Genesis 16:1-13 ▼

1 Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had not given birth to any children, but she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar.

2 So Sarai said to Abram, |Since the LORD has prevented me from having children, have sexual relations with my servant. Perhaps I can have a family by her.| Abram did what Sarai told him.

3 So after Abram had lived in Canaan for ten years, Sarai, Abram's wife, gave Hagar, her Egyptian servant, to her husband to be his wife.

4 He had sexual relations with Hagar, and she became pregnant. Once Hagar realized she was pregnant, she despised Sarai.

5 Then Sarai said to Abram, |You have brought this wrong on me! I allowed my servant to have sexual relations with you, but when she realized that she was pregnant, she despised me. May the LORD judge between you and me!|

6 Abram said to Sarai, |Since your servant is under your authority, do to her whatever you think best.| Then Sarai treated Hagar harshly, so she ran away from Sarai.

7 The LORD's angel found Hagar near a spring of water in the desert--the spring that is along the road to Shur.

8 He said, |Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?| She replied, |I'm running away from my mistress, Sarai.|

9 Then the LORD's angel said to her, |Return to your mistress and submit to her authority.

10 I will greatly multiply your descendants,| the LORD's angel added, |so that they will be too numerous to count.|

11 Then the LORD's angel said to her, |You are now pregnant and are about to give birth to a son. You are to name him Ishmael, for the LORD has heard your painful groans.

12 He will be a wild donkey of a man. He will be hostile to everyone, and everyone will be hostile to him. He will live away from his brothers.|

13 So Hagar named the LORD who spoke to her, |You are the God who sees me,| for she said, |Here I have seen one who sees me!|