Genesis

Genesis 21:9–16

⁹But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking her son,^b 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!”^c

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.^d 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.^e

Footnotes

b 21:9 LXX and Vulgate; Hebrew lacks her son
c 21:10 Cited in Galatians 4:30|GAL 4:30
d 21:12 Cited in Romans 9:7|ROM 9:7and Hebrews 11:18
e 21:16 Hebrew; LXX the child lifted up his voice and wept

Read all of Genesis 21

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Genesis 21:9

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
But Sarah	שָׂרָ֜ה	śā·rāh	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H8283 Sarah
saw that	וַתֵּ֨רֶא	wat·tê·re	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H7200 see
the son	בֶּן־	ben-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H1121 son
whom	אֲשֶׁר־	’ă·šer-	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
Hagar	הָגָ֧ר	hā·ḡār	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H1904 Hagar
the Egyptian	הַמִּצְרִ֛ית	ham·miṣ·rîṯ	Article; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H4713 Mitsrite
had borne	יָלְדָ֥ה	yā·lə·ḏāh	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular	H3205 bear, bring forth, beget
to Abraham	לְאַבְרָהָ֖ם	lə·’aḇ·rā·hām	Preposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H85 Abraham
was mocking	מְצַחֵֽק׃	mə·ṣa·ḥêq	Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular	H6711 laugh

Genesis 21:10

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
and she said	וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙	wat·tō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H559 utter, say
to Abraham	לְאַבְרָהָ֔ם	lə·’aḇ·rā·hām	Preposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H85 Abraham
Expel	גָּרֵ֛שׁ	gā·rêš	Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular	H1644 drive out, cast out
the	הַזֹּ֖את	haz·zōṯ	Article; Pronoun - feminine singular	H2063 this
slave woman	הָאָמָ֥ה	hā·’ā·māh	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H519 maid, handmaid
and her son	בְּנָ֑הּ	bə·nāh	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person feminine singular	H1121 son
for	כִּ֣י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
the slave woman’s	הָאָמָ֣ה	hā·’ā·māh	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H519 maid, handmaid
son	בֶּן־	ben-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H1121 son
will never	לֹ֤א	lō	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
share in the inheritance	יִירַשׁ֙	yî·raš	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3423 take possession of, inherit, dispossess
with	עִם־	‘im-	Preposition	H5973 with
my son	בְּנִ֖י	bə·nî	Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H1121 son
Isaac	יִצְחָֽק׃	yiṣ·ḥāq	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3327 Isaac

Genesis 21:11

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Now this matter	הַדָּבָ֛ר	had·dā·ḇār	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H1697 speech, word
distressed	וַיֵּ֧רַע	way·yê·ra‘	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7489 be evil, bad
Abraham	אַבְרָהָ֑ם	’aḇ·rā·hām	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H85 Abraham
greatly	מְאֹ֖ד	mə·’ōḏ	Adverb	H3966 muchness, force, abundance, exceedingly
because it concerned	אוֹדֹ֥ת	’ō·w·ḏōṯ	Noun - feminine plural construct	H182 turnings, occasions, account
his son	בְּנֽוֹ׃	bə·nōw	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H1121 son

Genesis 21:12

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
But God	אֱלֹהִ֜ים	’ĕ·lō·hîm	Noun - masculine plural	H430 God
said	וַיֹּ֨אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
Abraham	אַבְרָהָ֗ם	’aḇ·rā·hām	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H85 Abraham
Do not	אַל־	’al-	Adverb	H408 prohibition, do not . . ., let not . . .
be distressed	יֵרַ֤ע	yê·ra‘	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7489 be evil, bad
about	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
the boy	הַנַּ֣עַר	han·na·‘ar	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5288 a shaking, scattering
and your maidservant	אֲמָתֶ֔ךָ	’ă·mā·ṯe·ḵā	Noun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H519 maid, handmaid
Listen to	שְׁמַ֣ע	šə·ma‘	Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular	H8085 hear
everything	כֹּל֩	kōl	Noun - masculine singular	H3605 the whole, all
that	אֲשֶׁ֨ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
Sarah	שָׂרָ֖ה	śā·rāh	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H8283 Sarah
tells	תֹּאמַ֥ר	tō·mar	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular	H559 utter, say
you	אֵלֶ֛יךָ	’ê·le·ḵā	Preposition; second person masculine singular	H413 motion to
for	כִּ֣י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
through Isaac	בְיִצְחָ֔ק	ḇə·yiṣ·ḥāq	Preposition-b; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3327 Isaac
your	לְךָ֖	lə·ḵā	Preposition; second person masculine singular
offspring	זָֽרַע׃	zā·ra‘	Noun - masculine singular	H2233 sowing, seed, offspring
will be reckoned	יִקָּרֵ֥א	yiq·qā·rê	Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7121 call, proclaim, read

Genesis 21:13

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
But I will also	וְגַ֥ם	wə·ḡam	Conjunction	H1571 also, moreover, yea
make	אֲשִׂימֶ֑נּוּ	’ă·śî·men·nū	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular; third person masculine singular	H7760 put, place, set
a nation	לְג֣וֹי	lə·ḡō·w	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular	H1471 nation, people
of the slave woman’s	הָאָמָ֖ה	hā·’ā·māh	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H519 maid, handmaid
son	בֶּן־	ben-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H1121 son
because	כִּ֥י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
he	הֽוּא׃	hū	Pronoun - third person masculine singular	H1931 he, she
is your offspring	זַרְעֲךָ֖	zar·‘ă·ḵā	Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H2233 sowing, seed, offspring

Genesis 21:14

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Early in the morning	בַּבֹּ֡קֶר	bab·bō·qer	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H1242 morning
Abraham	אַבְרָהָ֣ם׀	’aḇ·rā·hām	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H85 Abraham
got up	וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֣ם	way·yaš·kêm	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7925 start, rise, early
took	וַיִּֽקַּֽח־	way·yiq·qaḥ-	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3947 take
bread	לֶחֶם֩	le·ḥem	Noun - masculine singular	H3899 bread, food
and a skin of water	וְחֵ֨מַת	wə·ḥê·maṯ	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct	H2573 waterskin
put them	שָׂ֧ם	śām	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H7760 put, place, set
on	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
Hagar’s	הָ֠גָר	hā·ḡār	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H1904 Hagar
shoulders	שִׁכְמָ֛הּ	šiḵ·māh	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person feminine singular	H7926 shoulder
and sent her away with the boy	הַיֶּ֖לֶד	hay·ye·leḏ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3206 child, son, boy, youth
She left	וַתֵּ֣לֶךְ	wat·tê·leḵ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H1980 go, come, walk
and wandered	וַתֵּ֔תַע	wat·tê·ṯa‘	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H8582 err
in the Wilderness	בְּמִדְבַּ֖ר	bə·miḏ·bar	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct	H4057 mouth
of	בְּאֵ֥ר	bə·’êr	Preposition	H884 Beersheba
Beersheba	שָֽׁבַע׃	šā·ḇa‘	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H884 Beersheba

Genesis 21:15

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
When the water	הַמַּ֖יִם	ham·ma·yim	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H4325 water, juice, urine
in	מִן־	min-	Preposition	H4480 out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not
the skin	הַחֵ֑מֶת	ha·ḥê·meṯ	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H2573 waterskin
was gone	וַיִּכְל֥וּ	way·yiḵ·lū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H3615 be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, spent
she left	וַתַּשְׁלֵ֣ךְ	wat·taš·lêḵ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H7993 throw, fling, cast
the boy	הַיֶּ֔לֶד	hay·ye·leḏ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3206 child, son, boy, youth
under	תַּ֖חַת	ta·ḥaṯ	Preposition	H8478 the under part
one	אַחַ֥ד	’a·ḥaḏ	Number - masculine singular construct	H259 one
of the bushes	הַשִּׂיחִֽם׃	haś·śî·ḥim	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H7880 bush, shrub, plant

Genesis 21:16

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Then she went off	וַתֵּלֶךְ֩	wat·tê·leḵ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H1980 go, come, walk
and sat down	וַתֵּ֨שֶׁב	wat·tê·šeḇ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H3427 sit, remain, dwell
nearby	מִנֶּ֗גֶד	min·ne·ḡeḏ	Preposition-m	H5048 what is conspicuous or in front
about a bowshot	כִּמְטַחֲוֵ֣י	kim·ṭa·ḥă·wê	Preposition-k; Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural construct	H2909 hurl, shoot
away	הַרְחֵק֙	har·ḥêq	Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute	H7368 be, or become, far, distant
for	כִּ֣י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
she said	אָֽמְרָ֔ה	’ā·mə·rāh	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular	H559 utter, say
I cannot	אַל־	’al-	Adverb	H408 prohibition, do not . . ., let not . . .
bear to watch	אֶרְאֶ֖ה	’er·’eh	Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singular	H7200 see
the boy	הַיָּ֑לֶד	hay·yā·leḏ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3206 child, son, boy, youth
die	בְּמ֣וֹת	bə·mō·wṯ	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct	H4194 death
And as she sat	וַתֵּ֣שֶׁב	wat·tê·šeḇ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H3427 sit, remain, dwell
nearby	מִנֶּ֔גֶד	min·ne·ḡeḏ	Preposition-m	H5048 what is conspicuous or in front
she lifted up	וַתִּשָּׂ֥א	wat·tiś·śā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H5375 lift, take, carry
her voice	קֹלָ֖הּ	qō·lāh	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person feminine singular	H6963 sound, voice
and wept	וַתֵּֽבְךְּ׃	wat·tê·ḇək	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H1058 weep, bewail