God’s Word Translation
Genesis 21:18
18Come on, help the boy up! Take him by the hand, because I’m going to make him into a great nation.”
Genesis 21:18 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.
- New International Version (NIV)Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)Up! Lift up the boy, and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make him into a great nation."
- New King James Version (NKJV)Arise, lift up the lad and hold him with your hand, for I will make him a great nation.”
Context of Genesis 21:18
16Then she went about as far away as an arrow can be shot and sat down. She said to herself, “I don’t want to watch the boy die.” So she sat down and sobbed loudly. 17God heard the boy crying, and the Messenger of God called to Hagar from heaven. “What’s the matter, Hagar?” he asked her. “Don’t be afraid! God has heard the boy crying from the bushes. Come on, help the boy up! Take him by the hand, because I’m going to make him into a great nation.” 19God opened her eyes. Then she saw a well. She filled the container with water and gave the boy a drink. 20God was with the boy as he grew up. He lived in the desert and became a skilled archer.
Read all of Genesis 21Genesis 21:18 word by word
ק֚וּמִי שְׂאִ֣י אֶת־הַנַּ֔עַר וְהַחֲזִ֥יקִי אֶת־יָדֵ֖ךְ בּ֑וֹ כִּֽי־לְג֥וֹי גָּד֖וֹל אֲשִׂימֶֽנּוּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Ariseקוּםqûm · to arise: riseH6965
- lift upנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: raiseH5375
- the ladנַ֫עַרna‛ar · youthH5288
- and holdחָזַקchâzaq · to strengthen: holdH2388
- him in thine handיָדyâd · handH3027
- for I will makeשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: makeH7760
- him a greatגָּדוֹלgâdôl gâdôl · great: largeH1419
- nationגּוֹיgôy gôy · nationH1471
Cross-references for Genesis 21:18
- Genesis 21:13Besides, I will make the slave’s son into a nation also, because he is your child.”
- Genesis 16:10The Messenger of the Lord also said to her, “I will give you many descendants. No one will be able to count them because there will be so many.”
- Genesis 17:20I have heard your request about Ishmael. Yes, I will bless him, make him fertile, and increase the number of his descendants. He will be the father of 12 princes, and I will make him a great nation.
- Genesis 25:12This is the account of the descendants of Abraham’s son Ishmael. He was the son of Sarah’s Egyptian slave Hagar and Abraham.
- 1 Chronicles 1:29This is their list of descendants: Ishmael’s firstborn was Nebaioth, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,
Commentaries on Genesis 21:18
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-34Verses 1-34 - The Birth of Isaac 7. מלל mı̂lēl “speak,” an ancient and therefore solemn and poetical word. 14. חמת chêmet “bottle,” akin to חמה chāmâh “surround, enclose,” and הוּם chûm “black. באר שׁבע beêr -sheba‛ Beer-sheba, “well of seven.” 22. פיכל pı̂ykol Pikhol, “mouth or spokesman of all.” 23. נין nı̂yn “offspring, kin;” related: “sprout, flourish.” נכד neked “progeny,” perhaps “acquaintance,” cognate with נגד ngd “be before” (the eyes) and…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-21Verses 14-21 If Hagar and Ishmael had behaved well in Abraham's family, they might have continued there; but they were justly punished. By abusing privileges, we forfeit them. Those who know not when they are well off, will be made to know the worth of mercies by the want of them. They were brought to distress in the wilderness. It is not said that the provisions were spent, or that Abraham sent them away without money. But the water was spent; and having…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14-21God rescued Hagar and Ishmael in the wilderness and promised them a future (compare 16:7–14). This passage is like chapter 16, but there are key differences. God saves Hagar and Ishmael, but there is no special naming. God repeats the promise to Hagar, but she is not told to return to Sarah. These repeated themes show God's plan for Hagar and Ishmael. As Joseph later explained to Pharaoh, a repeated event confirms God's plan (41:32). God did not leave…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 14-2114. Abraham rose up early, &c.--early, that the wanderers might reach an asylum before noon. Bread includes all sorts of victuals--bottle, a leathern vessel, formed of the entire skin of a lamb or kid sewed up, with the legs for handles, usually carried over the shoulder. Ishmael was a lad of seventeen years, and it is quite customary for Arab chiefs to send out their sons at such an age to do for themselves: often with nothing but a few days' provisions…Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 21:18
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Genesis 21
- 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
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