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Genesis 16:1

King James Version (KJV)

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— D.L. Moody

Genesis 16:1

Verse 1 of 16

Scripture focus

Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name [was] Hagar.

Genesis 16:1 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Genesis 16:1

Theological / Devotional

An handmaid. Notwithstanding all the promises of God, the fact remained that Abram was still without a child ten years after the first promise had been made to him (v. 3). Hagar, an Egyptian servant of Sarai, is introduced. Since the Egyptians were a powerful nation in Abram’s time, it is most singular to find an Egyptian servant in a Palestinian household. Hagar was probably the personal attendant given to Sarai when she was taken to Pharaoh (see ch. 12:15, 16). That she was still in Abram’s house tends to show that Pharaoh had not taken back the gifts he had given Abram.

Hagar. This is not an Egyptian name. Her original name is not given. The name Hagar, meaning “flight” in Arabic, may have been given to her after her flight from her mistress.

By SdaBc