Genesis 16:1-9 ▼

1 Abram’s wife Sarai had not borne any children for him, but she owned an Egyptian slave named Hagar.

2 Sarai said to Abram, “ Since the LORD has prevented me from bearing children, go to my slave; perhaps through her I can build a family.” And Abram agreed to what Sarai said.

3 So Abram’s wife Sarai took Hagar, her Egyptian slave, and gave her to her husband Abram as a wife for him. This happened after Abram had lived in the land of Canaan 10 years.

4 He slept with Hagar, and she became pregnant. When she realized that she was pregnant, she treated her mistress with contempt .

5 Then Sarai said to Abram, “ You are responsible for my suffering! I put my slave in your arms, and ever since she saw that she was pregnant, she has treated me with contempt . May the LORD judge between me and you.”

6 Abram replied to Sarai, “ Here, your slave is in your hands; do whatever you want with her.” Then Sarai mistreated her so much that she ran away from her.

7 The Angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur.

8 He said, “ Hagar, slave 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 Angel of the LORD said to her, “ You must go back to your mistress and submit to her mistreatment.”