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

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

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

10 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!”

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

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.

13 But I will also make a nation of the slave woman’s son, because he is your offspring.”

14 Early 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.

15 When the water in the skin was gone, she left the boy under one of the bushes.

16 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.

17 Then 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.

18 Get up, lift up the boy, and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.”

19 Then 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.

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

21 And 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 child הַיֶּ֖לֶד H3206 Article | Noun - masculine singular grew וַיִּגְדַּ֥ל H1431 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular and was weaned וַיִּגָּמַ֑ל H1580 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular and Abraham אַבְרָהָם֙ H85 Noun - proper - masculine singular held וַיַּ֤עַשׂ H6213 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular a great גָד֔וֹל H1419 Adjective - masculine singular feast מִשְׁתֶּ֣ה H4960 Noun - masculine singular on the day בְּי֖וֹם H3117 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct Isaac יִצְחָֽק׃ H3327 Noun - proper - masculine singular was weaned הִגָּמֵ֥ל H1580 Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker
Verse 9

Original words

But Sarah שָׂרָ֜ה H8283 Noun - proper - feminine singular - אֶֽת־ H853 Direct object marker saw that וַתֵּ֨רֶא H7200 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular the son בֶּן־ H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct whom אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative Hagar הָגָ֧ר H1904 Noun - proper - feminine singular the Egyptian הַמִּצְרִ֛ית H4713 Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular had borne יָלְדָ֥ה H3205 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular to Abraham לְאַבְרָהָ֖ם H85 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular was mocking [her son] מְצַחֵֽק׃ H6711 Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • LXX and Vulgate; Hebrew lacks her son
Verse 10

Original words

and she said וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular to Abraham לְאַבְרָהָ֔ם H85 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Expel גָּרֵ֛שׁ H1644 Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular the הַזֹּ֖את H2063 Article | Pronoun - feminine singular - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker slave woman הָאָמָ֥ה H519 Article | Noun - feminine singular and her son בְּנָ֑הּ H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular for כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction the slave woman’s הָאָמָ֣ה H519 Article | Noun - feminine singular . . . הַזֹּ֔את H2063 Article | Pronoun - feminine singular son בֶּן־ H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct will never לֹ֤א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle share in the inheritance יִירַשׁ֙ H3423 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular with עִם־ H5973 Preposition my son בְּנִ֖י H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular . . . עִם־ H5973 Preposition Isaac יִצְחָֽק׃ H3327 Noun - proper - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Cited in Galatians 4:30
Verse 11

Original words

Now this matter הַדָּבָ֛ר H1697 Article | Noun - masculine singular distressed וַיֵּ֧רַע H7489 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular . . . בְּעֵינֵ֣י H5869 Preposition-b | Noun - cdc Abraham אַבְרָהָ֑ם H85 Noun - proper - masculine singular greatly מְאֹ֖ד H3966 Adverb vvv עַ֖ל H5921 Preposition because it concerned אוֹדֹ֥ת H182 Noun - feminine plural construct his son [Ishmael] בְּנֽוֹ׃ H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Verse 12

Original words

But God אֱלֹהִ֜ים H430 Noun - masculine plural said וַיֹּ֨אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition Abraham אַבְרָהָ֗ם H85 Noun - proper - masculine singular Do not אַל־ H408 Adverb be distressed יֵרַ֤ע H7489 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular . . . בְּעֵינֶ֙יךָ֙ H5869 Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | second person masculine singular about עַל־ H5921 Preposition the boy הַנַּ֣עַר H5288 Article | Noun - masculine singular . . . וְעַל־ H5921 Conjunctive waw | Preposition and your maidservant אֲמָתֶ֔ךָ H519 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular Listen to שְׁמַ֣ע H8085 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular . . . בְּקֹלָ֑הּ H6963 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular everything כֹּל֩ H3605 Noun - masculine singular that אֲשֶׁ֨ר H834 Pronoun - relative Sarah שָׂרָ֖ה H8283 Noun - proper - feminine singular tells תֹּאמַ֥ר H559 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular you אֵלֶ֛יךָ H413 Preposition | second person masculine singular for כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction through Isaac בְיִצְחָ֔ק H3327 Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singular your לְךָ֖ Preposition | second person masculine singular offspring זָֽרַע׃ H2233 Noun - masculine singular will be reckoned יִקָּרֵ֥א H7121 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular

BSB notes

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

Original words

But I will also וְגַ֥ם H1571 Conjunction - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker make אֲשִׂימֶ֑נּוּ H7760 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular a nation לְג֣וֹי H1471 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular of the slave woman’s הָאָמָ֖ה H519 Article | Noun - feminine singular son בֶּן־ H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct because כִּ֥י H3588 Conjunction he הֽוּא׃ H1931 Pronoun - third person masculine singular is your offspring זַרְעֲךָ֖ H2233 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Verse 14

Original words

Early in the morning בַּבֹּ֡קֶר H1242 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular Abraham אַבְרָהָ֣ם׀ H85 Noun - proper - masculine singular got up וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֣ם H7925 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular took וַיִּֽקַּֽח־ H3947 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular bread לֶחֶם֩ H3899 Noun - masculine singular and a skin of water וְחֵ֨מַת H2573 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct . . . מַ֜יִם H4325 Noun - masculine plural . . . וַיִּתֵּ֣ן H5414 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular . . . אֶל־ H413 Preposition put them שָׂ֧ם H7760 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular on עַל־ H5921 Preposition Hagar’s הָ֠גָר H1904 Noun - proper - feminine singular shoulders שִׁכְמָ֛הּ H7926 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker and sent her away with the boy הַיֶּ֖לֶד H3206 Article | Noun - masculine singular . . . וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֶ֑הָ H7971 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular She left וַתֵּ֣לֶךְ H1980 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular and wandered וַתֵּ֔תַע H8582 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular in the Wilderness בְּמִדְבַּ֖ר H4057 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct of בְּאֵ֥ר H884 Preposition Beersheba שָֽׁבַע׃ H884 Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 15

Original words

When the water הַמַּ֖יִם H4325 Article | Noun - masculine plural in מִן־ H4480 Preposition the skin הַחֵ֑מֶת H2573 Article | Noun - feminine singular was gone וַיִּכְל֥וּ H3615 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural she left וַתַּשְׁלֵ֣ךְ H7993 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the boy הַיֶּ֔לֶד H3206 Article | Noun - masculine singular under תַּ֖חַת H8478 Preposition one אַחַ֥ד H259 Number - masculine singular construct of the bushes הַשִּׂיחִֽם׃ H7880 Article | Noun - masculine plural
Verse 16

Original words

Then she went off וַתֵּלֶךְ֩ H1980 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular and sat down וַתֵּ֨שֶׁב H3427 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular nearby מִנֶּ֗גֶד H5048 Preposition-m about a bowshot כִּמְטַחֲוֵ֣י H2909 Preposition-k | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural construct . . . קֶ֔שֶׁת H7198 Noun - feminine singular away הַרְחֵק֙ H7368 Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute for כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction she said אָֽמְרָ֔ה H559 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular I cannot אַל־ H408 Adverb bear to watch אֶרְאֶ֖ה H7200 Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singular the boy הַיָּ֑לֶד H3206 Article | Noun - masculine singular die בְּמ֣וֹת H4194 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct And as she sat וַתֵּ֣שֶׁב H3427 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular nearby מִנֶּ֔גֶד H5048 Preposition-m she lifted up וַתִּשָּׂ֥א H5375 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker her voice קֹלָ֖הּ H6963 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular and wept וַתֵּֽבְךְּ׃ H1058 Conjunctive 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 God אֱלֹהִים֮ H430 Noun - masculine plural - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker heard וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע H8085 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular the voice ק֣וֹל H6963 Noun - masculine singular construct of the boy הַנַּעַר֒ H5288 Article | Noun - masculine singular and the angel מַלְאַ֨ךְ H4397 Noun - masculine singular construct of God אֱלֹהִ֤ים׀ H430 Noun - masculine plural called וַיִּקְרָא֩ H7121 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition Hagar הָגָר֙ H1904 Noun - proper - feminine singular from מִן־ H4480 Preposition heaven הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם H8064 Article | Noun - masculine plural - וַיֹּ֥אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular What is wrong מַה־ H4100 Interrogative Hagar הָגָ֑ר H1904 Noun - proper - feminine singular Do not אַל־ H408 Adverb be afraid תִּ֣ירְאִ֔י H3372 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person feminine singular for כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction God אֱלֹהִ֛ים H430 Noun - masculine plural . . . אֶל־ H413 Preposition has heard שָׁמַ֧ע H8085 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular the voice ק֥וֹל H6963 Noun - masculine singular construct of the boy הַנַּ֖עַר H5288 Article | Noun - masculine singular where בַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Preposition-b | Pronoun - relative he הוּא־ H1931 Pronoun - third person masculine singular lies שָֽׁם׃ H8033 Adverb
Verse 18

Original words

Get up ק֚וּמִי H6965 Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singular lift up שְׂאִ֣י H5375 Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singular the boy הַנַּ֔עַר H5288 Article | Noun - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker and take וְהַחֲזִ֥יקִי H2388 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Imperative - feminine singular him בּ֑וֹ Preposition | third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker by the hand יָדֵ֖ךְ H3027 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person feminine singular for כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction I will make him אֲשִׂימֶֽנּוּ׃ H7760 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular into a great גָּד֖וֹל H1419 Adjective - masculine singular nation לְג֥וֹי H1471 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 19

Original words

Then God אֱלֹהִים֙ H430 Noun - masculine plural - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker opened וַיִּפְקַ֤ח H6491 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular her eyes עֵינֶ֔יהָ H5869 Noun - cdc | third person feminine singular and she saw וַתֵּ֖רֶא H7200 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular a well בְּאֵ֣ר H875 Noun - feminine singular construct of water מָ֑יִם H4325 Noun - masculine plural So she went וַתֵּ֜לֶךְ H1980 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular and filled וַתְּמַלֵּ֤א H4390 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the skin with water הַחֵ֙מֶת֙ H2573 Article | Noun - feminine singular . . . מַ֔יִם H4325 Noun - masculine plural and gave the boy הַנָּֽעַר׃ H5288 Article | Noun - masculine singular a drink וַתַּ֖שְׁקְ H8248 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker
Verse 20

Original words

And God אֱלֹהִ֛ים H430 Noun - masculine plural was וַיְהִ֧י H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular with אֶת־ H854 Preposition the boy הַנַּ֖עַר H5288 Article | Noun - masculine singular and he grew up וַיִּגְדָּ֑ל H1431 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular and settled וַיֵּ֙שֶׁב֙ H3427 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular in the wilderness בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר H4057 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular and became וַיְהִ֖י H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular a great רֹבֶ֥ה H7235 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular archer קַשָּֽׁת׃ H7199 Noun - masculine singular
Verse 21

Original words

And while he was dwelling וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב H3427 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular in the Wilderness בְּמִדְבַּ֣ר H4057 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct of Paran פָּארָ֑ן H6290 Noun - proper - feminine singular his mother אִמּ֛וֹ H517 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular got וַתִּֽקַּֽח־ H3947 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular a wife אִשָּׁ֖ה H802 Noun - feminine singular for him ל֥וֹ Preposition | third person masculine singular from the land מֵאֶ֥רֶץ H776 Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct of Egypt מִצְרָֽיִם׃פ H4714 Noun - proper - feminine singular

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