Genesis 16:6

Genesis 16:6 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.
• New International Version (NIV)“Your slave is in your hands,” Abram said. “Do with her whatever you think best.” Then Sarai mistreated Hagar; so she fled from her.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But Abram said to Sarai, "Behold, your servant is in your power; do to her as you please." Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her.
• New King James Version (NKJV)So Abram said to Sarai, “Indeed your maid is in your hand; do to her as you please.” And when Sarai dealt harshly with her, she fled from her presence.

Context of Genesis 16:6

4Abram had sex with Hagar and she became pregnant. When Hagar knew that she was pregnant, she no longer respected Sarai. 5Then Sarai said to Abram, ‘It is because of you that Hagar is now insulting me. I gave her to you so that you could have sex with her. Now she is pregnant and she does not respect me. The Lord will decide who is right, you or me.’ Abram said to Sarai, ‘Hagar is your servant and you have authority over her. Do to her whatever you think is right.’ Then Sarai caused trouble for Hagar. So Hagar ran away from Sarai. 7The angel of the Lord found Hagar. She was by a spring of water in the desert. The spring was near the road to Shur. 8The angel said, ‘Sarai's servant, Hagar, where have you come from? Where are you going?’ Hagar replied, ‘I am running away from Sarai. I am her servant.’

Genesis 16:6 word by word

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אַבְרָ֜ם אֶל־שָׂרַ֗י הִנֵּ֤ה שִׁפְחָתֵךְ֙ בְּיָדֵ֔ךְ עֲשִׂי־לָ֖הּ הַטּ֣וֹב בְּעֵינָ֑יִךְ וַתְּעַנֶּ֣הָ שָׂרַ֔י וַתִּבְרַ֖ח מִפָּנֶֽיהָ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• But Abramאַבְרָם'abrâm · AbramH87
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• unto Saraiשָׂרַיώâray · SaraiH8297
• Behold, thy maidשִׁפְחָהshiphchâh · maidservantH8198
• in thy handיָדyâd · hand: powerH3027
• doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• to her as it pleaseth theeעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eye: appearanceH5869
• to her as it pleaseth theeטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
• dealt hardly withעָנָה‛ânâh · to afflictH6031
• her, she fledבָּרַחbârach · to fleeH1272
• from her faceפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440

Cross-references for Genesis 16:6

• Genesis 13:8Abram said to Lot, ‘We must not quarrel with each other. Your shepherds and my shepherds must not quarrel with each other. Remember that we belong to the same family.
• Proverbs 14:29A patient man shows that he understands what is right. But someone who quickly becomes angry shows that he is foolish.
• Proverbs 15:1If you answer people in a kind way, it stops them being angry. But if you say cruel things, it makes people angry.
• 1 Peter 3:7You husbands must also respect your wives. Be kind to your wife and help her. Remember that she is not as strong as you are. Because God is very kind, she has received his gift of true life, as you have. So you should respect her. Then God will answer you when you pray to him.
• Genesis 24:10After that, Abraham's servant left to go on his journey. He took with him ten of his master's camels. He also took many different kinds of valuable gifts that Abraham had given to him. He travelled towards Aram Naharaim. He arrived in the town of Nahor.
• Job 2:6So the Lord said to Satan, ‘I agree to give you power over Job himself. But you must not cause his death.’
• Psalms 106:41He let other nations have power over them. Their enemies ruled over them.
• Jeremiah 38:5King Zedekiah said to them, ‘You can do to Jeremiah whatever you want to do. I cannot stop you.’
• Proverbs 29:19You must use more than words to show a servant what is right. Even if he understands what you say, he will not obey you.
• Exodus 2:15Pharaoh heard about what had happened. He wanted to kill Moses. So Moses ran away from Pharaoh. He went from Egypt to the country called Midian and he lived there. One day, Moses sat down by a well which was near where he lived.
• Proverbs 27:8A person who travels away from his home is like a bird that flies away from its nest.
• Ecclesiastes 10:4If your master becomes angry with you, do not leave your place. Be patient and answer him quietly. Then he will forgive your mistakes.

Commentaries on Genesis 16:6

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6Sarah dealt hardly with her - תאנה teanneha, she afflicted her; the term implying stripes and hard usage, to bring down the body and humble the mind. If the slave was to blame in this business the mistress is not less liable to censure. She alone had brought her into those circumstances, in which it was natural for her to value herself beyond her mistress.Read the comment
• 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 16:6

• Cruelty
• Envy
• Master
• Oppression
• Sarah
• Servant

In the dictionaries

• Abram
• Sarai
• Sarah; Sarai
• Abraham, Abram
• Abraham
• Concubine
• Face
• Judge
• Meekness
• Submit

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