Focused Passage

Genesis 21:8-21

The LORD Fulfills His Promise in Isaac, Casts Out the Bondwoman’s Line from the Covenant Inheritance, and Preserves Ishmael in Mercy

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

8So the child grew and was weaned, and Abraham held a great feast on the day Isaac was weaned.

9But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking her son,

10and 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!”

11Now this matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son Ishmael.

12But 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.

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.

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.”

19Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.

20And God was with the boy, and he grew up and settled in the wilderness and became a great archer.

21And while he was dwelling in the Wilderness of Paran, his mother got a wife for him from the land of Egypt.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 8

Original words

So the childהַיֶּ֖לֶדH3206Article | Noun - masculine singulargrewוַיִּגְדַּ֥לH1431Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularand was weanedוַיִּגָּמַ֑לH1580Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularand Abrahamאַבְרָהָם֙H85Noun - proper - masculine singularheldוַיַּ֤עַשׂH6213Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singulara greatגָד֔וֹלH1419Adjective - masculine singularfeastמִשְׁתֶּ֣הH4960Noun - masculine singularon the dayבְּי֖וֹםH3117Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructIsaacיִצְחָֽק׃H3327Noun - proper - masculine singularwas weanedהִגָּמֵ֥לH1580Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct-אֶת־H853Direct object marker
Verse 9

Original words

But Sarahשָׂרָ֜הH8283Noun - proper - feminine singular-אֶֽת־H853Direct object markersaw thatוַתֵּ֨רֶאH7200Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularthe sonבֶּן־H1121Noun - masculine singular constructwhomאֲשֶׁר־H834Pronoun - relativeHagarהָגָ֧רH1904Noun - proper - feminine singularthe Egyptianהַמִּצְרִ֛יתH4713Article | Noun - proper - feminine singularhad borneיָלְדָ֥הH3205Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singularto Abrahamלְאַבְרָהָ֖םH85Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singularwas mocking [her son]מְצַחֵֽק׃H6711Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • LXX and Vulgate; Hebrew lacks her son
Verse 10

Original words

and she saidוַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙H559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularto Abrahamלְאַבְרָהָ֔םH85Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singularExpelגָּרֵ֛שׁH1644Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singulartheהַזֹּ֖אתH2063Article | Pronoun - feminine singular-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerslave womanהָאָמָ֥הH519Article | Noun - feminine singularand her sonבְּנָ֑הּH1121Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singularforכִּ֣יH3588Conjunctionthe slave woman’sהָאָמָ֣הH519Article | Noun - feminine singular. . .הַזֹּ֔אתH2063Article | Pronoun - feminine singularsonבֶּן־H1121Noun - masculine singular constructwill neverלֹ֤אH3808Adverb - Negative particleshare in the inheritanceיִירַשׁ֙H3423Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularwithעִם־H5973Prepositionmy sonבְּנִ֖יH1121Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular. . .עִם־H5973PrepositionIsaacיִצְחָֽק׃H3327Noun - proper - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Cited in Galatians 4:30
Verse 11

Original words

Now this matterהַדָּבָ֛רH1697Article | Noun - masculine singulardistressedוַיֵּ֧רַעH7489Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular. . .בְּעֵינֵ֣יH5869Preposition-b | Noun - cdcAbrahamאַבְרָהָ֑םH85Noun - proper - masculine singulargreatlyמְאֹ֖דH3966Adverbvvvעַ֖לH5921Prepositionbecause it concernedאוֹדֹ֥תH182Noun - feminine plural constructhis son [Ishmael]בְּנֽוֹ׃H1121Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Verse 12

Original words

But Godאֱלֹהִ֜יםH430Noun - masculine pluralsaidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singulartoאֶל־H413PrepositionAbrahamאַבְרָהָ֗םH85Noun - proper - masculine singularDo notאַל־H408Adverbbe distressedיֵרַ֤עH7489Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular. . .בְּעֵינֶ֙יךָ֙H5869Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | second person masculine singularaboutעַל־H5921Prepositionthe boyהַנַּ֣עַרH5288Article | Noun - masculine singular. . .וְעַל־H5921Conjunctive waw | Prepositionand your maidservantאֲמָתֶ֔ךָH519Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singularListen toשְׁמַ֣עH8085Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular. . .בְּקֹלָ֑הּH6963Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singulareverythingכֹּל֩H3605Noun - masculine singularthatאֲשֶׁ֨רH834Pronoun - relativeSarahשָׂרָ֖הH8283Noun - proper - feminine singulartellsתֹּאמַ֥רH559Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singularyouאֵלֶ֛יךָH413Preposition | second person masculine singularforכִּ֣יH3588Conjunctionthrough Isaacבְיִצְחָ֔קH3327Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singularyourלְךָ֖Preposition | second person masculine singularoffspringזָֽרַע׃H2233Noun - masculine singularwill be reckonedיִקָּרֵ֥אH7121Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Cited in Romans 9:7 and Hebrews 11:18
Verse 13

Original words

But I will alsoוְגַ֥םH1571Conjunction-אֶת־H853Direct object markermakeאֲשִׂימֶ֑נּוּH7760Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singulara nationלְג֣וֹיH1471Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singularof the slave woman’sהָאָמָ֖הH519Article | Noun - feminine singularsonבֶּן־H1121Noun - masculine singular constructbecauseכִּ֥יH3588Conjunctionheהֽוּא׃H1931Pronoun - third person masculine singularis your offspringזַרְעֲךָ֖H2233Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Verse 14

Original words

Early in the morningבַּבֹּ֡קֶרH1242Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularAbrahamאַבְרָהָ֣ם׀H85Noun - proper - masculine singulargot upוַיַּשְׁכֵּ֣םH7925Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singulartookוַיִּֽקַּֽח־H3947Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularbreadלֶחֶם֩H3899Noun - masculine singularand a skin of waterוְחֵ֨מַתH2573Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct. . .מַ֜יִםH4325Noun - masculine plural. . .וַיִּתֵּ֣ןH5414Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular. . .אֶל־H413Prepositionput themשָׂ֧םH7760Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularonעַל־H5921PrepositionHagar’sהָ֠גָרH1904Noun - proper - feminine singularshouldersשִׁכְמָ֛הּH7926Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerand sent her away with the boyהַיֶּ֖לֶדH3206Article | Noun - masculine singular. . .וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֶ֑הָH7971Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singularShe leftוַתֵּ֣לֶךְH1980Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularand wanderedוַתֵּ֔תַעH8582Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularin the Wildernessבְּמִדְבַּ֖רH4057Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructofבְּאֵ֥רH884PrepositionBeershebaשָֽׁבַע׃H884Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 15

Original words

When the waterהַמַּ֖יִםH4325Article | Noun - masculine pluralinמִן־H4480Prepositionthe skinהַחֵ֑מֶתH2573Article | Noun - feminine singularwas goneוַיִּכְל֥וּH3615Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralshe leftוַתַּשְׁלֵ֣ךְH7993Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe boyהַיֶּ֔לֶדH3206Article | Noun - masculine singularunderתַּ֖חַתH8478Prepositiononeאַחַ֥דH259Number - masculine singular constructof the bushesהַשִּׂיחִֽם׃H7880Article | Noun - masculine plural
Verse 16

Original words

Then she went offוַתֵּלֶךְ֩H1980Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularand sat downוַתֵּ֨שֶׁבH3427Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularnearbyמִנֶּ֗גֶדH5048Preposition-mabout a bowshotכִּמְטַחֲוֵ֣יH2909Preposition-k | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural construct. . .קֶ֔שֶׁתH7198Noun - feminine singularawayהַרְחֵק֙H7368Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absoluteforכִּ֣יH3588Conjunctionshe saidאָֽמְרָ֔הH559Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singularI cannotאַל־H408Adverbbear to watchאֶרְאֶ֖הH7200Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singularthe boyהַיָּ֑לֶדH3206Article | Noun - masculine singulardieבְּמ֣וֹתH4194Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructAnd as she satוַתֵּ֣שֶׁבH3427Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularnearbyמִנֶּ֔גֶדH5048Preposition-mshe lifted upוַתִּשָּׂ֥אH5375Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerher voiceקֹלָ֖הּH6963Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singularand weptוַתֵּֽבְךְּ׃H1058Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular

BSB notes

  • Hebrew; LXX the child lifted up his voice and wept
Verse 17

Original words

Then Godאֱלֹהִים֮H430Noun - masculine plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markerheardוַיִּשְׁמַ֣עH8085Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularthe voiceק֣וֹלH6963Noun - masculine singular constructof the boyהַנַּעַר֒H5288Article | Noun - masculine singularand the angelמַלְאַ֨ךְH4397Noun - masculine singular constructof Godאֱלֹהִ֤ים׀H430Noun - masculine pluralcalledוַיִּקְרָא֩H7121Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singulartoאֶל־H413PrepositionHagarהָגָר֙H1904Noun - proper - feminine singularfromמִן־H4480Prepositionheavenהַשָּׁמַ֔יִםH8064Article | Noun - masculine plural-וַיֹּ֥אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularWhat is wrongמַה־H4100InterrogativeHagarהָגָ֑רH1904Noun - proper - feminine singularDo notאַל־H408Adverbbe afraidתִּ֣ירְאִ֔יH3372Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person feminine singularforכִּֽי־H3588ConjunctionGodאֱלֹהִ֛יםH430Noun - masculine plural. . .אֶל־H413Prepositionhas heardשָׁמַ֧עH8085Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularthe voiceק֥וֹלH6963Noun - masculine singular constructof the boyהַנַּ֖עַרH5288Article | Noun - masculine singularwhereבַּאֲשֶׁ֥רH834Preposition-b | Pronoun - relativeheהוּא־H1931Pronoun - third person masculine singularliesשָֽׁם׃H8033Adverb
Verse 18

Original words

Get upק֚וּמִיH6965Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singularlift upשְׂאִ֣יH5375Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singularthe boyהַנַּ֔עַרH5288Article | Noun - masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerand takeוְהַחֲזִ֥יקִיH2388Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Imperative - feminine singularhimבּ֑וֹPreposition | third person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerby the handיָדֵ֖ךְH3027Noun - feminine singular construct | second person feminine singularforכִּֽי־H3588ConjunctionI will make himאֲשִׂימֶֽנּוּ׃H7760Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singularinto a greatגָּד֖וֹלH1419Adjective - masculine singularnationלְג֥וֹיH1471Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 19

Original words

Then Godאֱלֹהִים֙H430Noun - masculine plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markeropenedוַיִּפְקַ֤חH6491Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularher eyesעֵינֶ֔יהָH5869Noun - cdc | third person feminine singularand she sawוַתֵּ֖רֶאH7200Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singulara wellבְּאֵ֣רH875Noun - feminine singular constructof waterמָ֑יִםH4325Noun - masculine pluralSo she wentוַתֵּ֜לֶךְH1980Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularand filledוַתְּמַלֵּ֤אH4390Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe skin with waterהַחֵ֙מֶת֙H2573Article | Noun - feminine singular. . .מַ֔יִםH4325Noun - masculine pluraland gave the boyהַנָּֽעַר׃H5288Article | Noun - masculine singulara drinkוַתַּ֖שְׁקְH8248Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object marker
Verse 20

Original words

And Godאֱלֹהִ֛יםH430Noun - masculine pluralwasוַיְהִ֧יH1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularwithאֶת־H854Prepositionthe boyהַנַּ֖עַרH5288Article | Noun - masculine singularand he grew upוַיִּגְדָּ֑לH1431Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularand settledוַיֵּ֙שֶׁב֙H3427Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularin the wildernessבַּמִּדְבָּ֔רH4057Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularand becameוַיְהִ֖יH1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singulara greatרֹבֶ֥הH7235Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singulararcherקַשָּֽׁת׃H7199Noun - masculine singular
Verse 21

Original words

And while he was dwellingוַיֵּ֖שֶׁבH3427Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularin the Wildernessבְּמִדְבַּ֣רH4057Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructof Paranפָּארָ֑ןH6290Noun - proper - feminine singularhis motherאִמּ֛וֹH517Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singulargotוַתִּֽקַּֽח־H3947Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singulara wifeאִשָּׁ֖הH802Noun - feminine singularfor himל֥וֹPreposition | third person masculine singularfrom the landמֵאֶ֥רֶץH776Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular constructof Egyptמִצְרָֽיִם׃פH4714Noun - proper - feminine singular

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