Genesis 16:3

Sarai [Mockery], Avram [Exalted father]’s wife, took Hagar [Flight] the Egyptian [person from Abode of slavery], her servant, after Avram [Exalted father] had lived ten years in the land of Canaan [Humbled], and gave her to Avram [Exalted father] her husband to be his wife.

One Unity Resource Bible

In The King James Version

And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.

In Context

2Sarai [Mockery] said to Avram [Exalted father], “See now, Adonai has restrained me from bearing. Please go in to my servant. It may be that I will obtain children by her.” Avram [Exalted father] sh'ma ·hear obey· the voice of Sarai [Mockery].

4He went in to Hagar [Flight], and she conceived. When she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes. + 16:4 Context: Hagar is the second wife but she was and is first Sarah’s maid. The elevated status of second wife brings both blessing and frustration. Sarah speaks to Hagar as she had before the marriage, this is a source of contention combined with one woman having a child and the other woman barren.

Read all of Genesis 16

Cross References

Genesis 16:5Sarai [Mockery] said to Avram [Exalted father], “You have brought this wrong on me! I gave my servant into your bosom, and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes. Adonai judge between me and you.”

Genesis 25:6but to the sons of Abraham [Father of a multitude]’s concubines, Abraham [Father of a multitude] gave gifts. He sent them away from Isaac [Laughter] his son, while he yet lived, eastward, to the east country.

Genesis 30:4She gave him Bilhah [Bashful] her servant as wife, and Jacob [Supplanter] went in to her.

Genesis 32:22He rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two servants, and his eleven sons, and crossed over the ford of the Jabbok.

Matthew Henry on Genesis 16:2-4

Abram, Sarai, and Hagar. ( b. c. 1911.) 1 Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had a handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. 2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the Lord hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai. 3 And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. We… Read the whole commentary →

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Study Genesis 16:3