ֣הָH6031Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular | third person feminine singular[Hagar] so harshly that she fledוַתִּבְרַ֖חH1272Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularfrom herמִפָּנֶֽיהָ׃H6440Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.