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    Genesis 16 (KJV)

    Read Genesis chapter 16 in the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

    Genesis 16

    Deep Verse Commentaries in This Chapter

    Genesis 16:13

    "And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Tho…"

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    Genesis 16 Summary

    Genesis 16 tells the story of Sarai's plan to obtain an heir through her Egyptian servant Hagar — a decision born of impatience with God's timing. When Hagar conceives, tension erupts between the two women. Sarai deals harshly with Hagar, who flees into the wilderness.

    There, the Angel of the LORD finds Hagar by a spring and speaks tenderly to her, promising that her son Ishmael will become a great nation. Hagar responds with one of Scripture's most profound names for God: 'Thou God seest me' (El Roi). This chapter reveals both the consequences of taking shortcuts around God's promises and God's compassion for the overlooked and mistreated.

    Key Themes

    Impatience with God's timingConsequences of human schemingGod sees the outcastHagar and IshmaelEl Roi — the God who sees

    Key Verses in Genesis 16

    "And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me."

    — Genesis 16:13

    Hagar — a slave, a foreigner, a woman — gives God a new name, showing His care for the marginalized.

    "And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid."

    — Genesis 16:2

    A well-intentioned plan that bypasses God's promise and creates lasting consequences.

    "Thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction."

    — Genesis 16:11

    Ishmael means 'God hears' — even in painful situations, God is listening.

    Life Application

    When God's promises seem delayed, the temptation is to manufacture your own solution. Sarai's plan 'worked' in that it produced a child, but not the child of promise. Genesis 16 warns that getting ahead of God creates complications that outlast the impatience that caused them. Yet it also assures that God meets us even in messes of our own making.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Who was Hagar in the Bible?

    Hagar was an Egyptian servant of Sarai (Sarah) who became a surrogate mother at Sarai's suggestion. She bore Ishmael, Abraham's firstborn son. Though mistreated, God personally appeared to her and promised her descendants would be innumerable.

    What does El Roi mean?

    El Roi means 'the God who sees me.' Hagar coined this name after the Angel of the LORD found her in the wilderness, demonstrating that God sees and cares for those who feel invisible and abandoned.

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