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, “Look now, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Please go to my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. 3So after he had lived in Canaan for ten years, his wife Sarai took her Egyptian maidservant Hagar and gave her to Abram to be his wife. And he slept with Hagar, and she conceived. But when Hagar realized that she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. 5Then Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be upon you! I delivered my servant into your arms, and ever since she saw that she was pregnant, she has treated me with contempt. May the LORD judge between you and me.” 6“Here,” said Abram, “your servant is in your hands. Do whatever you want with her.” Then Sarai treated Hagar so harshly that she fled from her.

Genesis 16:4 word by word

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

• And he slept withבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• And he slept withאֶל'êl 'el · to(wards)H413
• Hagarהָגָרhâgâr · HagarH1904
• and she conceivedהָרָהhârâh · to conceiveH2029
• But when Hagar realizedרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• thatכִּיkîy · forH3588
• she began to despiseקָלַלqâlal · to lightenH7043
• she began to despiseעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eye: seeingH5869
• her mistressגְּבֶ֫רֶתgebereth · ladyH1404

Cross-references for Genesis 16:4

• 1 Samuel 1:6Because the LORD had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival would provoke her viciously to taunt her.
• 2 Samuel 6:16As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked down from a window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, and she despised him in her heart.
• Proverbs 30:20This is the way of an adulteress: She eats and wipes her mouth and says, ‘I have done nothing wrong.’
• 1 Corinthians 4:6Brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what is written. Then you will not take pride in one man over another.
• 1 Corinthians 13:4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

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