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

4He slept with Hagar, and she became pregnant. When Hagar realized that she was pregnant, she began to be disrespectful to Sarai, her owner. 5So Sarai complained to Abram, “I’m being treated unfairly! And it’s your fault! I know that I gave my slave to you, but now that she’s pregnant, she’s being disrespectful to me. May the Lord decide who is right—you or me.” Abram answered Sarai, “Here, she’s your slave. Do what you like with her.” Then Sarai mistreated Hagar so much that she ran away. 7The Messenger of the Lord found her by a spring in the desert, the spring on the way to Shur. 8He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s slave, where have you come from, and where are you going?” She answered, “I’m running away from my owner Sarai.”

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, “Please, let’s not have any more quarrels between us or between our herders. After all, we’re relatives.
• Proverbs 14:29A person of great understanding is patient, but a short temper is the height of stupidity.
• Proverbs 15:1A gentle answer turns away rage, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
• 1 Peter 3:7Husbands, in a similar way, live with your wives with understanding since they are weaker than you are. Honor your wives as those who share God’s life-giving kindness so that nothing will interfere with your prayers.
• Genesis 24:10Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and left, taking with him all of his master’s best things. He traveled to Aram Naharaim, Nahor’s city.
• Job 2:6The Lord told Satan, “He is in your power, but you must spare his life!”
• Psalms 106:41He handed them over to other nations, and those who hated them ruled them.
• Jeremiah 38:5King Zedekiah answered, “He’s in your hands. I won’t do anything to stop you.”
• Proverbs 29:19A slave cannot be disciplined with words. He will not respond, though he may understand.
• Exodus 2:15When Pharaoh heard what Moses had done, he tried to have him killed. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and settled in the land of Midian. One day, while Moses was sitting by a well,
• Proverbs 27:8Like a bird wandering from its nest, so is a husband wandering from his home.
• Ecclesiastes 10:4If a ruler becomes angry with you, don’t resign your position. If you remain calm, you can make up for serious offenses.

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