Genesis 16:4

Genesis 16:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.
• New International Version (NIV)He slept with Hagar, and she conceived. When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress.
• New King James Version (NKJV)So he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress became despised in her eyes.

Context of Genesis 16:4

2So Sarai said to Abram, “See here, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. I am asking you to go in to [the bed of] my maid [so that she may bear you a child]; perhaps I will obtain children by her.” And Abram listened to Sarai and did as she said. 3After Abram had lived in the land of Canaan ten years, Abram’s wife Sarai took Hagar the Egyptian [maid], and gave her to her husband Abram to be his [secondary] wife. He went in to [the bed of] Hagar, and she conceived; and when she realized that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress [regarding Sarai as insignificant because of her infertility]. 5Then Sarai said to Abram, “May [the responsibility for] the wrong done to me [by the arrogant behavior of Hagar] be upon you. I gave my maid into your arms, and when she realized that she had conceived, I was despised and looked on with disrespect. May the Lord judge [who has done right] between you and me.” 6But Abram said to Sarai, “Look, your maid is entirely in your hands and subject to your authority; do as you please with her.” So Sarai treated her harshly and humiliated her, and Hagar fled from her.

Genesis 16:4 word by word

וַיָּבֹ֥א אֶל־הָגָ֖ר וַתַּ֑הַר וַתֵּ֙רֶא֙ כִּ֣י הָרָ֔תָה וַתֵּקַ֥ל גְּבִרְתָּ֖הּ בְּעֵינֶֽיהָ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And he went inבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• unto Hagarהָגָרhâgâr · HagarH1904
• and she conceivedהָרָהhârâh · to conceiveH2029
• and when she sawרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• her mistressגְּבֶ֫רֶתgebereth · ladyH1404
• was despisedקָלַלqâlal · to lightenH7043
• in her eyesעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eye: seeingH5869

Cross-references for Genesis 16:4

• 1 Samuel 1:6Hannah’s rival provoked her bitterly, to irritate and embarrass her, because the Lord had left her childless.
• 2 Samuel 6:16Then, as the ark of the Lord came into the City of David, Michal, Saul’s daughter [David’s wife], looked down from the window above and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she felt contempt for him in her heart [because she thought him undignified].
• Proverbs 30:20This is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth And says, “I have done no wrong.”
• 1 Corinthians 4:6Now I have applied these things [that is, the analogies about factions] to myself and Apollos for your benefit, believers, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what is written [in Scripture], so that none of you will become arrogant and boast in favor of one [minister or teacher] against the other.
• 1 Corinthians 13:4Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant.

Commentaries on Genesis 16:4

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-16Verses 1-16 - The Birth of Ishmael 1. הנר hāgār Hagar, “flight.” Hejrah, the flight of Muhammed. 7. מלאך mal'ak “messenger, angel.” A deputy commissioned to discharge a certain duty for the principal whom he represents. As the most usual task is that of bearing messages, commands, or tidings, he is commonly called a “messenger” ̓́ angelos ). The word is therefore a term of office, and does not further distinguish the office-bearer than as an intelligent…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4-6Verses 4-6 Abram's unhappy marriage to Hagar very soon made a great deal of mischief. We may thank ourselves for the guilt and grief that follow us, when we go out of the way of our duty. See it in this case, Passionate people often quarrel with others, for things of which they themselves must bear the blame. Sarai had given her maid to Abram, yet she cries out, My wrong be upon thee. That is never said wisely, which pride and anger put into our mouths…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-6Hagar might have thought Abram would favor her instead of Sarai (compare Proverbs 30:21–23).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-161. Now, Sarai ... had a handmaid--a female slave--one of those obtained in Egypt.Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 16:4

• Sarah

In the dictionaries

• Hagar
• Abraham
• Concubine
• Judge
• Marriage
• Submit
• Wrong
• Astronomy
• Atonement, Day of
• Camel

Commentaries on Genesis 16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings