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, “Since the Lord has prevented me from having children, have sexual relations with my servant. Perhaps I can have a family by her.” Abram did what Sarai told him. 3So after Abram had lived in Canaan for ten years, Sarai, Abram’s wife, gave Hagar, her Egyptian servant, to her husband to be his wife. He had sexual relations with Hagar, and she became pregnant. Once Hagar realized she was pregnant, she despised Sarai. 5Then Sarai said to Abram, “You have brought this wrong on me! I allowed my servant to have sexual relations with you, but when she realized that she was pregnant, she despised me. May the Lord judge between you and me!” 6Abram said to Sarai, “Since your servant is under your authority, do to her whatever you think best.” Then Sarai treated Hagar harshly, so she ran away from Sarai.

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 1:6Her rival wife used to upset her and make her worry, for the Lord had not enabled her to have children.
• 2 Samuel 6:16As the ark of the Lord entered the City of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked out the window. When she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him.
• Proverbs 30:20This is the way of an adulterous woman: she eats and wipes her mouth and says, “I have not done wrong.”
• 1 Corinthians 4:6I have applied these things to myself and Apollos because of you, brothers and sisters, so that through us you may learn “not to go beyond what is written,” so that none of you will be puffed up in favor of the one against the other.
• 1 Corinthians 13:4Love is patient, love is kind, it is not envious. Love does not brag, it is not puffed up.

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