Who Was Hagar in the Bible?
Who Was Hagar in the Bible? Hagar was Sarah's Egyptian servant who bore Abraham's son Ishmael, and she is the first person in Scripture to whom an angel of the Lord appeared.
Key verse: Genesis 16:13 (KJV)
Hagar was Sarah's Egyptian servant who bore Abraham's son Ishmael, and she is the first person in Scripture to whom an angel of the Lord appeared.
Hagar was Sarah's Egyptian servant who bore Abraham's son Ishmael, and she is the first person in Scripture to whom an angel of the Lord appeared.
"And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?" — Genesis 16:13 (KJV)
Meaning
Plain-language explanation
In Context
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The Biblical Answer
Hagar's story (Genesis 16 and 21) reveals God's compassion for the marginalized. Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham as a surrogate, and when Hagar became pregnant, tension arose. Fleeing into the wilderness, Hagar encountered the Angel of the Lord—the first such recorded appearance in Scripture. God promised to multiply her descendants and told her to return. She gave God the name 'El Roi' ('The God who sees me'). Later, after Isaac's birth, Hagar and Ishmael were sent away, but God again met them in the wilderness and provided water. Hagar's story demonstrates that God sees and cares for the overlooked and oppressed.
Key Scripture References
"And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?"
"And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is. Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation."
"Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar."
Frequently asked questions
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Related Questions
Who Was Melchizedek in the Bible?
Melchizedek was a mysterious king of Salem and priest of the Most High God who blessed Abraham and received tithes from him.
Who Was Abraham in the Bible?
Abraham was the father of the Jewish nation, called by God from Ur of the Chaldees, and known as the 'father of faith.'
Who Was Moses?
Moses was the great deliverer and lawgiver of Israel who led the Exodus from Egypt and received the Ten Commandments from God.
Who Was King David?
David was the shepherd boy who became Israel's greatest king, known as 'a man after God's own heart' and an ancestor of Jesus Christ.
Who Was the Apostle Paul?
Paul was a former persecutor of Christians who had a dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus and became the greatest missionary and theologian of the early church.
Deep Dive Commentary
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Who Was Hagar in the Bible?
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The answer above sits inside Genesis. The 365-day chronological plan reads it in the order the events happened.
Read Genesis on day 11 of the chronological Bible reading planKeep the verses to hand
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