1 Now Sarai H8297 Abram's H87 wife H802 bare H3205 him no H3808 children: H3205 and she had an handmaid, H8198 an Egyptian, H4713 whose name H8034 was Hagar. H1904
Which things G3748 are G2076 an allegory: G238 for G1063 these G3778 are G1526 the two G1417 covenants; G1242 the one G3391 G3303 from G575 the mount G3735 Sinai, G4614 which gendereth G1080 to G1519 bondage, G1397 which G3748 is G2076 Agar. G28
And he entreated H3190 Abram H87 well H3190 for her sake: and he had sheep, H6629 and oxen, H1241 and he asses, H2543 and menservants, H5650 and maidservants, H8198 and she asses, H860 and camels. H1581
And Abram H87 said, H559 Lord H136 GOD, H3069 what wilt thou give H5414 me, seeing I go H1980 childless, H6185 and the steward H1121 H4943 of my house H1004 is this H1931 Eliezer H461 of Damascus? H1834 And Abram H87 said, H559 Behold, to me thou hast given H5414 no H3808 seed: H2233 and, lo, one born H1121 in my house H1004 is mine heir. H3423
And he dwelt H3427 in the wilderness H4057 of Paran: H6290 and his mother H517 took H3947 him a wife H802 out of the land H776 of Egypt. H4714
And Sarah H8283 saw H7200 the son H1121 of Hagar H1904 the Egyptian, H4713 which she had born H3205 unto Abraham, H85 mocking. H6711 Wherefore she said H559 unto Abraham, H85 Cast out H1644 this bondwoman H519 and her son: H1121 for the son H1121 of this bondwoman H519 shall not be heir H3423 with my son, H1121 even with Isaac. H3327
And God H430 said H559 unto Abraham, H85 Let it not be grievous H3415 in thy sight H5869 because of the lad, H5288 and because of thy bondwoman; H519 in all that Sarah H8283 hath said H559 unto thee, hearken H8085 unto her voice; H6963 for in Isaac H3327 shall thy seed H2233 be called. H7121
And Isaac H3327 intreated H6279 the LORD H3068 for H5227 his wife, H802 because she was barren: H6135 and the LORD H3068 was intreated H6279 of him, and Rebekah H7259 his wife H802 conceived. H2029
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Genesis 16
Commentary on Genesis 16 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 16
Hagar is the person mostly concerned in the story of this chapter, an obscure Egyptian woman, whose name and story we never should have heard of if Providence had not brought her into the family of Abram. Probably she was one of those maid-servants whom the king of Egypt, among other gifts, bestowed upon Abram (ch. 12:16). Concerning her, we have four things in this chapter:-
Gen 16:1-3
We have here the marriage of Abram to Hagar, who was his secondary wife. Herein, though some excuse may be made for him, he cannot be justified, for from the beginning it was not so; and, when it was so, it seems to have proceeded from an irregular desire to build up families for the speedier peopling of the world and the church. Certainly it must not be so now. Christ has reduced this matter to the first institution, and makes the marriage union to be between one man and one woman only. Now,
Gen 16:4-6
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.
Gen 16:7-9
Here is the first mention we have in scripture of an angel's appearance. Hagar was a type of the law, which was given by the disposition of angels; but the world to come is not put in subjection to them, Heb. 2:5. Observe,
Gen 16:10-14
We may suppose that the angel having given Hagar that good counsel (v. 9) to return to her mistress she immediately promised to do so, and was setting her face homeward; and then the angel went on to encourage her with an assurance of the mercy God had in store for her and her seed: for God will meet those with mercy that are returning to their duty. I said, I will confess, and thou forgavest, Ps. 32:5. Here is,
Gen 16:15-16
It is here taken for granted, though not expressly recorded, that Hagar did as the angel commanded her, returning to here mistress and submitting herself; and then, in the fulness of time, she brought forth her son. Note, Those who obey divine precepts shall have the comfort of divine promises. This was the son of the bond-woman that was born after the flesh (Gal. 4:23), representing the unbelieving Jews, v. 25. Note,