God's promise to make Ishmael "a great nation" (Genesis 21:18) uses the identical Hebrew phrase *goy gadol* first applied to Abraham's descendants in Genesis 12:2, creating parallel destinies for both sons.
Genesis 21
The Birth of Isaac and Expulsion of Hagar
1The LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did to Sarah as he had spoken.
2Sarah conceived, and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.
3Abraham called his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac.
4Abraham circumcised his son, Isaac, when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him.
5Abraham was one hundred years old when his son, Isaac, was born to him.
6Sarah said, “God has made me laugh. Everyone who hears will laugh with me.”
7She said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? For I have borne him a son in his old age.”
8The child grew and was weaned. Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.
9Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, mocking.
10Therefore she said to Abraham, “Cast out this servant and her son! For the son of this servant will not be heir with my son, Isaac.”
11The thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight on account of his son.
12God said to Abraham, “Don’t let it be grievous in your sight because of the boy, and because of your servant. In all that Sarah says to you, listen to her voice. For your offspring will be named through Isaac.
13I will also make a nation of the son of the servant, because he is your child.”
14Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread and a container of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder; and gave her the child, and sent her away. She departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.
15The water in the container was spent, and she put the child under one of the shrubs.
16She went and sat down opposite him, a good way off, about a bow shot away. For she said, “Don’t let me see the death of the child.” She sat opposite him, and lifted up her voice, and wept.
17God heard the voice of the boy. The angel of God called to Hagar out of the sky, and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Don’t be afraid. For God has heard the voice of the boy where he is.
18Get up, lift up the boy, and hold him with your hand. For I will make him a great nation.”
19God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. She went, filled the container with water, and gave the boy a drink.
20God was with the boy, and he grew. He lived in the wilderness, and as he grew up, he became an archer.
21He lived in the wilderness of Paran. His mother got a wife for him out of the land of Egypt.
The Covenant at Beersheba
22At that time, Abimelech and Phicol the captain of his army spoke to Abraham, saying, “God is with you in all that you do.
23Now, therefore, swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son’s son. But according to the kindness that I have done to you, you shall do to me, and to the land in which you have lived as a foreigner.”
24Abraham said, “I will swear.”
25Abraham complained to Abimelech because of a water well, which Abimelech’s servants had violently taken away.
26Abimelech said, “I don’t know who has done this thing. You didn’t tell me, and I didn’t hear of it until today.”
27Abraham took sheep and cattle, and gave them to Abimelech. Those two made a covenant.
28Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.
29Abimelech said to Abraham, “What do these seven ewe lambs, which you have set by themselves, mean?”
30He said, “You shall take these seven ewe lambs from my hand, that it may be a witness to me, that I have dug this well.”
31Therefore he called that place Beersheba, because they both swore an oath there.
32So they made a covenant at Beersheba. Abimelech rose up with Phicol, the captain of his army, and they returned into the land of the Philistines.
33Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God.
34Abraham lived as a foreigner in the land of the Philistines many days.
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Theme
Genesis 21 records the fulfillment of God's promise as Sarah gives birth to Isaac in her old age, bringing joy and laughter to Abraham's household. However, tension arises when Sarah demands the expulsion of Hagar and Ishmael, leading to their miraculous preservation in the wilderness where God promises to make Ishmael a great nation. The chapter concludes with Abraham making a covenant with Abimelech at Beersheba, establishing peaceful relations and securing water rights in the land.
Context
This chapter fulfills the promise of Isaac's birth announced in chapters 17-18 and sets the stage for the covenant line continuing through Isaac rather than Ishmael.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-8 Isaac's Birth and Early Life God fulfills His promise as Sarah bears Isaac, bringing joy and celebration to Abraham's household.
- 9-13 Sarah's Demand and God's Direction Sarah insists on expelling Hagar and Ishmael, and God instructs Abraham to comply while promising to bless both sons.
- 14-21 Hagar and Ishmael's Preservation God miraculously provides water in the wilderness and reaffirms His promise to make Ishmael a great nation.
- 22-34 The Covenant at Beersheba Abraham and Abimelech establish a treaty of mutual respect and resolve disputes over water rights.
The Birth of Isaac and Expulsion of Hagar
21:1–21:21 narrative narration joyful
Isaac is born to Abraham and Sarah in fulfillment of God's promise, but Sarah demands the expulsion of Hagar and Ishmael. God provides for the outcasts and promises to make Ishmael into a great nation.
quotation_chain
God's promise to make Ishmael "a great nation" (Genesis 21:18) uses the identical Hebrew phrase *goy gadol* first applied to Abraham's descendants in Genesis 12:2, creating parallel destinies for both sons.
The Covenant at Beersheba
21:22–21:34 narrative dialogue peaceful
Abraham and Abimelech make a covenant at Beersheba, settling a dispute over a well and establishing peaceful relations. Abraham calls upon the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God.
person_contrast
Abraham's invocation of "the LORD, the Everlasting God" (El Olam) marks the only time this divine name appears in Genesis, emphasizing permanence amid diplomatic negotiations.
Insights
Abraham's invocation of "the LORD, the Everlasting God" (El Olam) marks the only time this divine name appears in Genesis, emphasizing permanence amid diplomatic negotiations.
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
Genesis 21:2 5 references
Lexicals 5
Genesis 17:17 Lexical
Then Abraham fell on his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, “Will a child be born to him who is one hundred years…
Genesis 18:13 Lexical
The LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Will I really bear a child when I am old?’
Genesis 25:12 Lexical
Now this is the history of the generations of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s servant, bore to…
Genesis 17:21 Lexical
But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this set time next year.”
2 Kings 4:17 Lexical
The woman conceived, and bore a son at that season when the time came around, as Elisha had said to her.
Genesis 21:3 5 references
Lexicals 5
Genesis 49:31 Lexical
There they buried Abraham and Sarah, his wife. There they buried Isaac and Rebekah, his wife, and there I buried Leah:
Genesis 17:21 Lexical
But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this set time next year.”
Genesis 17:19 Lexical
God said, “No, but Sarah, your wife, will bear you a son. You shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant wi…
Genesis 18:13 Lexical
The LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Will I really bear a child when I am old?’
Genesis 25:12 Lexical
Now this is the history of the generations of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s servant, bore to…
Genesis 21:5 2 references
Genesis 21:7 3 references
Lexicals 3
Genesis 17:17 Lexical
Then Abraham fell on his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, “Will a child be born to him who is one hundred years…
Genesis 18:13 Lexical
The LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Will I really bear a child when I am old?’
Genesis 25:12 Lexical
Now this is the history of the generations of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s servant, bore to…
Genesis 21:9 4 references
Lexicals 4
Genesis 25:12 Lexical
Now this is the history of the generations of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s servant, bore to…
Genesis 17:17 Lexical
Then Abraham fell on his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, “Will a child be born to him who is one hundred years…
Genesis 18:13 Lexical
The LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Will I really bear a child when I am old?’
Genesis 16:1 Lexical
Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, bore him no children. She had a servant, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
Genesis 21:10 2 references
Lexicals 2
Genesis 21:12 5 references
Lexicals 5
Genesis 49:31 Lexical
There they buried Abraham and Sarah, his wife. There they buried Isaac and Rebekah, his wife, and there I buried Leah:
Genesis 17:19 Lexical
God said, “No, but Sarah, your wife, will bear you a son. You shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant wi…
Deuteronomy 1:8 Lexical
Behold, I have set the land before you. Go in and possess the land which the LORD swore to your fathers—to Abraham, to I…
Exodus 33:1 Lexical
The LORD spoke to Moses, “Depart, go up from here, you and the people that you have brought up out of the land of Egypt,…
Deuteronomy 34:4 Lexical
The LORD said to him, “This is the land which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to you…
Genesis 21:14 4 references
Lexicals 4
Genesis 22:3 Lexical
Abraham rose early in the morning, and saddled his donkey; and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son. He…
Genesis 19:27 Lexical
Abraham went up early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the LORD.
2 Chronicles 20:20 Lexical
They rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. As they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said,…
Judges 19:5 Lexical
On the fourth day, they got up early in the morning, and he rose up to depart. The young lady’s father said to his son-i…
Genesis 21:19 1 reference
Genesis 21:22 1 reference
Genesis 21:23 2 references
Genesis 21:27 1 reference
Genesis 21:29 1 reference
Genesis 21:32 1 reference
Interlinear
Word-by-word original language
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Lemma
Morphology
Semantic Range
Theological Significance
Translation Notes
Key Passages
Historical Context
Places and events in this chapter
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